Brookhaven laboratory patents metal coating

In Upton, N.Y., scientists at the US Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory have been awarded US Patent No. 7,507,480 for their method of coating metal surfaces with an ultrathin film containing nanoparticles, which makes the metal resistant to corrosion without the use of chromium, a toxic substance usually used for this purpose. The coating is produced using a two- or three-step process and can be applied in a variety of ways, depending on how the metal will be used. The patent covers the team’s method as well as any metals made by its application. The technology is available for licensing.