Sunday, June 21, 2009

Zinc alloy coatings offer high performance

A bulk production, non embritteling, high performance coating system for small components gives excellent sacrificial corrosion protection and protects against contact corrosion with aluminum alloys.

MacDermid has introduced the MacuGuard LM coating system to offer OEM's, engineers and surface finishers a bulk production, non embrittling, high performance coating system suitable for small components.

Not only does the coating provide excellent sacrificial corrosion protection, it also provides the most advanced coating available for contact corrosion with aluminum alloys.

MacuGuard LM coatings are based on a unique zinc aluminium alloy and offers performance benefits which, said MacDermid, no other coating can deliver.

MacuGuard LM stands for non embrittling high corrosion resistant coatings with excellent electrical connectivity, predictable friction, zero head and thread fill and EoLVD compliance.

The ability to successfully process complex geometries, including fastener sizes below M6, makes MacuGuard LM the perfect high performance coatings.

To meet the market requirements, two coatings have been developed.

* The MacuGuard LM mechanical plating processes incorporates a simple additive system, which is capable of producing MacuGuard LM 90, a single layer alloy deposit.

* MacuGuard LM Duplex, a two layered deposit.

The MacuGuard LM 90 finish is based on a 'true' zinc-aluminium alloy which contains 8 - 11% aluminium and is particularly suitable in reducing galvanic induced corrosion between steel fasteners and aluminium components, said MacDermid to manufacturingtalk.com.

In various corrosion investigations according DIN, ASTM and OEM specifications, this finish proved to give the highest corrosion performance.

The MacuGuard LM Duplex finish is based on a two layered deposit based on a zinc layer and a second zinc aluminium alloy layer.

In various corrosion investigations according DIN, ASTM and OEM specifications, this finish proved to give highest corrosion performance and very good prevention of galvanic corrosion in contact with aluminium.

MacuGuard LM Duplex delivers performance at the competitive costs and the coating is ideal to replace high performance finishes like dip spin coatings.

* Hydrogen embrittlement avoidance - because MacuGuard LM is a non electrolytic process, it will not induce any hydrogen embrittlement in hardened, high tensile or spring steels.

Coating components may be used within a shot time of processing without fear of embrittlement failure.

No subsequent heating or de-embrittlement procedures are required before use.

* Energy efficiency - the coating system is operated at room temperature, without the need for curing, baking or any thermo setting process.

This means MacuGuard LM is the most energy efficient process available for high performance zinc based coatings.

* Chrome and solvent free technology - the process does not use or contain any hexavalent chromium compounds.

It conforms to all chrome free tests required of the automotive OEM's.

It is fully compliant with EoLVD, WEEE and RoHSO legislation.

MacuGuard LM is a solvent free process therefore requires no special extraction, venting or fume scrubbing systems.

It is not regulated for air emissions and dose not liberate any VOC's MacuGuard LM is a novel mechanically deposited true alloy coating.

The 100% metal film provides exceptional abrasion resistance as well as other performance characteristics.

As with most zinc based pure metallic coatings, it offers excellent sacrificial corrosion protection * Ductility - the coating is ductile and can be moderately deformed, bent or swaged without significant loss of performance.

Top coats can be easily applied to provide a further variety of surface enhancing properties like insulation, color, controlled torque-tension and low coefficient of friction.

The coating also readily accepts thread 'patching' of all types.

to closely match the electro potential of the most commonly used aluminum alloys.

In contact with Aluminum, MacuGuard LM offers some of the best corrosion and cyclic corrosion testing of any coating available today.

This unique feature is the result of an alloy specifically engineered to provide contact corrosion with light metals.

Features are as follows.

* Free form hydrogen embrittlement.

* Predictable/definable torque.

* Excellent corrosion performance proven according several test specifications.

* Zero thread or head fill.

* Sacrificial protection.

* Aluminium compatibility.

* Solvent free.

* ELV-, WEEE- and RoHS-compliant.

* No oven cure required.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/mnx/mnx110.html

AVX announces zinc oxide varistors

AVX has developed a zinc oxide-based varistor series that exhibits a low leakage current of 2uA maximum.

Designated the Ultraguard Series, the multilayer ceramic varistors feature non-linear, bi-directional voltage-current characteristics, similar to back-to-back zener diodes, and an EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) capacitor in parallel.

The Ultraguard varistor series offers many electrical advantages over zener diodes, including better repetitive strike capability, higher inrush current capability, shorter turn-on time and inherent EMI/RFI attenuation.

The varistors are significantly smaller, saving board space.

The Ultraguard Series comes in discrete chips available in 0402, 0603 and 0805 sizes, two-element packages in 0405 and 0508 sizes, and four-element 0612 packages.

Low- and high-capacitance versions are offered, ranging from 40 to 3,000 pF.

The varistor series is ideal for transient protection applications where power consumption is a primary concern.

These include high clock speed ICs, battery-operated devices, backlit displays, medical and instrumentation applications, low-voltage power conversion circuits and power supervisory chip sets.

Further applications are being found in optics, such as laser diodes, laser diode drivers, and serialiser and deserialiser devices.

http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/avx/avx188.html

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Chelyabinsk Zinc says controlling stake to be sold

Chelyabinsk Zinc (CZP), Russia's largest producer of the metal, said on Thursday it has obtained information from unnamed public sources that it will be sold to a consortium led by two copper miners.

The statement did not contain any information on the sale price.

'The controlling shareholders of NF Holdings B.V., which owns a controlling interest in CZP, have reached an understanding to sell 100 percent of NF Holdings BV,' the company said in a statement.

It added that Ural Mining and Metallurgical Co (UMMC) and Russian Copper Co (RMC) are part of the consortium.

The annoucement follows a report by Reuters on Wednesday that a 58 percent stake in the company would be acquired by the copper companies.

CZP did not confirm the size of the stake that the consortium will acquire.

The company, which produces 64 percent of Russia's zinc, posted a net loss of $105 million in 2008 as prices collapsed.

It has cut production sharply in response to weak demand, and in December said 2009 output would be between 100,000 to 110,000 tonnes of zinc, down from 150,000 tonnes in 2008.

CZP said the transaction will not be completed until it receives applicable governmental approvals.

It did not say when it expects to receive these approvals.

(Reporting by Alfred Kueppers; Editing by Greg Mahlich) Keywords: CHELYABINSK ZINC/

(alfred.kueppers@thomsonreuters.com; Tel +7 495 775 1242; Reuters Messaging: alfred.kueppers@thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)

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http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2009/06/04/afx6502804.html