Metal Finishing

Top Precious Metals ETFs

2011-06-29T02:40:00.000-07:00

Fund Name Get Info Overall Rating Risk Grade
ETFS Physical Swiss Gold Shares SGOL A+ B+
Global X Copper Miners ETF COPX A+ B
ETFS Physical Palladium Shares PALL A+ B-
ProShares Ultra Gold UGL A+ B-
First Trust ISE Global Copper Idx CU A B-
Market Vectors Junior Gold Mnrs ETF GDXJ A B-
SPDR Gold Shares GLD A B
PowerShares DB Precious Metals Fund DBP A- B-
PowerShares DB Gold Fund DGL A- B
ETFS Physical Platinum Shares PPLT A- B

Metal Touch Plating Company

2011-06-29T02:31:00.000-07:00

Metal Touch Plating and Bumper is a full service metal restoration company dedicated to providing quality Polishing, Plating and finish work on all types of metals including:
Aluminum, Brass, copper, gold, steel and more. Our services have covered everything from show car parts, antiques, home decor, motorcycles. Other services offered include welding, bead and sand blasting, some fabrication, engine turning and minor machining.
Metal Touch Plating and Bumpe can also handle any of your chrome plating needs. We also take great pride in restoring aged parts to their original pristine condition as well as offering to all our customers a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee on all our work.

Over 26 years experience
Chrome and nickle plating
Stainless trim restoration
Aluminum trim restoration
Restoration and polishing
Hand polished

Ampere Metal Finishing Canada

2011-04-26T00:23:00.000-07:00

Ampere Metal Finishing believe that providing Ampere Metal Finishing customers with a consistent level of quality that meets or exceeds their requirements and delivering these quality products in a timely manner at the best possible prices are key to the long-term success of Ampere Metal Finishing company. Ampere Metal Finishing team approach actively encourages a partnership with Ampere Metal Finishing customers, our employees and Ampere Metal Finishing suppliers in a commitment towards continuous improvement, innovation and quality.

blackoxidescrews Ampere Metal Finishing trained staff, working in our 20,000 square foot facilities, has the knowledge, the skills, and the resources to provide you with a high level of service. Our facilities includes fifteen feet long processing tanks, along with a two ton lifting capacity, for both black oxide and zinc phosphate coating. This allows Ampere Metal Finishing to process those heavy, oversized parts that most metal finishing shops are unable to handle.

And for your bulk processing requirements, our black oxide barrel line, with a two hundred pound load capacity, allows us to provide you with a quality job and a fast delivery time. Our manganese and zinc phosphate line offers barrel, basket or rack processing with a lifting capacity of one ton.

All our metal finishing processes and services have been designed to accommodate both high volume and small production runs. This provides a built-in flexibility of production requirements while maintaining a strict adherence to all specifications.

fabrication Ampere Metal Finishing also has on-site facilities for designing and fabricating many of our own production racks, jigs and other necessary equipment.

This added capability offers several advantages which our customers benefit from. First of all, it allows us to design and fabricate a rack or jig specifically for a particular part configuration in order to ensure maximum productivity while minimizing or eliminating rack or jig marks.

It allows us to reduce first run production delays in many instances, since we can often fabricate the needed equipment in less time than an outside source. And it eliminates or minimizes much of the down time related to equipment maintenance and repair.

Let us join your team now!

The Enware Chrome Factory

2011-02-18T07:09:00.000-08:00

Contact The Enware Chrome Factory
The Chrome Factory
Email: chromefactory@enware.com.au
Tel: +61 2 8543 4800
Fax: +61 2 9525 3486

Address:
64-66 Woodfield Boulevard
Caringbah NSW 2229
Australia

GENERAL Metal Finishing Company

2010-09-01T06:08:00.002-07:00

In 1972, General Metal Finishing began supplying rack & barrel gold electroplating services to stamping, machining and glass-to-metal seal companies throughout New England. Through it’s commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, GMF has grown to be a nationally recognized leader in the field of specification plating serving the military/defense, aerospace, medical, telecommunication, automotive and commercial electronics industries. GMF’s philosophy is to constantly evolve and to respond to our customers needs. If we don’t currently offer what you require please speak to one of our customer service representatives. We’ll gladly discuss the feasibility of adding a finish or service.

