#NASF

NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #123: Electrochemical Manufacturing for Energy Applications – 2nd Quarterly Report

For 2022, NASF-AESF Foundation Research Board has selected a project on electrodeposition toward developing low-cost and scalable manufacturing processes for hydrogen fuel cells and electrolysis cells for clean transportation and distributed power applications. This report is the 2nd quarterly report, covering work during April-June 2022 and consists of an edited manuscript, “Manufacturing and Thermal Shock Characterization of Porous Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia for Hydrogen Energy Systems.”

Congressional Letter Sent to Automakers Regarding Hexavalent Chromium

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) recently sent a major letter to automotive industry CEOs regarding the use of hexavalent chromium from plating in the automotive supply chain. NASF Government Affairs through The Policy Group spoke on this and related topics last week at the Automotive Industry Action Group’s fall conference on the International Material Data System (IMDS).

EPA Submits Proposed PFAS Drinking Water Standard to White House for Review

The new drinking water standard for PFOS and PFOA was submitted to the White Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for interagency review. The proposed rule is expected to be issued by the end of 2022.

EPA Creates New Environmental Justice and Civil Rights Office

EPA formally announced the creation of its new Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. The office is expected to have 200 EPA employees and could have a significant impact of facility permits.

U.S. Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument on WOTUS

Stakeholders looking to Supreme Court for much-needed clarity on the definition of waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act.

NASF Releases October 2022 Policy Update

The National Association for Surface Finishing has released a Policy Update, summarizing some of the pertinent regulatory developments and new announcements from the month of October.

Hubbard-Hall Welcomes Technical Service Rep

Hubbard-Hall hires Jameson Grout as a technical service representative.

Electroplating

Nanostructure of the Anodic and Nanomaterials Nanoparticles in Polyelectrolyte Multilayer-by-Layer (LbL) Films

Microstructure and elemental characterizations have indicated that the finish of a coating with a Layer-by-Layer (LbL) film results in a closely multilayered coating with a smoother surface. In this paper, the principles of assembly are discussed together with the properties of nanoparticles and LbL polymeric assembly essential in building hybrid coatings.

Electroplating

NASF Offers Online Industrial, Precious Metals Plating Course

NASF and its educational branch AESF are offering an online educational course for plating on industrial and precious metals.

NASF Releases September 2022 Policy Update

The National Association for Surface Finishing has released a Policy Update, summarizing some of the pertinent regulatory developments and new announcements from the month of September.

Electroplating

The History of Electroplating and A Historical Review of the Evolution of NASF

The history of electroplating is a curious mixture of mistakes, observations, serendipity and experimental development, enmeshed and entwined with the discovery of electricity in the late 18th century. Join Mr. Nebiolo as he reviews the fascinating history of our industry and its metamorphosis during the last 238 years. He will also provide a brief history of our flagship society, the NASF.

Electroplating

Registration Opens for NASF's Online Zinc & Zinc Alloy Course

The goal of the course is to provide participants with information related to the metallurgy and corrosion behavior of zinc coatings.

Supreme Court Limits EPA Authority to Regulate GHG Emissions

The Supreme Court limits the scope of EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions without action from Congress, but the agency is still able to set carbon emission limits for key sectors of the economy.

NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #122: Electrochemical Approaches to Treatment of PFAS in Plating Wastewater - 5th Quarterly Report

This paper covers a research grant at the University of Georgia - Griffin on developing electrochemical approaches to remove PFASs present in plating wastewaters, under the direction of Professor Qingguo (Jack) Huang. This fifth quarter report assessed eight PFAAs most commonly found in wastewaters, by electro-oxidation with a Ti4O7 anode across a range of anodic potentials in solutions of different compositions and at varying operating conditions.

Electroplating

Smart Modeling and Simulation of Electroplating Systems for Real-Time Monitoring of Chemical, Water and Energy Consumption (NASF Summer Research Grant)

An AESF Foundation summer research grant provided an excellent opportunity for a PhD student to learn how to use chemical engineering fundamentals to scientifically characterize an electroplating process through integrated dynamic modeling and simulation, and how to develop digital twin (DT)-based virtual plant that can be of any process configuration. This is a critical step for the investigation of new technology development for smart and sustainable manufacturing in the surface finishing industry.

