Yttrium-based metal primer to resist corrosion in automobiles. Cationic electrodeposition primers provide corrosion resistance, high transfer efficiency (low waste), reliable automated application, and very low organic emissions in the automobile industry. Traditional electrocoats utilize lead salts or lead pigments to enable their high corrosion resistance properties. Using yttrium is 100 times safer than lead at typical levels of use and is more effective in preventing corrosion. Yttrium is a common element in the environment and more plentiful than lead and silver. This metal primer also does not require chromium- or nickel-based pretreatments, preventing waste. Yttrium is twice as effective as lead on a weight basis, yielding commercial coatings that contain half the yttrium by weight relative to lead in comparably performing-containing products. Yttrium deposits hydroxide as it is deposited in an electrocoat film. The hydroxide is converted to yttrium oxide, which is extraordinarily nontoxic and unlikely to cause future environmental or health problems.
EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge: 2001 Designing Greener Chemicals Award
