New Chrome-Free, Environmentally Friendly Methods in Chemical Processes

This paper presents an overview of our research work to develop chrom-free methods in different chemical processes (mainly surface treatment - anticorrosion protection of metal alloys like aluminium and/or magnesium). A new class of materials, the conductive polymers, have been studied extensively for their anticorrosion properties. The use and disposal of chromium compounds give rise to a complex environmental and public health protection problem. These compounds received much regulatory attention because of their toxicity (most of these compounds are confirmed or suspected human carcinogens) and there is the tendency for their use to be completely banned in the future from all the industrial sectors where contaminated effluents can be produced. The following methods are discussed.