Conversion Coatings

Conversion coatings are primarily used to reduce the corrosion effect on aluminium. They also form an ideal surface for paints to bond to. They can therefore be used in the painted or un-painted condition.

Conversion coatings produce a surface film through a chemical reaction with the substrate, which essentially converts the surface. If coatings and paint systems are applied to an aluminium surface with no prior surface conversion, the paint adhesion will be poor and paint may flake off.

Typical conversion coatings like Alocrom or Alodine contain Hexavalent chrome, which means they continue to protect the substrate material even if the paint layer is breached. However, under the new REACH regulations the use of hexavalent conversion coatings is coming to an end. Therefore, Poeton has invested a huge amount of R&D resource over the last 7 years evaluating and perfecting the application methods of the Alocrom alternatives, such as: Surtec 650, Iridite NCP, Socomore TCS PACS and Lanthane.