Pioneer Acquires Dragon Anodizing, Inc

2010-09-01T06:08:00.001-07:00

Also dedicated to exceptional quality, on time delivery and strong customer service values, Dragon Anodizing is a perfect fit in Pioneer's expansion plan. Dragon's growing list of high profile customers combined with solid performance adds another significant foundational block for Pioneer.

"This acquisition makes sense on many levels. Dragon is a perfect extension for Pioneer's culture and we see many opportunities for growth," explained Pioneer CEO Bob Pyle.

The Midwest's Premier Plating Shop

2010-09-01T05:55:00.000-07:00

"Located in the heart of the US", Wichita Kansas, for over 65 years, this locally owned and operated processing house has grown to over 400,000 square feet of process area. Currently, Metal Finishing Company employs over 250 fulltime employees. Metal Finishing Company is NADCAP and AS9100 approved, performing over 100 pre-finish and finish processes on Aluminum, Steels and Composites." Our tank sizes range from two foot square to 80 feet long; with over 3000 process approvals to serve you're processing needs.

Metal Finishing Company realizes in today's fast paced market timely status and accurate information is a must. Metal Finishing Company currently employees 11 fulltime Customer Service Representatives to provide up to date order status. Online order status is available to every customer upon request. This allows you, the customer, to view when the order was entered into our system, the due date, as well as the ability to view and print a current shipping log. As you will see, Metal Finishing Company has made every effort to put in place the most modern technology advanced tools and qualified personnel in order to be part of our customer's growth and success.

Precision machine work featuring blanchard rotary

2010-07-01T07:11:00.000-07:00

URL: http://www.schaffergrinding.com
Employees: 10-49
Activities: Custom Manufacturer, Service Company
Year Founded: 1950
Precision machine services work with rotating Blanchard, surface, edge, travel way, end, and ingeniously, milling plane & metal processing. Blanchard loops has 260 in. DIA, grinding polishing with storage capacity of 75 has 88 on maximum width and maximum height of 60 inches, travel guide way in. x 87 in. H x 300 W to L., EDGE & end loops with storage capacity of 36 inches in diameter; 26 x 200 in.H in. L., features plane milling on 61 H x 114 B x 300 in. in. L in thin titanium, stainless steel, aluminium and high-temperature alloys sheet. Mill-STD-45208-compliant.

Hixson Metal Finishing company

2010-07-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

Premier metal finishing company serving the aerospace and defense industries.
Hixson Metal Finishing is a premier metal finishing company offering the highest quality services for the best value. We pride ourselves on our speedy turn times, second-to-none quality, stellar communication, and wide scope of processing capabilities. From Anodize to Vac Cad and everything in between, we've got what it takes to be your one-stop processing house.
Hixson Metal Finishing
829 Production Pl
Newport Beach, CA 92663-2809 map
(949) 645-4800
www.hixsonmetalfinishing.com

Metal polishing engine parts or motor bikes

2010-04-11T04:09:00.000-07:00

Use 80-100 grit abrasives over numerous hand tools, linishing machines, sanders and so on to flat all the flat surfaces, curve all the curved surfaces, this includes all the tight areas. This involves some reshaping by nature of the metal polish process. Sometimes when working through the abrasive stage small pitting can appear. This can limit how much we sand the item, as when these pits appear no amount of sanding will remove them as they are in the composition of the metal itself.

Douglas metal finishing companies

2010-04-11T04:06:00.000-07:00

Serving a wide range of Industries
Electrical – Lighting, sockets etc.
Plumbing – Taps, Showers, pipe work and accessories
Architectural – Hinges, Locks, Door Knobs, Handrails etc.
Medical – Instruments
Hotel Refurbishment – Refinishing of fixtures and fittings
Shop Fitting & Display Products – Refurbish or Newly Manufactured Finishing
Classic Vehicle – Refinishing
Public – One off components and home projects

Batch Anodising

2010-03-13T00:07:00.000-08:00

Batch Anodising involves racking parts and immersing them in a series of treatment tanks. Extrusions, sheets or bent metal parts, castings, cookware, cosmetic cases, flashlight bodies and machined aluminium parts are just a few of the items that are batch anodised.
Appearance options and quality are improved through the use of dyes and special pretreatment procedures. This makes the aluminium look like pewter, stainless steel, copper, brushed bronze or polished brass and can also be coloured with brilliant blues, greens, reds and many varieties of metallic gold and silver. The unique dielectric properties of an anodised finish offer many opportunities for electrical applications.
The surface of the aluminium itself is toughened and hardened to a degree unmatched by any other process or material. The coating is 30 percent thicker than the metal it replaces, since the volume of oxide produced is greater than that of the metal replaced. The resulting anodic coating is porous, allowing relatively easy colouring and sealing.

