Crosslink and Wayne Pigment have formed a joint venture named CW Technologies to market hexavalent chromium-free or non-chromate corrosion inhibitor pigments for industrial and military applications.
CW Technologies was established in late May 2011 subsequent to the acquisition of a patent by Crosslink for its chromium-free corrosion inhibitor technology. Wayne Pigment has secured numerous patents over the past several years for the advancement of hybrid inhibitor pigment technologies for the Aerospace coatings industry.
Crosslink developed a prospective technology as a substitute to the conventional chromate-based pigments. Spirit AeroSystems and Boeing Research & Technology have tested the technology as per different industry-standard screening technologies and standards. The Battelle Institute has also conducted an outdoor marine testing on the technology.
CW Technologies will offer a commercialized coating technology based on the non-chromate pigment technologies of Wayne Pigment and Crosslink. As part of the commercialization plan of the Joint venture, Wayne Pigment and Crosslink are also looking for collaborations with firms in the coatings industry to engineer maximized conversion coat, top coat and primer formulations.
The coatings products will initially be used for applications in general aviation, commercial and military applications, while the joint venture has long-term plans to find a wide range of applications in infrastructure, industrial, military and commercial aircraft and vehicles.
The Chief Executive Officer at Crosslink, Gary Krall stated that in partnership with Wayne Pigment, the company will bring smart and advanced coatings systems that control corrosion effectively and eliminate the problems associated with the toxic properties of conventional corrosion inhibitor products.