The Ultimate Guide to Henkel/Loctite Conversion Coatings for Aerospace and Industrial Maintenance

What are Conversion Coatings?

Conversion coatings are an important surface treatment for aerospace and industrial maintenance, increasing corrosion resistance and promoting paint adhesion on common metal substrates, particularly aluminum and magnesium alloys. 

These coatings undergo a chemical reaction with the metal surface to form a protective layer that not only prevents corrosion but also improves bonding strength for coatings and adhesives. Henkel/Loctite is the conversion coatings manufacturer you have come to know and respect over the years, and Greenwood Aerospace is your trusted source for their products. 

M-CR Magnesium Aero Conversion Coating

8 oz Kit
Description Chromate conversion coating for magnesium alloys – a corrosion protection and adhesion-enhancing coating.

ALODINE M-CR 1200S

10 lb Can
Description Brown powdered chromate conversion coating for aluminum surfaces – excellent corrosion resistance.

M-CR 1132 Bonderite Touch-N-Prep Pen

40 ml Pen
Description Portable pen applicator for quick touch-up chromate coating on aluminum and steel.

M-CR 600RTU

Quart Kit
Description Ready-to-use orange chromate conversion coating for aluminum and magnesium surfaces.

Why Choose Henkel/Loctite Conversion Coatings?

Henkel Chemicals is a well-known brand that has been around for a long while and owns other common household brands, namely Loctite, which every mechanic worth their salt owns a good stock of. 

Henkel produces conversion coatings widely used in aviation and aerospace that meet rigorous military and industry standards, including MIL-DTL-81706 and MIL-DTL-5541. Their products offer superior performance in corrosion prevention and paint adhesion, making them ideal for use in military aircraft maintenance tasks on the airframe. 

Let’s take a look at these four products and see how they can work.  

Product 1: M-CR Magnesium Aero Conversion Coating Chromate (8 oz Kit)

M-CR Madnesium Aero Conversion is a chromate-based conversion coating that is designed for use with magnesium alloys.

Key Features

  • Non-flammable aqueous solution with chromic acid as the active ingredient.
  • Produces a hard, brown-to-gray coating free of powdery residue when applied correctly.
  • Meets aggressive aerospace corrosion and adhesion specifications.

Applications

Recommended for touch-up and corrosion repair on magnesium aerospace parts before painting.

Technical Specs

  • Operating temperature range: 60-100°F (15-37°C).
  • Application: Brush on a clean, water-rinsed magnesium surface, maintain wet for 1-3 minutes, then rinse.
  • Coverage depends on application technique; coating thickness is enough for corrosion resistance without excessive buildup.
  • Contains hexavalent chromium; handle with appropriate PPE and ventilation.

GSA Advantage Benefits

Direct procurement through GSA, fast shipping, and regulatory compliance assurance.

GSA Link: M-CR Magnesium Aero Conversion Coating 8 oz Kit. 

Product 2: ALODINE M-CR 1200S (Brown, 10 lb Can)

ALODINE M-CR 1200S is a powdered chromate conversion coating that is commonly used for aluminum surface preparations, so structural repair shops will go through quite a lot of it. It produces a light, iridescent, golden, or even tan film that, once applied correctly, serves as a protective barrier to resist corrosion and promote paint adhesion. 

Conversion Coating Process Overview

Application and control parameters for aerospace-grade chemical conversion coating operations.

Category Compliance
QPL‑81706, MIL‑DTL‑5541 (Class 1A & Class 3) Meets aerospace-grade standards
Category Operating Temperature
70 °F – 100 °F Typical ambient range for the application
Category Immersion / Spray Time
15 seconds – 3 minutes Minimum to maximum exposure for effective conversion
Category Bath pH
1.3 – 1.8 Maintained by controlled nitric-acid addition
Category Application Methods
Brush, Immersion, Spray Use stainless-steel or chemical-resistant equipment; choose based on part geometry and production volume
Category Pre-application Prep
Strict cleaning → de-oxidizing → rinsing → drying Essential for consistent coating quality
Category Quality-Control Steps
Bath titration & pH testing Performed continuously during operation
Category Typical Applications
Large aerospace & industrial projects; long-term corrosion resistance; strong paint bond Suited for high-performance structural components
Best fit: This layout is ideal for a technical process summary, a landing-page module, or a product/process explainer where the goal is quick scanning with a premium spec-sheet feel.

