REACH - Applications for authorisation AFA035-01 Chromium trioxide

Overview

Public consultation on alternatives

Reference: AFA035-01

Applicant: 

Boeing Distribution (UK) Inc.
Wesco Aircraft EMEA Ltd
MacDermid Performance Solutions UK Ltd
Henkel Ltd

Application Type: Initial

Substance Name: 

Chromium trioxide (includes “acids generated from chromium trioxide and their oligomers", when used in aqueous solutions) (CT)  

• EC No: 215-607-8   
• CAS No: 1333-82-0

Proposed Use: Pre-treatments: Deoxidising, pickling, etching and/or desmutting using chromium trioxide, in aerospace and defence industry and its supply chains.

Broad Information on Use Applied for (Conditions of Use and Function): 

Pre-treatments using chromium trioxide in the aerospace and defence supply chains are carried out exclusively in industrial settings. These pre-treatment processes are categorised as deoxidation, desmutting and pickling/etching (scale conditioner) where they all serve the same purpose; to prepare the surface for subsequent treatment processes.

These processes provide the following key functions: corrosion resistance, adhesion of subsequent coatings (including structural bonding), surface preparation prior to further processing, removal of contaminants/complexes after etching processes, surface roughness modification: removal of mechanically deformed layers/oxides/other compounds from the substrate, and selective removal of material to reveal the surface or to improve surface properties.

The applicants have identified a shortlist of potentially suitable alternatives. Due to the complexity of design challenges, performance requirements, safety requirements and regulatory controls that must be tested for each listed alternative, and the need for industrial implementation in the whole supply chain, the applicant is seeking a review period of 12 years.

This “applied for use” involves the initial use of chromium trioxide across approximately 20 sites across Great Britain (GB)

List of Descriptors:  

• Sector of end use (SU): 0 – Other: Aerospace and defence industry and its supply chains.
• Environmental release category (ERC): 6b.
• Process Category (PROC): 0, 5, 8b, 9, 13, 15, 28.
• Product category (PC): 14.
• Article category related to subsequent service life (AC): N/A.
• Technical Function: Other: Corrosion resistance, adhesion of subsequent coatings (including structural bonding), surface preparation prior to further processing, removal of contaminants/complexes after etching processes, surface roughness modification: removal of mechanically deformed layers/oxides/other compounds from the substrate, and selective removal of material to reveal the surface or to improve surface properties.

Annual Tonnage Used:

• < 10 tonnes/year

Review Period Requested: 12 years

How to submit comments

Provide some basic information on possible alternative(s) in the online survey below but more detailed information should be provided in document(s) prepared using the commenting templates in the related section below. A “public version” should always be completed and will be published after the consultation has closed. If you want to include confidential information in your submission, please additionally complete a “confidential version” and submit both versions as attachments.

The consultation lasts for 8 weeks (unless otherwise specified) and closes at 23:59 London time (BST).