Pretreatment Capabilities

     Don't compromise the finish, perfect the preparation. Pretreatment is the critical step that guarantees the lifespan of your coating. We utilize comprehensive tank services, including advanced Stripping, Chromate, and Phosphate treatments, to prepare Steel and Aluminum parts for peak performance. With capacity for parts up to 40" wide, 48"depth, and 156" length, we ensure that every component is flawlessly prepped, delivering the highest possible adhesion for a durable, long-lasting finish.

Note: We are proud to say that we use BASF/Chemetall chemicals.

TT-C-490 Chemical Pretreatment & Surface Preparation

TT-C-490 is a U.S. Federal specification covering the cleaning, surface preparation, chemical conversion coating and pretreatment of metallic substrates prior to the application of organic coatings, including liquid paint and powder coatings. Proper pretreatment helps delay the onset of corrosion while providing a clean, properly prepared surface that promotes coating adhesion and long-term coating performance.

Qualicoat provides processing to TT-C-490 Types I, II, III and IV, including:

• Type I – Zinc Phosphate: A zinc phosphate conversion coating used to provide excellent corrosion resistance and a strong bonding surface for subsequently applied coatings.
• Type II – Aqueous Iron Phosphate: A water-based iron phosphate conversion coating commonly used to improve corrosion resistance and adhesion of subsequently applied paint and powder coatings.
• Type III – Organic Pretreatment: An organic pretreatment system designed to prepare and protect metallic surfaces while promoting adhesion of subsequently applied coatings.
• Type IV – Inorganic Pretreatment: An inorganic pretreatment system used to enhance corrosion protection and provide a properly prepared surface for subsequent coating operations.

Cleaning Methods

Surface preparation is critical to the performance of any coating system. Qualicoat also provides multiple cleaning methods recognized under TT-C-490, including:

• Method I – Mechanical or Abrasive Cleaning: Surface preparation through abrasive blasting, sanding      or grinding to remove rust, scale, existing coatings and other surface contamination while producing an appropriate surface profile.
• Method II – Solvent Cleaning: Cleaning by immersion, spray, vapor or hand wiping to remove oils, grease and other organic contaminants from the substrate.
• Method III – Detergent Cleaning: Cleaning by immersion, spray, ultrasonic, hot alkaline or electrolytic methods to remove soils and contaminants and prepare the surface for subsequent pretreatment and coating.

 MIL-DTL-5541 is a U.S. Department of Defense specification covering chemical conversion coatings for aluminum and aluminum alloys. These thin conversion coatings provide corrosion protection while also improving the adhesion of subsequently applied finishes such as liquid paint and powder coating. Depending on the class specified, the coating can also provide corrosion protection while maintaining low electrical contact resistance.

Qualicoat provides MIL-DTL-5541 processing in both RoHS and non-RoHS compliant systems, including:

• Type I – Non-RoHS Compliant: Contains hexavalent chromium and provides excellent corrosion protection. Type I coatings are commonly specified for military, aerospace and other demanding applications.
• Type II – RoHS Compliant: Contains no hexavalent chromium, providing an environmentally compliant alternative while meeting the performance requirements of MIL-DTL-5541.

Both types are available in the following classes:

• Class 1A – Maximum Corrosion Protection: Provides maximum corrosion protection for aluminum surfaces, either painted or unpainted, and provides an excellent base for subsequent paint or powder coating.
• Class 3 – Low Electrical Resistance: Provides corrosion protection while maintaining lower electrical contact resistance, making it particularly suitable for electrical and electronic components, grounding surfaces and other applications where conductivity is important.