Electrochemically Co-Deposited Quasicrystaline Non-Stick Coating for Field Cookware

"This Phase I project is concerned with the design and development of a novel single-step manufacturing method for non-stick quasicrystalline coatings that will be a "drop-in" technology for currently used industrial cookware production lines. The newproposed technology involves a novel method of electrochemical codeposition of non-stick quasicrystalline coatings from low cost, commercially available quasicrystalline powders (Al65-Cu23-Fe12) suspended in a copper-plating bath.Preliminary results performed by Lynntech Inc. confirm the feasibility of the electrochemically codeposited quasicrystalline coatings and establish the scientific basis for Phase I experiments to qualify this new surface treatment for aluminum cookwareapplications. Lynntech has shown electrochemically codeposited quasicrystalline coatings subjected to low cycle multi-pass scratch tests had a coefficient of friction as low as m = 0.09 which is comparable to PTFE coated samples, as well as, the coatingthickness can varied by directly controlling codeposition time.The proposed coating will be easily applicable to commercially available aluminum cookware and will provide the following advantages: (i.) non-stick characteristics, similar to commercially available PTFE, (ii.) resistance to wear, (iii.) corrosionprotection, as well as, (iv.) good adhesion to substrate with the ability to withstand rapid temperature fluctuations. Briefly, in Phase I, research will be c