Coating system meets EU requirements

The European parliament has introduced strict new controls on the disposal of scrap cars and trucks, giving the original manufacturer a "cradle to grave" responsibility.

In June 1999 the European parliament announced the introduction of strict new controls on the disposal of scrap cars and trucks.

This legislation, now European law and due to come into force in 2006, places the responsibility for recycling on the original manufacturer, resulting in a "cradle to grave" type responsibility for the safe disposal of vehicles once they reach the end of their useful life.

The EU directive states that as of the year 2006 end of life vehicles are to be taken back free of charge with no restrictions to the age and the condition of the car.

Articles 4.2 and 6.3 limit the use in essential applications of "hazardous" materials; lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium.

New vehicle types introduced after 2003 must be certified as 85% recyclable and 95% recoverable.

After year 2015, 95% must be recyclable.

5% may be deposited in landfills.

GM and Ford have announced that vehicles manufactured after July 2003 will not contain any of the restricted substances.

This has resulted in several new automotive specifications being developed, GM 3044 and Ford S437.

As these and many more specifications are deployed, the chrome-free demands on the supply chain increases and opportunities for suppliers with suitable alternative systems will develop.

MacDermid as taken this change in market requirements very seriously and developed a range of passivation systems, based on trivalent chromium compounds, which meet the environmental requirements of EOLVD.

This newly developed ELV range of passivation treatments has been incorporated into a new, high-performance coating system called ZinKlad.

This new brand not only meets the current EOLVD requirements, but also offers applicators and users a range of cosmetic and performance options to meet current automotive requirements.

ZinKlad not only exceeds the current performance requirements, it makes the choice of coating easy, application methods simple and quality conformance more achievable.

ZinKlad describes a range of high-performance coatings developed by MacDermid, to meet or exceed the most demanding corrosion-resistant specifications of today's manufacturing industry, without the use of hexavalent chrome compounds.

ZinKlad products represent the best available technique for meeting the end of life vehicle requirements (EOLV) set out by European governments in response to increasing environmental pressures.

In harmony with this new legislation, most of the world's major automotive manufacturers have announced their intention to limit or inhibit the use of hexavalent chromium in surface coatings and passivation films.

ZinKlad coatings are zinc-based finishes, topcoats and lubricants specifically developed to enhance corrosion protection, heat resistance and provide controlled torque-tightening properties.

All systems are free from hexavalent chromium compounds.

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