Metal Chromium

2010-01-10T21:51:00.000-08:00

Chrome is slang for. Chromium is a metal. The things that never were made of solid chrome. Chrome is something to hear, rather, what it means is that chrome, chrome, object (usually steel, but sometimes, aluminum, brass, copper, plastic, or stainless steel body mass) of thin layers.

In fact it really has nothing to do with Chrome when people tend to describe what is really winning the finish "Chrome" and can sometimes cause confusion. For example, brightly polished aluminum parts, motorcycle parts, chrome, which is also known as lying.

In fact, not always the other side part of finish (chrome plating is not easy to talk to. Electroplated decorative chrome finish, but when you're sitting right next to another bright end, the other to complete the comparison is generally very good :-)

Chrome-plated more reflective (brighter) blue and more reflective as a mirror reflecting the aberrant, less depth, and that in addition to the full. Bright finished at the end, you obviously put a measure that reflects the number of ilyi can see the number of inches - Chrome-plated does not reflect the clouds in the sky can be seen clearly. And loud "flash" to define something with the highest quality chrome plating.

Batch and Coil Anodizing

2009-11-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

atch and coil anodizing are accomplished in five carefully controlled, calibrated, quality-tested stages:

1. Cleaning. Alkaline and/or acid cleaners remove grease, and surface dirt.

2. Pre-Treatment.

o Etching. An appealing matte surface finish is created with hot solutions of sodium hydroxide to remove minor surface imperfections. A thin layer of aluminum is removed to create a matte or dull finish.
o Brightening. A near mirror finish is created with a concentrated mixture of phosphoric and nitric acids which chemically smooths the aluminum's surface.

3. Anodizing. The anodic film is built and combined with the metal by passing an electrical current through an acid electrolyte bath in which the aluminum is immersed. The coating thickness and surface characteristics are tightly controlled to meet end product specifications.

Aluminum electrolytic capacitor

2009-09-11T04:32:00.000-07:00

An electrolyte capable of anodizing aluminum consists essentially of a solution of an amino acid having a pH of 5.5 to 8.5. The amino acid is preferably a 2-amino acid, more preferably a dicarboxylic acid, and specifically aspartic or glutamic acid. The electrolyte may be used to anodize aluminum foil to form a barrier layer oxide or as a fill electrolyte in aluminum electrolytic capacitors.

Types of Anodizing

2009-09-11T03:52:00.000-07:00

Chromic Anodizing
Utilizing a chromic acid electrolyte this form of anodizing yields the thinnest coatings, only .05 to .1 mils thick. Chromic anodizing is a good choice when a part is complex and difficult to rinse because chromic acid is less corrosive than sulfuric acid used in other anodizing methods. Chromic anodize also reduces the fatigue strength of the aluminum less than the other methods described.
Sulfuric Anodizing
This form of anodizing yields coatings under 1 mil thick. Although it offers mild abrasion resistance it is more durable than chromic anodize. Like most anodizes corrosion resistance is excellent. The most desirable feature of this form of anodizing would be the excellent results from dyeing yielding deep and rich colors.
Hardcoat Anodizing
Also using a sulfuric acid electrolyte, although at a lower temperature, hardcoat anodize's claim to fame is wear resistance. This will produce a Rockwell C-scale rating of 60-70. This makes it an excellent candidate for many wear situations.

A good anodised coating thickness

2009-07-27T19:27:00.000-07:00

Coating thickness will be built up after 40 minutes at the
calculated current density. Keep a running check on the current reading as this will tend to vary during the process.
Too low a current setting will result in a surface that will have difficulty
absorbing the colour dye.
Too high a current setting will result in overheating the tank solution and a porous finish which will leach out the dye during fixing.
A good anodised surface will have a slightly milky appearance when ready for fixing; or colour dyed and fixed.
Copper , brass. or iron will contaminate the tank and degrade the process.
Use only lead or aluminium contact strips. I use wooden clothes pegs to set my workpiece height in the tank.
Few, if any, parts you make will be made from pure aluminium. Most will be made from aluminium alloys which contain varying proportions of copper, manganese, silicon, and sometimes, other elements in the mix. These alloys have an effect on the ultimate colour shade obtainable with a given dye and process. If colour shade repeatability is required, the same alloy, process times, and temperatures must be carefully duplicated. Previously anodised parts must first be strip-cleaned in a strong Akali to remove all traces of prior anodising oxides.

