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Surface treatments are typically used to improve corrosion resistance, durability and part appearance.
Common surface treatments include powder coating, anodizing, plating, and black oxide.
Powder Coating
Powder coating is a surface treatment process in which powdered plastic is baked onto a metal surface with static electricity. It looks similar to paint but is more durable. The coating is hard and abrasion-resistant to improve the quality, life, and appearance of products made of steel, aluminum, and other metal materials.
Anodizing
Anodizing works by electrolytic passivation, a process in which the coated part acts as the anode of an electrolytic cell. When the cell is charged with a direct current, oxygen is produced on the surface of the anode, which then reacts with the part to form an oxide layer. Anodic oxidation is usually carried out in a sulfuric acid solution.
Anodizing protects the metal by increasing the thickness of the oxide layer on the surface of the metal. When the coating thickness is less than 0.001″, it is referred to as standard or Type II anodizing. When the coating thickness is greater than 0.001″, it is referred to as hard coat or Type III anodizing. Anodizing is commonly used to color parts, improve durability and enhance corrosion resistance. It also allows lubricants to adhere better to the original metal and reduces the galling of threaded parts. Anodizing is typically applied to aluminum, but can also be applied to other metals and dyed to almost any color.
Plating
In the simplest terms, plating is the process of covering the surface of another metal (or other conductive) with a thin layer of metal. Because it is so thin, plating does not substantially hide or smooth out surface defects. Plating is commonly used to prevent corrosion, improve durability, alter surface friction, and improve appearance.
Black Oxide
Black oxide, sometimes referred to as blacking, is a low-cost surface treatment used to increase corrosion resistance, reduce reflections, and improve the appearance of parts. Black oxide conversion coatings are produced by immersing ferrous metal parts in a hot, alkaline aqueous salt solution bath. Upon immersion, a chemical reaction occurs on the surface of the part, resulting in a magnetite coating. As a final step, a post-treatment of oil, wax, or lacquer is applied to increase corrosion resistance.
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