Key Features of ALODINE M-CR 1200S

  • It's certified to meet the QPL-81706 and MIL-DTL-5541 standards, which cover Class 1A and Class 3 coatings.
  • Runs smoothly at 70-100°F - either a 15-second dip or a 3-minute spray will do the trick.
  • The bath pH is tightly controlled between 1.3 and 1.8 by carefully adding nitric acid.

GSA Advantage Buy for M-CR 1200S

Available for bulk purchase with cost savings and federal procurement compliance.

GSA Link: ALODINE M-CR 1200S Brown 10 lb 

Product 3: M-CR 1132 Bonderite Touch-N-Prep (Yellow, 40 ml Pen)

This next product is different. The Bonderite Touch-N-Prep is a small pen that is to create dry-in-place conversion coatings. This is meant for quick touch-up work on small areas of aluminum, though it also works with some ferrous metals. 

It is the perfect tool for field maintenance teams and AOG crews performing minor road surface repairs. This is great because it allows the preparation of small areas without entering surface treatment facilities. 

Buy it now on GSA Advantage through Greenwood Aerospace→M-CR 1132 Bonderite Touch-N-Prep 40 ml Pen

If you need to equip your whole AOG team with this product, or any other product we carry and sell on GSA Advantage, you can contact our team at gsasales@greenwood.aero or give us a call at 580-865-6000 or 833-GSA-EBUY (833-472-3289). These are dedicated lines for GSA Advantage listings, so they will go straight to the source with any questions you have about buying bulk or anything else listing-related. 

Product 4: M-CR 600RTU (Orange, Quart Kit)

M-CR 600RTU is a ready-to-use chromate conversion coating in a bottle, designed for fast application to aluminum and magnesium surfaces. It is pre-measured and pre-mixed, so there is no need to dilute it or use any additional compounds or chemicals. 

Product Summary Table

M-CR 600RTU Orange Quart Kit

A ready-to-use orange-chromate conversion coating designed for fast application, durable corrosion protection, and aerospace/industrial field use.

Quick-Use Conversion Coating
Chemistry Single-component, orange-chromate No mixing required
Curing Speed Rapid cure Exact time not specified; supports fast turnaround
Corrosion Protection Strong, durable protection Suitable for harsh environments
Applicable Environments Industrial & aerospace settings Optimized for quick processing workflows
Application Methods Brush or spray No dilution required; simple, versatile tooling
Temperature Range Typical aerospace-maintenance temperatures Works under normal shop conditions
Compliance MIL-DTL-81706, MIL-DTL-5541 Meets aerospace coating standards
Typical Use Cases Shop-bath and on-site field use Flexible for both indoor and outdoor jobs

GSA Link→ M-CR 600RTU Orange Quart Kit

How to Choose the Right Conversion Coating for Your Needs

Here is a simple matrix to help you choose the best product. If you are ready to make a purchase, click the hyperlink to go straight to the product page on GSA Advantage. 

Product Metal Type Application Type Packaging Typical Use Case
M-CR Magnesium Aero Kit Magnesium Touch-up / Repair 8 oz kit Magnesium component repair
ALODINE M-CR 1200S Aluminum Large scale / Bath 10 lb powder can Major aerospace/industrial ops
M-CR 1132 Touch-N-Prep Aluminum, Steel Field Touch-up 40 ml pen Quick, on-the-spot repairs
M-CR 600RTU Aluminum, Magnesium Ready-to-use liquid Quart kit Fast shop or field coating

Why Procure Through GSA Advantage?

GSA Advantage is the simplest way to buy products when you are stocking a military supply point or a federal flight operation. It is as easy as any other e-commerce website; if you have a government charge card and are authorized to use GSA Advantage, you get a simple one-stop shop. 

Greenwood Aerospace is a GSA Schedule holder, holds a GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) contract (number 47QSMS25D00B8), is Native-American owned, and is HUBZone-certified. 

Final Thoughts

Conversion coatings are another small but important piece of the overall corrosion protection and inhibition puzzle. They are also important for surface preparation to guarantee proper paint adhesion, which is no small deal; hundreds upon hundreds of gallons of paint are required for some jets in the fleet. Bad paint adhesion wastes money and time, and proper surface preparation is cheap insurance. 

Have questions or need fast delivery? Reach out to Greenwood Aerospace by email at 

gsasales@greenwood.aero or by phone at 580-865-6000 / 833-GSA-EBUY (833-472-3289). We are a Native American-owned and HUBZone-certified small business, and we guarantee quality service and fast delivery.