Chromate replacement: what does the future hold?

Abstract

The ubiquitous use of chromium and its derivatives as corrosion preventative compounds accelerated rapidly after the second industrial revolution, with such compounds now integral to modern society. However, the detrimental impact of chromium compounds on the environment and human health has prompted the need to revisit the majority of current industrial corrosion protection measures. This review retraces the origins of chromium replacement motivations, introducing the various legislative actions aimed at diminishing the use of chromium compounds, and critically reviews alternative corrosion preventative technologies developed in the recent decades to now. The review, herein, is intended for a broad audience in order to provide a concise update to an increasingly timely issue.