The anodising tank

2009-07-27T19:05:00.000-07:00

The anodising tank is set up as follows

Aluminum gear housing Anodise

2009-06-17T06:36:00.000-07:00

• Direct upgrade for GWS 300/350 & GWS400 gear motors,
• Himax HA2015 or HA025 BL motor installed –optimum power and performance,
- use HG2015 to replace 280 & 370 type motors,
- use HG2025 to replace 370, 400, & 480 type motors,
• Aluminum gear housing – no more broken gear housing,
• Built-in cooling fins – no more overheated motors,
• 10mm x 10mm mounting box – fits most planes designed with GWS gearboxes,
• 6.6:1 gears installed, 5.3:1 & 4.4:1 gears included – flexible power management,
• Dual Ball Bearings with hardened shaft – efficient and durable operation,
• Aluminum prop adapter included,
• Completely assembled – Plug & Play!

Method And Materials of Anodising

2009-05-26T08:18:00.000-07:00

The process requires the use of either chromic or sulphuric acid in the
anodising electrolysis bath. I have limited my use to the sulphuric process
because of the ready availability of battery acid and the ability of the
process to absorb a wide variety of dye .The acid used is "1270 SElead
acid(, battery electrolyte obtainable wherever you buy new car batteries.
Cut this 50/50 with distilled water to obtain the anodising solution.

Basic tools chrome foil

2009-05-06T06:08:00.000-07:00

1. Patience
2. brand new super sharp #11 blades (with a handle of course)
3. Patience
4. metal ruler
5. Patience
6. slightly wet cotton swabs
7. Patience
8. sharp pointed tweezers
9. Patience
10. toothpicks

Good plating work process

2009-04-18T02:56:00.001-07:00

The key to excellent workmanship with regards to chrome plating requires several steps which are vital in insuring the best possible outcome. Hence, the key to good plating work consists of the following procedures:

(1) Inventory
All parts are inventoried and most parts are marked so that the customer receives his/her own parts back upon pickup.

(2) Stripping
All parts which have paint, old chrome, nickel, powder coating, etc. is stripped down to the bare metal.

(3) Bead blast/sand blast
When required, parts are carefully cleaned via bead blasting to insure proper preparation.

(4) Repairs
Parts in need of repair or welding are handled by skilled professionals, the
absolute best in the industry.

(5) Polishing
Before plating, all parts are highly polished, which is a vital key for the best possible outcome. To insure the best satisfaction, all customers should advise us as to which areas of each part are visibly seen, and hence should be polished.

(6) Plating
Plating consists of several steps which are essential for beautiful results. Our laters are highly skilled and experienced. Most parts are "triple-plated", consisting of copper, nickel, and chrome. However, our plating procedure is much more complicated than this, and since we strive for the best possible results, we often re-copper and hand-sand some parts several times to insure of the finest quality and outcome. The chrome we use is trivalent chrome, which is environmentally safe and our particular bath insures a beautiful high-luster finish.

(7) Quality control
All parts are carefully waxed and inspected upon final completion of plating.

Solid foundation chrome

2009-04-18T01:38:00.000-07:00

The first step in the process is preparation of the piece by removal of the grease, the seals, the gasket materials, the bearings (not bushings), bearing races and any and all paint. If these are removed before going to the stripping tank then the stripping acids do a better job and the chrome job turns out a whole lot better. Cleaning and stripping is one of the most important steps in the plating process because the article’s final appearance depends primarily on a good solid foundation. If the piece is not clean then Three things can happen.

* The piece will refuse to plate
* The plating will be patchy or spotty
* The plating will prematurely peel

Chrome Description

2009-03-12T08:17:00.000-07:00

Chrome is slang for Chromium, one of the 91 naturally occurring chemical elements. Chrome is a metal, but it is not useful as a solid, pure substance. Things are never made of solid chrome. Rather, when you hear that something is chrome, what is really meant is that there is a thin layer of chrome, a plating of chrome, on the object (the bulk of the object usually being steel, but occasionally aluminum, brass, copper, plastic, or stainless steel).

