The Aluminum Anodizers Council presented several awards at its 2024 conference in Cleveland in October.
Wojciech Stępniowski, Associate Professor at Military University of Technology at Military University of Technology in Warsaw, received the Robert Kersman Award for the Best Paper at the 2023 conference for his paper “Cr(VI)-Free, Environmentally Friendly Anodizing of Aluminum Alloys for Improved Corrosion Performance.”
The paper’s abstract stated that “Cr(VI) compounds are commonly used as electrolytes to anodize AA 2024 and AA 7075. However, Cr(VI) is hazardous and carcinogenic. We anodize AA 2017, 7075-T0, and 7075-T6 using two approaches, resulting in corrosion potential shifts up to over 300 mV compared to anodizing in the inhibitor-free electrolytes. One approach relies on the formation of insoluble Al3+ salts like tartrates and citrates. Another approach utilizes incorporation of molybdenum species into the walls of anodic alumina that also block further corrosion of protected alloys.”
Rebecca Robbins of Bonnell Aluminum received the Donald Johnson Award of Excellence for Best Presentation for 2023 for “Using Technology to Improve Safety and Return on Investment (ROI).”
The paper’s abstract stated, “QR codes and technologies used to improve safety, profits, efficiency, and return on investment are presented. How businesses can use QR codes to create better safety documentation and improve program efficiency are discussed. QR code use in daily inspections and various emerging technologies that support QR code use are explored, such as interfacing with Microsoft Teams and dynamic code use. How QR codes and technology can be used to improve the bottom line and streamline operations is highlighted.”
The student Poster Contest winners were Katarzyna Tomczyk and Piotr Dobroń, both PhD students in Material Science and Engineering at Military University of Technology in Warsaw.
Mark Jozefowicz from Reliant Aluminum Products received the AAC Lifetime Achievement Award, and Tej Patel from Techevon Metal Finishing Solutions received the Genny Dwyer Volunteer of the Year Award.
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