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NASF TECHNICAL PAPERS EDITED BY DR. JAMES LINDSAY, NASF TECHNICAL EDITOR 12 JANUARY 2016 — pfonline.com Low Temperature Curing of Hydrogen Silsesquioxane Surface Coatings for Corrosion Protection of Aluminum Felix Lampert, Technical University of Denmark; Annemette Hindhede Jensen, SiOx ApS, Espergærde, Denmark; and Per Møller, Technical University of Denmark Vitreous enameling is a well-known coating technology for the corrosion protection of metals due to the outstanding barrier properties of silica glass. Hydrogen Silsesquioxane (HSQ) has shown to be a promising precursor for corrosion protective glass coatings for metallic substrates due to the excellent barrier properties of the flms, especially in the appli- cation of protective coatings for aluminum in the automotive industry where high chemical stability in alkaline environments is required. However the traditional thermal curing of HSQ involves heating to elevated temperatures, which are beyond those applicable for most industrial applications of aluminum. In this study, low temperature processes are tested and evalu- ated as possible alternatives to the traditional high tempera- ture cure. Thin HSQ flms are deposited on silicon wafers to model the degree of curing induced by the low temperature methods in comparison to thermal curing. Furthermore, the coatings are applied on aluminum substrates to evaluate the adhesion and corrosion resistance of the flms. The paper, origi- nally presented at SUR/FIN 2015, can be accessed and printed at short.pfonline.com/NASF16Jan1 The Characterization of the Stannous Chloride/ Palladium Chloride Catalysts for Electroless Plating E. Matijević, Institute of Colloid and Surface Science, Clarkson College of Technology, Potsdam, NY; A.M. Poskanzer, Shipley Co., Inc.. Newton, Mass.; and P. Zuman, Institute of Colloid and Surface Science, Clarkson College of Technology, Potsdam, NY. This month, the AES Gold Medal Award Paper for 1975 is presented. This was the time when plating of plastics continued to be of major importance and the subject of much research. By this time, the tin chloride / palladium chloride chemistry was the primary focus in the sensi- tization/catalysis step of the process for ABS. In this work, Matijević and co-workers at Clarkson College in Potsdam, New York, made a comprehensive study of several generic and commercial systems in order to elucidate just how the tin chloride / palladium chloride system worked, and which systems were most efective in doing the job. The full paper can be accessed and printed at short.pfonline.com/NASF16Jan2 The budget deal passed by Congress and signed into law by the President on November 2 contained provisions to raise spending caps and the debt limit as well as delay major budget battles until afer the presidential election. NASF members should know that the package also contained an essentially unnoticed provision that allows OSHA to increase fnes starting August 1, 2016, for workplace safety violations. The provision, which caught both business and labor by surprise, outlines a process that permits the agency to increase penalties for the frst time in 25 years. First, the White House Ofice of Management and Budget must issue guidance to imple- ment the new law's provision by Jan. 31, 2016. Second, OSHA will be allowed to increase fnes to "catch up" with infation since 1990 by issuing by July 1, 2016, an "interim fnal rule," which is typically a rulemaking process that does not require an agency to invite public comment before a fnal decision is made. The rule would become efective August 1. Third, starting in 2017, OSHA will be allowed to increase fnes to keep up with infation. The bill, importantly, does allow OSHA to select a lower fne increase if it chooses and the White House agrees. Whether this will occur, of course, remains to be seen. The new law doesn't say anything about the 28 states that run their own safety and health programs, and it's early enough in the process that OSHA has not begun developing any guidance for the states. However, it's anticipated that the new federal fne struc- ture will be required by states so they will be at least as stringent in their own programs. If OSHA implements the maximum increase allowed, which is the infation rate from 1990 to 2015 as measured by the Consumer Price Index, then the penalty for violations would jump by over 80 percent. What that would mean is that fnes for serious violations could increase from $7,000 to about $12,000. The highest penalty amount—for repeat and willful violations— could increase from $70,000 to about $125,000. It's useful to point out that OSHA is not required by the new provision to raise its penalties to the maximum, however, and the agency may use its discretion on amounts for individual citations. NASF will be closely monitoring OSHA's activity moving into next year and will keep members abreast of rulemaking and related developments. At this point, it's likely that getting even a Republican-controlled Congress to block or reverse OSHA's action next fall will be challenging, as Congress approved the language with this month's approval of the budget bill. Stay tuned for future NASF updates. OSHA Fines for Workplace Violations to Increase in 2016 Fines for serious violatons could increase from $7,000 to about $12,000. NASF REPORT