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Guides Home | Custom Manufacturing & Fabricating Toxicity and Metal Finishing Pollution has long been a problem that industrial manufacturers face. Metal finishing, specifically metal plating, is one industry facet that has lead to countless research initiatives to understand and control the effects of waste on the environment. As a result, there now exists a broader understanding of potential harmful results of metal plating, as well as standards for safe waste disposal.   Plating: What’s the Problem?   There are several widely agreed upon hazards associated with traditional metal plating, especially when it comes to heavy metals and cyanide. Practical Solutions for Economic and Environmental Vitality (PPRC) offers the following environmental and health concerns.   Chromium, despite its strong corrosion resistance, contains chromate—chromate and its products are carcinogens. Lead, when used in plating, can be absorbed through skin tissue and potentially damage the brain, kidneys, and muscles. Cadmium can lead to cancer and failure of the lungs and kidneys. Cyanide, commonly used in plating baths, prevents oxygen absorption by cells and is toxic to the environment if improperly disposed.   Because of the risks these particular metals pose, significant attempts have been made to clean up and “green” the plating process. The US Navy, for example, has introduced a trivalent chromium conversion coating bath that can be used in place of chromate solutions. Because chromate is not only a potential hazard when used in metal plating, many industries may benefit from the Navy’s new process. Additionally, cadmium, zinc, and aluminum may potentially be formed using the same process as chromium, thereby reducing multiple risks associated with metal plating. Other developments have successfully led to the replacement of toxic materials during surface finishing, including: Replacement of cyanide, cadmium, decorative trivalent chrome, with less toxic alternatives. Replacement of waste-water treatment chemicals with alternatives that create less toxic by-products.   Industry Standards and Requirements   Although multiple steps have been made toward greening up the metal finishing process, the process still must adhere to specific requirements and standards to further reduce environmental damage. Waste-water must be pretreated to reduce metal concentrations—metal concentrations above a certain level may result in a plant being closed down for failure to meet regulations. Because the main hazard associated with plating is the plating solution, creating a safer plating process means handling the waste or minimizing the waste in regards to the solution. The following eco-efficient tips can help with waste management. Test the metalworking fluid periodically. Minimize plating solution contamination by using high-purity anodes.Substitute cyanide and hexavalent chromium with non-cyanide and trivalent chromium to reduce the toxicity of the solution. Using drain boards as part of the process line can minimize wasted solution. Keep waste separate to minimize contamination and improve chances of recyclability. Although steps can be taken to minimize the harmful effects of metal plating, the process will always result in a certain amount of waste. Waste disposal itself can cause harm if done incorrectly, so it’s important to minimize waste and follow appropriate disposal guidelines. Using proper equipment to minimize sludge can help, as can testing dated materials before disposing of them. Raw material and empty containers should be returned to the supplier, or re-used and recycled whenever possible. Other Custom Manufacturing & Fabricating Guides Alloys Used in Die Casting Aluminum Extrusion in Construction Applications Of Precision Stampings

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