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Wednesday Jul 21 2004 8:54AM Eastern Time
Torrance, CA — (BUSINESS WIRE SYSTEM) July 21, 2004 — Magnetic Component Engineering, Inc., a California Corporation, located in the City of Torrance, has announced that it is discontinuing the K1014 process effective December 31, 2004. K1014 process is an aluminum chromate coating, typically used on Neodymium Iron Boron magnets to retard oxidation. The management at MCE has said that the primary reason for discontinuing this process is to comply with environmental laws.
K1014 has been an extremely successful coating for Neodymium Iron Boron. The coating complied with military specifications and typically was applied in compliance to MIL-DTL-83488 Rev D Type II Class 2. The coating, however, required a chromate conversion. Chronic inhalation exposure to chromium (VI) in humans results in effects on the respiratory tract, with erforations and ulcerations of the septum, bronchitis, decreased pulmonary function, pneumonia, asthma, and nasal itching and soreness reported. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and OSHA have already begun drives to eliminate the use of chromates in the United States. The EPA has classified chromium (VI) as a Group A, known human carcinogen by the inhalation route of exposure. The European Union (EU) has adopted a new directive, the restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) which also restricts the use of hexavalent chromium in any product that will be placed on the market after July 1, 2006.
MCE has begun offering an alternate coating, process K1228, to replace K1014. The K1228 process is similar to the K1014, just as stringent and controlled, except, after completion of the ion vapor deposition, the aluminum is stabilized with a phosphate conversion instead of a chromate conversion. This is environmentally friendly and safer than the hexavalent chromium baths that are currently being used. The magnet that has undergone the K1228 process is expected to have the same longevity and performance characteristics as the K1014 process.
MCE's sales department has already begun working with key customers to make sure that they start switching over to the K1228 process so that their products are in compliance with the new laws. MCE has also ceased to offer the K1014 process for any new programs.
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