METAL RESTORATIONS EXCLUSIVE PROCESS

2009-03-12T08:12:00.000-07:00

1. Stripping away of all old plating.
2. Sandblasting.
3. Our EXCLUSIVE PROCESS for filling in the pits, while still maintaining the
true shape and contour of the piece. This includes a series of fillings and hand
sandings until pits are eliminated.
4. Plating in COPPER for 4 to 6 hours
5. Another series of hand sandings and polishing to a lustrous mirror finish.
6. A series of cleanings.
7. Heavy plating of very bright NICKEL.
8. CHROME plating.
9. Final polishing.

The key to good plating work

2009-02-18T00:46:00.000-08:00

The central to fine plating act consists of the followers operations:

(1) stocktaking
All pieces are inventoried and most pieces are marked so that the client receives his/her own parts back on pickup.

(2) cleaning
All pieces which have paint, old chrome, nickel, powder coating, etc. is stripped down to the bare metal.

(3) Bead blast/sand blast
When required, parts are carefully cleaned via bead blasting to insure proper preparation.

(4) Repairs
Parts in need of repair or welding are handled by skilled professionals, the
absolute best in the industry.

(5) Polishing
Before plating, all parts are highly polished, which is a vital key for the best possible outcome. To insure the best satisfaction, all customers should advise us as to which areas of each part are visibly seen, and hence should be polished.

(6) Plating
Plating consists of several steps which are essential for beautiful results. Our laters are highly skilled and experienced. Most parts are "triple-plated", consisting of copper, nickel, and chrome. However, our plating procedure is much more complicated than this, and since we strive for the best possible results, we often re-copper and hand-sand some parts several times to insure of the finest quality and outcome. The chrome we use is trivalent chrome, which is environmentally safe and our particular bath insures a beautiful high-luster finish.

(7) Quality control
All parts are carefully waxed and inspected upon final completion of plating.

Process affinity in Chrome

2009-02-18T00:17:00.000-08:00

Chromium-plates formula model is highly advanced. The web comic only mentions the default on behavior, but you can configure Chrome to manage processes differently: one and only process per web site, or one and only process per group of connected tabs, or one and only process for everything.
Process-as-site-instance

By default on, there are two main Chrome processes, the Browser and the Renderer. The single Browser action is responsible transferring messages to and from the Renderer, which in turn is responsible providing webpages to the user.

Anodise Coating Thickness

2009-01-25T19:33:00.000-08:00

Coats consist of an actual surface incursion and surface growing. The normal coat heaviness on wrought and sandcast metals is 0.002 inch, which consists of an gain in the surface dimension of more or less one-half this heaviness or 0.001 inch. Standard action margin is ±0.0004 inch for most alloys.

Precise action control and coat uniformity permits coat of close margin dimensions, threads, and holes. Blind holes coating the same as exterior surfaces if the depth does not exceed more or less 1.5 times the hole diam, and through holes will coat uniformly if the depth doesn't exceed about 3 times the diameter.

Global hard anodizing

2009-01-25T19:31:00.000-08:00

Modernised more than 40 years ago, hard anodising is an electrochemical method that affects placing an aluminium part into an electrolytic bath and applying electrical current through the bath. This process forms an oxide coating (sapphire-hard) on the aluminum part. This oxide coating can be harder than hardened steel and allow fantabulous abrasion resistance; it is protective to the aluminium part and can be very long-lived.
Even so, a number of elements can involve the quality, enduringness and density of the finishing. This electrochemical process commonly makes polarisation of the cathode and anode in the electro-chemical process. This commonly generates large measures of oxygen at the anode and hydrogen at the cathode. This polarization fills the pores of the oxide coating and builds resistance to the electrical current. As a result, more and more more voltage has to be applied in order to maintain passable current densities. These high voltages render perilously hotnesses and the potential for catastrophic dissipation of parts being hard anodised.

