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Need an off-the-shelf test kit for chromate conversion coating (MIL-DTL-5541, type 1, Classes 1A & 3, Clear)

I am a Quality Assurance Director in the industrial defense sector. We procure fabricated aluminum parts with MIL-DTL-5541, type 1 (hexavalent), CL 1A & 3 CLEAR chromate conversion coating. My problem is the clear chem film is impossible to visually verify. Is there a commercial off the shelf test kit available for verification of the clear chem film coating?

William Gates
Quality Assurance Director - Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, USA
October 11, 2010

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I'm not sure about a test kit but you can ask your supplier for salt spray test results or you can even send one out yourself.
We do clear here and you can kinda see a touch of gold on the edges, but I guess that would depend on the brand of chem film.

Hope this helps

Micheline Forth
Metal Finishing - Rincon, Georgia, USA
October 14, 2010

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Hi Bill,
Do a search on the past posting at this site. Use spot test for chem film. There is an old one that has a reply a few months ago with two possibilities. I will guess that there are a lot more if you hit all of the archives.
Jim

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
October 15, 2010

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William

See topic 12510

Willie Alexander
- Colorado Springs, Colorado
October 15, 2010