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EnvironmentallyFriendlyAlloyand
Electro-CompositeCoatings
asReplacements forHardChrome,
ElectrolessNickelandThermalSpray
1.Abstract
USCTechnologies (Stratford,CT)hasdevelopeda
familyofgreenalloyandalloyelectro-composite
coatingsunder thenameTriCom to replace
hardchrome,electrolessnickel,and thermal spray
coatings forengineeringapplications.These
coatingsarebeingused forgas turbineengine
andairframecomponents,oilandgasexploration
andproduction tools,hydraulicactuatorsand
other industrialapplications.Thepurposeof this
whitepaper is todescribe theadvantagesof
alloyandalloyelectro-compositecoatingsmade
possiblebyengineeringcoatingmicrostructures
asanalternative toconventionalmeltingand
thermomechanicalprocessing.Bycontrolling
thecoatingcharacteristics, it ispossible to
optimizeTriComcoatings fordifferent target
applications.TriComoffersanenvironmentally
friendly replacement forhardchrome, isa
cost-effectivealternative toelectrolessnickel,
and isanon-line-of-sight (NLOS) solution to
thermal spray limitations.
2. Introduction
Briefhistoryofdevelopment
Hardchromeplating isa90-year-oldprocess
that representsoneof thebestcoatings for
wearand frictionpropertiesbutoffersminimal
corrosion resistance. Inaddition,hexavalent
chromeused in theplatingprocess isassociated
with seriousenvironmentalandhealthconcerns.
Electrolessnickelhasbeenaround forover
50yearsandhas replacedhardchromewhena
veryuniform thindeposit is requiredandwhen
corrosionprotection iscritical. Itsmajordisadvan-
tage is that thickdepositsaredifficultandvery
expensive toplate.
Thermal spraywas invented in1911andhas
grown inuseasa replacement forhardchrome
becauseofchromium’senvironmental issues.
However, it toohasmajordisadvantages.Small
internaldiameter surfacesaredifficult tocoatby
thermal spray,which isa line-of-sightprocess.
Inaddition, thermal sprayequipmentcontributes
tonoisepollutionand requiresa largecapital
investment. Itusesexpensiveprocessing
materialsandgrinding.
USCTechnologies,a subsidiaryofUSChrome
Corporation (StratfordCT),hasdevelopedand
commercializeda familyofenvironmentally
friendlyelectroplatedcoatings knownas
TriCom.Thesealloyandalloyelectro-composite
coatingsaddress thedisadvantagesof the
aforementionedprocesses.For instance,TriCom
exhibitswear resistancecomparable tochrome
butadds superiorcorrosion resistance. TriCom
canproduce thickdepositseconomicallyunlike
electrolessnickel. TriCom isaNLOSprocess, so it
permitscoatingof internal surfacesat fastplating
ratescompared to thermal sprayprocessing.
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Request our
free white paper by
emailing us at
800-637-
• Corrosion resistance.
• Wear resistance.
• Superior friction properties.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Thick deposits.
• Non-line-of-sight
processing.
• Proven replacements
for hard chrome, electroless
nickel, and thermal sprays.
There are.
Introducing the
complete family of TriCom
next gen coatings.
If only there were
coatings offering: