This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Una empresa vasca, la primera en el mundo en aplicar un nuevo "proceso verde" en la fabricación de componentes de automóvil

A Basque company, the first in the world in applying a new "green process" in the manufacture of components of car

19/12/2013

19 December 2013

Maier, manufacturer of components and subsets for automotive sector, European referent in cromado and special finishings, leads an ambitious European initiative for the industrial production of new materials by means of processes more ecological and efficient. Maier Pretends with this project anticipate to the European requirements in matter of sustainability at the same time that provide innovative solutions and of big value added to his important wallet of customers.

The project, designated 'Scaling-up of the Aluminium Plating Process from Ionic Liquids' ('Scail-UP'), has like main aim the development of a new industrial process for the coating of substrata plastic and metallic by means of the electrodeposición of aluminium from ionic liquids, giving place to materials of engineering advanced for the sectors of automotive sector and aeronautical sector component manufacturing sector component manufacturing.

In the industry of the car the coatings of chromium apply frequently because of his low cost, good mechanical properties, high resistance to the corrosion as well as by the aesthetics of the finishing, so appreciated by the consumers. Although the surfaces of metallic chromium are not toxic, his obtaining comports subject processes to European norms increasingly strict in environingingmental matter. This is the reason whereby the tendency is to substitute them by alternative coatings such as the aluminium. Between the different processes for the obtaining of said coatings, the electrodeposición from ionic liquids has resulted an especially promising road.

The ionic liquids are salts that present in liquid state to low temperatures (<100 °C). They possess an extremely low volatility, inflamabilidad despicable and the capacity to dissolve numerous substances. These properties are allowing to find applications in different areas like the chemicals, the biotechnology or the power. Inside the field of the electrodeposición, the ionic liquids present multiple advantages in front of the electrolitos aqueous. Between others, allow the electrodeposición of the aluminium, something impossible to carry out from a half aqueous. This process has been studied in diverse projects of R&D, but always in a small way; Scail-Up will be the first that do it to scale industrial.

The new process will have important advantages regarding the cromado traditional such as the reduction of power and the decrease of prime matter. Besides, it guarantees the minimum environingingmental impact by means of the replacement of the less respectful processes, at the same time that it looks for a high degree of automation and the simultaneous production of more than a piece.

The project nourishes of the special strategic collaboration with the Technological Centre IK4-Cidetec, expert in innovation and development of new technologies in the areas of materials, surfaces and power. Specifically, in the project Scail-Up, the centre will investigate in the field of the treatments and superficial coatings with the aim to obtain fine layers in applications of high value added, in addition to working in the use of the ionic liquids in the processes of electrodeposición and extraction equipment equipment of metals.

The consortium of the Scail-Up complete with the essentially industrial vision contributed by the other companies participants: Turbocoating S.p.To., skilled Italian company in the manufacture of coatings protective of the components used in turbines of industrial gas and motors of aviation, in which they are precise materials based in superaleaciones of nickel; IONIC Liquids Technologies GmbH, expert in ionic liquids, and C-Tech Innovation Ltd., leader in the design of new technological processes and with dilated experience in the industrial design of electrochemical systems. Finally, the Consorzio Interuniversity Nazionale per the Sciencia and the Tecnologia dei Materiali will contribute his knowledge and experience in materials advanced and technologies related.

Scaill-Up Will put to the service of the industry a new process of manufacture that will allow to offer a more innovative product, competitive and of high value added in addition to respectful with the surroundings and the people.