MacDermid Enthone has introduced TriMac BLUE, a highly corrosion-resistant white trivalent chromium process that it says provides a similar appearance to hexavalent chromium layers with a much easier wastewater treatment compared to common processes.
Maja BrandesTriMac BLUE has a similar white, bluish color to hexavalent chromium and has excellent color stability and corrosion resistance, requires simple wastewater treatment, and is PFAS and PFOS free process, says Maja Brandes, who is the MacDermid Enthone’s Global Director on Decorative Systems, WRC and PET.
“TriMac BLUE is suitable for a variety of plating on plastics and metal applications,” Brandes says. “It fulfills OEM specifications and is suitable for rack technology.”
The specifications for TriMac BLUE include:
- Chromium content>95%
- L value:>83
- b value:<-0,4
- Plating speed:0,02 – 0,05 µm/min
- Current density:5 A/dm² (range 3 – 10 A/dm²)
- VW PV 1073A:Pass
- VW PV 1073B:Pass
- CASS:>80 h
- NSS:480 h
In a comparison with a white trivalent chromium process:
- Process Type L* a* b*
- TriMac BLUE Sulfate > 83 -0,6 / -0,8 -0,1 / -0,8
- Hexavalent Chrome -- 83 - 84 - 0.8 / -1.0 -0.5 / -1.5
“TriMac BLUE provides superior appearance similar to hexavalent chromium,” Brandes says.
In testing, after cleaning with a standard glass cleaner, the color values were identical:
- March 2020 L= 83,43 a= -0,66 b= -0,47
- March 2021 L= 83,51 a= -0,65 b= -0,47
Maja Brandes says TriMac BLUE is perfect for the automotive industry, where it can be used for decorative trim, both exterior and interior as well as front grills, emblems, lettering; interior parts like body trim and frames; and gear shifts and consoles.
In addition, TriMac BLUE can be used for building hardware sanitary as decorative trim such as appliance components, furniture, hand tools, lighting fixtures, and plumbing/sanitary fixtures and fittings.
“TriMac BLUE is a full replacement of decorative hexavalent chrome finish, and mixed assembling with classic chrome finishes is possible,” Brandes says. “It is perfect for plating-on-plastic and metal substrates applications, both interior and exterior.”