Metal Finishing>Chrome Plate for Auto Accessories

2009-01-18T07:51:00.001-08:00

Specifications:

* Plant # 1 Cherng Min Aftermarket
o 330cm x 205cm x 80cm
o 130" x 80.7" x 31.5"
o 1969 Plating Factory Established
o 1979 Injection Molding Factory Added
o 1986 3 Layer Nickel Process introduced with Renewed Equipment
* Plant # 2 Sheng Yi Hsing Aftermarket
o 330cm x 180cm x 75cm

* 130" x 70.8" x 29.5"
* 1994 New Plating Factory Added in Tainan

# Plant # 3 Cherng Yi Hsing OEM Parts

* 330cm x 230cm x 85cm
* 130" x 70.8" x 29.5"
* 2005 New Factory Added in Tainan for OEM Part Focus
* 2006 ISO:9001 Certification
* 2006 North America Sales Support Added
* 2007 TS-16949&ISO-17025(Target Dec's07)

2009-01-18T07:51:00.000-08:00

10 STEP GUIDE TO ELECTROPLATING CHROME ON PLASTIC AND FIBREGLASS.

2009-01-18T07:42:00.000-08:00

1. Every plastic or fibreglass car part that is sent in for chrome electroplating is evaluated to determine exactly what process will be used. This is decided predominantly by the type of material the quality and condition of the surface.
2. The parts are stripped using a caustic or solvent mix to remove any paint or other unwanted debris from the surface.
3. After stripping, the components are checked for damage and repaired where necessary. This includes filling gaps or reconstructing missing parts- This is a huge job for some items.
4. Any areas which do not require plating are then carefully masked off with a tape.
5. Electrodes are placed to ensure an even coating across the surface to be electroplated . Placement is critical to protect against build-ups in some areas and an uneven finish overall.
6. The parts are now coated with three layers of primer to ensure adhesion of the conductive paint to applied later. (Both the primer and the conductive paint are formulated in-house)

7. After the primer is allowed to dry overnight, three coats of conductive paints are then applied and given 24 hours to dry completely.

8. The components are then placed into a copper plating tank for eight to nine hours where it is gently agitated to obtain an even coating of copper that’s 50-250 microns thick, depending upon material and application.

9. The next step is to place it in the nickel tank for approximately one hour to achieve a coating of nickel 20-30 microns thick.

10. The thinnest layer is actually the chrome itself, which is added as the last step in the process.

Condiment Caddie plastic with Chrome finish Garnish

2009-01-07T07:04:00.000-08:00

Helpful Hints and Facts
1) The shelf life for cut lemons, limes, oranges and pineapple is 3 days.
2) To prevent fruit flys, always keep garnishes covered and store in cooler at night.
3) Cut only enough fruit garnishes to be used in a single shift.
4) Add a splash of Sprite or 7-Up to lemons and limes to keep freshness.
bar fruit caddie, condiment caddie, condiment tray, garnish caddie, garnish tray, bar supplies, bar accessories,

Metal Finishing>Chrome is actually a plated metal

2008-12-23T02:59:00.000-08:00

Chromium, the metal used in chrome-plating, is highly resistant to tarnish and retains a reflective shine better than any other metal. However, chrome will rust without regular maintenance. The best way to keep small rust spots from becoming a big problem is to remove them ASAP. The sooner you catch the damage and correct it, the better your chances are of saving the chrome.

There are a lot of great products on the market for cleaning and polishing chrome. If the chrome has heavy oxidation, calcium or lime scale, or green tarnish, use Flitz Industrial Strength Aluminum PreClean first. Despite its name, it can safely be used to clean chrome. This product is an intense cleaner that removes the bulk of the oxidation so the metal polish can get to the source of the problem. It saves you elbow grease and gets you results faster. Spray it on, wait 7-10 minutes, use a sturdy nylon brush to gently scrub the metal, and then rinse well. Quick, easy, and effective.

Next, use a metal polish that states on the label that it is safe on chrome. Flitz Metal Polish, Fiberglass & Paint Restorer is a very safe but very effective metal polish. It removes rust, tar, water spots, and bugs on all types of metal, plastic, and painted surfaces. The application will be the same for most metal polishes: wipe it on with a soft cloth, rub briskly (not hard), and buff off with a clean cloth.

