CTC has been working with the U.S. AFRL through the National Defense Center for Environmental Excellence (NDCEE) contract to evaluate alternatives to hexavalent chromium electroplating for non-line-of-sight applications (NLOS). These include parts with complex geometries, such as internal diameters, blind holes and other features that are not amenable to line-of-sight surfacing techniques. Environmentally acceptable electrochemical alternatives to hard chromium plating were identified for such applications based on the needs of Air Force Air Logistics Centers (ALCs). All available alternatives were compared to hard chromium plating, each other, and criteria that was identified by the ALCs as being high priority. A decision tool was developed to assist in the selection of alternatives. All selected alternatives are being tested during demonstrated activities. Screening tests include relatively simple and somewhat inexpensive tests that can adequately discriminate between alternatives, and subsequent tests that are increasingly more complex and expensive, but that will enable further discrimination. This paper describes the demonstration activities performed to date and the test data that have been generated as a result.
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