With the RoHS deadline just weeks away, industrial connector specialist, Hypertac, has revealed details of the new processing technologies it has developed to eliminate hexavalent chromium, often employed as a corrosion resistant surface coating in connectors designed for harsh environments. Since no readily available alternative for the substance existed, in April 2000 Hypertac began to investigate technically equivalent but environmentally safe substitutes. The result is a RoHS-compliant passivation treatment, combined with specialised surface preparation and post-processing technique, which provides a paintable surface with corrosion protection and electrical conductivity.
The coating was subjected to a test validation programme including salt spray durability tests, following DIN 50021 SS and life cycle corrosion tests.