Electro-polishing with a Strippable Coating for Cleaning Titanium and Aluminum Prior to Welding or Brazing

ADA Technologies Inc. has developed an electrochemical strippable coating technology for the removal of radioactive contaminants from conductive surfaces. The proposed three-phase SBIR project would apply this electrochemical technology to cleaning surfaces prior to welding or brazing. The process will eliminate grease, dirt, and rust from conductive surfaces using electro-polishing techniques. Once the strippable coating fully cures the material along with the contaminants can be stripped off of the surface, leaving only a clean uniform surface behind. The remaining waste is a plastic film which can be disposed in standard municipal garbage or possibly recycled. During the Phase I portion of this three-phase SBIR project, ADA will clean titanium plates using standard pickling methods and the electrochemical strip-coat method. The surface of the coupons will then be analyzed for cleanliness using SEM and post-weld strength using tensile tests.