R.U.S.T.
Redox Undershield for Surface Treatment
Anti-Corrosion Metal Coating
Problem Statement
Chromate conversion coatings (hexavalent chromium) have been the gold standard for metal corrosion protection for decades but are highly carcinogenic and face global phase-out. Current alternatives (trivalent chromium, silane, zirconium-based) often underperform in salt spray resistance or require multi-step application. A bio-based conversion coating using naturally-derived compounds could provide self-healing corrosion protection through chelation without toxic heavy metals.
Market Size
$5.6B
Regulatory Drivers
EU REACH Authorization List (Annex XIV) Cr(VI) compounds sunset date; US DoD MIL-DTL-5541F Type II (non-Cr(VI) conversion coatings); EU RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU restricting Cr(VI); OSHA PEL for Cr(VI) at 5 μg/m³; ELV Directive 2000/53/EC; California AB 2588 air toxics; EPA NESHAP for chromium electroplating
Enterprise Interest
No enterprise interest recorded yet. Companies can indicate their volume and urgency to help guide research priorities.
Success Criteria
Achieve ≥168 hours neutral salt spray resistance per ASTM B117 with <5% corrosion area on AA2024-T3, paint adhesion rating 4B or better per ASTM D3359, and corrosion current density ≤10 μA/cm² in potentiodynamic scan
Equipment Needed
Salt spray chamber (ASTM B117), potentiostat for EIS and polarization, SEM/EDS (or outsource), FTIR spectrometer, XPS (outsource), AA2024-T3 aluminum panels, mild steel coupons, cross-cut adhesion test kit, pH meter, ultrasonic cleaner for surface preparation
Existing References
Reference list will be published with protocols.
Protected Research Content
This section contains detailed protocols, proposed mechanisms, experiment designs, and safety information.
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