Industry Files Legal Challenge of New Stringent Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFAS Chemicals

A major legal challenge is underway targeting EPA’s new stringent drinking water lifetime health advisory levels for PFOA and PFOS. Arguments include a flawed review process and the fact that the new levels are below detection limits for these chemicals in drinking water.

NASF Meets with White House on EPA Move to Propose Rule to List PFOS and PFOA under the Federal Superfund Clean Up Law

EPA’s proposed rule to list PFOS and PFOA as hazardous substances has cleared White House review. Industry has called for risk evaluation and impact analysis as a condition to support the decision.

EPA Readying Fall Nationwide PFAS Survey of Metal Finishing Industry to Inform New Water Discharge Rule

NASF continues discussions with US EPA on the agency’s plans for a nationwide survey of the metal finishing industry on its use of PFAS. NASF plans to review the draft survey and provide feedback to the agency prior to its distribution. Surveys will likely go to a wide range of job shop and captive operations and are scheduled to be sent out in the fall.

NASF Releases August 2022 Policy Update

The National Association for Surface Finishing has released a Policy Update, summarizing some of the pertinent regulatory developments and new announcements from the month of August.

Metal Finishing Facility Released Hexavalent Chromium into Huron River

Wastewater discharge of hexavalent chromium into Huron River results in “no contact” health advisory, sparking calls for more stringent pollution controls and automotive industry action to reduce hexavalent chromium uses.

NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #120: Electrochemical Destruction of Perfluorooctanesulfonate in Electroplating Wastewaters – 7th & 8th Quarter Report

This NASF-AESF Foundation research project report covers the seventh and eighth quarters of project work (October 2021-March 2022) at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The major activities reported are: (1) to investigate 6:2 FTS oxidation, a common replacement compound for PFOS in the electroplating industry, and (2) PFAS oxidation in both a wastewater sample procured from an electroplating facility and in synthetic solutions.

Electroplating

NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #121: Development of a Sustainability Metrics System and a Technical Solution Method for Sustainable Metal Finishing - 9th Quarterly Report

This NASF-AESF Foundation research project report covers the ninth quarter of project work (April June 2022) at Wayne State University in Detroit. The major activities in this report period are: (1) refinement of the sustainability assessment method for technology evaluation with case studies, (2) development of a journal paper and one conference paper, and (3) a presentation at NASF SUR/FIN 2022 in Rosemont, Illinois.

Electroplating

NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #121: Development of a Sustainability Metrics System and a Technical Solution Method for Sustainable Metal Finishing - 8th Quarterly Report

This NASF-AESF Foundation research project report covers the eighth quarter of project work (January-March 2022) at Wayne State University in Detroit. The major activities in this report period are: (1) the development of a sustainability assessment method for technology evaluation with case studies, and (2) a continuous development of a software tool for sustainability assessment.

Electroplating

NASF/AESF Foundation Research Project #123: Electrochemical Manufacturing for Energy Applications - 1st Quarterly Report

Register Now for NASF's Airline & Aerospace Finishing Course

The course provides attendees with a broad range of information related to metal finishing operations that are common in the airline/aerospace industry.

Electroplating

Non-PFAS Wetting Agents for Decorative Chromium(VI) Plating

This article is based on a presentation given at NASF SUR/FIN 2022, in Rosemont, Illinois, in Session 6, Responses to PFAS / PFOA. It follows the case study of three facilities’ conversion from PFAS-containing wetting agents to non-PFAS equivalents, eliminating PFAS and moving forward with a smaller and more sustainable environmental footprint. The journey of conversion from PFAS-containing wetting agents in both chromic-sulfuric etch and hexavalent decorative plating tanks can be complicated and winding due to deep rooted standard industry practices, as well as state and federal regulations. Outlined here is a clear course of action that led to eliminating PFAS from the facilities’ wetting agent strategies.

Building Momentum for the Future of the Finishing Industry

Products Finishing editor-in-chief Scott Francis offers a quick recap of this year’s SUR/FIN surface finishing industry trade show.

NASF Releases May 2022 Policy Update

The National Association for Surface Finishing has released its monthly Policy Update, summarizing some of the pertinent regulatory developments and new announcements from the month of May.

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