Chemical Film or Chromate Conversion is widely used plating for the protection on Aluminum and is also known by brand names Alodine and Irritdite.  Chemical Film is a chemical process that produces a protective chromate conversion film on aluminum and aluminum alloys.  The coating can be applied on the aluminum surface, with or with out color, to form a surface corrosion resistant film when it is dried.  The darker coatings providing the greatest corrosion protection. If is usually specified either “clear”, meaning with no color, or “gold”.  The Classification per Mil-C-5541 is determined by the exposure to time of the aluminum part to the Chemical Film solution.    Qualified under specification MIL-DTL-81706B, Class 1A, Form II, Method A,B,C; and under Class 3, form II, Method C.  The clear Iridite 14-2 finish also qualifies under Class 3, Form II, Method C of the same specification. Qualifies under Specification MIL-C-5541E.     Click here to download a brochure about Chem-Film.

RoHs Compliance

AFT offers both Traditional hexavalent chemical Film and RoHS Hex Free Chemical Film Coatings on a production basis.  The process we use is The IRIDITE NCP, Non Chrome Passivate.  This process has been developed in response to the ELV, RoHS and WEEE directives.  The IRIDITE NCP does not contain Lead, Cadmium, Chromium (hexavalent or trivalent), Mercury or PBB/PBDE compounds.  IRIDITE NCP is an environmentally friendly chemical process that produces a protective conversion coating on aluminum and it's alloys.  The coating can be used as a finial finish or can also serve as a base for paints, high performance topcoats, powder coats, lacquers, or as a base for rubber bonding.  IRIDITE NCP Coating color is always a clear coat.

Qualified under MIL-DTL-81706B, Type 2 B 1 A, B &C  and   MIL-DTL-5541F.

Benefits of Chemical Film

• Conversion Coatings are Economical
• They are easy to use and offer a variety of valuable properties to extend the
  service life of parts
• Minimize Surface Oxidation of Aluminum Parts
• Very Thin Coating: No Dimensional Change
• Primer for Paint Adhesion and other topcoats

Chemistry and Production

• Production process tanks are: 10 FT. long X  2  FT. wide X 4 FT deep
• AFT, Chemistry used for Traditional hexavalent  Chemical Film is MacDermid Iridite
  14-2 and for the RoHS non chrome we use MacDermid IRIDITE NCP chemistry