One-step conversion treatment
DIFFERENCES AND ADVANTAGES COMPARED TO MULTI-STEP SOLUTIONS
Background
Traditionally, metal pre-washing is carried out in several steps, for example with acidic and/or alkaline washing including water rinsing, or with solvents — or a combination of these. Traditional technologies also include multi-step phosphating solutions, which, in addition to cleaning, form a non-organic coating. These washes represent a qualitatively lower level of pre-treatment (paint adhesion, corrosion protection). Higher quality can be achieved by adding treatment and rinsing steps, such as traditional thin film coating with zirconium, silane or titanium-based treatments, or zinc phosphating.
The final quality result depends on many factors, including the purity of chemicals and rinses, the temperature and the processing time.
One-step Toran 3 stands out from the competition
Toran 3 is a solvent-based process that removes the protective oil from the piece to be treated and binds it to the polymer surface. The resulting surface has excellent corrosion protection and paint adhesion properties.
The operating principle of the technology is different from the traditional fourfold table of water washing (water, time, heat, motion). The Toran process does not use water, the chemical solution is not heated and the required processing time is short. The treatment can be compared to a dishwasher, where water is replaced by a solvent-based chemical and no heating is required:
- The protective oil in the pieces binds to the conversion surface (Plaforization technology)
- The process does not create sludge
- The chemical is filtered to remove dirt particles (the sludge is non-toxic)
- The chemical never loses its effectiveness — just add more according to consumption
Will the quality of the one-step treatment be maintained in continuous use?
The pieces to be processed, such as sheet metal products (with or without protective oil), are ideally suited for Toran 3 processing in industrial production. The solution is not suitable for removing limescale, oxides or other similar contaminants.
Our principal has more than 250 clients worldwide using the one-step (Plaforization) technology. Examples include Mercedes, Kawasaki, Canon and JCB. In Finland, the traffic sign manufacturer Kaskea Group Oy (formerly Laatukilpi Oy), for example, has been using the Toran 3 dipping solution since 2015.
Corrosivity categories to be achieved with the Toran 3 process
80% of industrial painting in Finland fits into the C3-M category (salt spray test 240t) or lower. C3-M is also sufficient for usual exterior painting needs in coastal areas of Finland.
Examples of corrosivity categories enabled by the Toran 3 solution
– Polished steel + Toran + PE paint C3-M
– Blasted steel + Toran + PE paint C4-H
– Aluminium + Toran + PE paint C5-H
Learn more about the corrosivity categories enabled by the solutions we represent.