If you have an electric drill, you will save yourself a lot of work by using Mothers PowerBall Mini or Flitz Polishing Ball.Hand polishing can be tedious. If you have an electric drill, you will save yourself a lot of work by using Mothers PowerBall Mini or Flitz Polishing Ball. Both of these tools improve the performance of the metal polish by polishing faster than you can by hand. Wipe the polish onto the chrome with a cloth or applicator. Start your drill at a low speed and gradually increase it to 3000 RPM. Work until the polish starts to disappear. Stains and rust should be gone; if not, try again. Metal polishing isn’t always easy but the rewards are pure bliss to an auto enthusiast.

Flitz Metal Polish, Fiberglass & Paint Restorer leaves a clear, protective film on the chrome that resists fingerprints and oxidation. To touch up chrome between polishing sessions, use Flitz Stainless Steel & Chrome Cleaner. It’s similar to a quick detailer for metal. Just spray and wipe with a Cobra Microfiber Towel to remove fingerprints, smudges, fresh water spots, and bird droppings. This is a great product for last-minute touch-ups before a car show or a special occasion.

Metal Finishing>How to control Chromium 6 exposures

2008-12-23T02:44:00.000-08:00

OSHA's new regulation of Chromium VI (29 CFR 1910.1026) requires a "regulated area" to be marked off where exposure to Hexavalent Chromium levels of 5.0 micrograms per cubic meter (0.005 mg/m3) or greater can be reasonably expected. In addition to the requirement for respiratory protection for employees in the regulated area, regulatory requirements include employer-provided clothing, laundering of the clothing, changing rooms, wash facilities and personal medical monitoring for each and every employee who enter the regulated area. Personal welding respirators for the individual employees do not eliminate the need for a regulated area and all the above requirements. The new Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.005 mg/m3 is very low and many welding and thermal cutting tasks are likely to require Supplied Air respiratory protection in the absence of engineering controls. Only proven engineering controls (such as source capture air filtration from Air Quality Engineering, Inc) can eliminate the need for the regulated areas. Filtration (rather than simple exhaust to the outside) allows recirculation of expensive conditioned air and reduces the size of the regulated area and reduces the number of affected employees.

Hard Anodized Technology

2008-12-14T23:12:00.000-08:00

* The first choice of the top gourmet chefs is now available for the outdoors! Extreme™ finish ensures superior non-stick performance
* High performance hard-anodized cookware combines the ultra lightness and superior heat transfer of aluminum, with a hard surface coating for easy clean up, purity and durability
* The Hard Anodization process alters, and hardens the structure of the cookware surface, making it incredibly abrasion resistant, creating an encapsulated aluminum core, preventing any direct contact with food
* Easy clean up with the ultra-hard exterior surface

Hardcoat Anodizing Properties

2008-12-14T21:20:00.000-08:00

Thickness	.002” to .004”
Penetration	50%
Buildup	50%
War Resistance	Excellent Can be processed to meet specific requirements.
Corrosion Resistance	Excellent Can be processed to meet specific requirements.
Available finishes	Natural color Black Colors Teflon^® Impregnated
Reference Specifications	Meets or exceeds all requirements of: MIL-A-8625 Type III Other military and commercial specifications
Compliance	ELV RoHS WEEE

Metal Finishing > Integral Coloring ANODIZING PROCESSES

2008-12-10T06:07:00.001-08:00

Working method
* Pretreatment
* Anodizing (special alloy + organic acid)
* Sealing*
Structure
* Coloring matter distributed in hard Al oxide, inseparably bound to the aluminum; anodic film thickness 15-40 pm
Shades
* Brown, bronze, gray, slate; no special colors; no white
Appearance of surface
* Metallic character of the aluminum retained
Overall resistance
* Outstanding, virtually unlimited durability, no chalking
Chemical stress
* Sensitive to alkaline construction materials
Mechanical stress
* Extremely resistant; no flaking
* These coats are considerably harder than surface coatings
Color repairs
* Impossible without dismantling (but alien retouching possible on the building)
Main application
* Buildings with a highly representative character

Metal Finishing > the oxide surface of a metal can be dyed

2008-12-10T05:53:00.000-08:00

Before the sealing stage of anodization, the oxide surface of a metal can be dyed. This is done when the exterior appearance of the product is significant. There are countless dye colors in color anodization. The colors range from light to dark, although lighter colors may be more difficult to manufacture on certain alloys. Another problem that may occur is lightfastness, or the fading of certain colors. Because black and gold dyes are made by inorganic means, they tend to be more lightfast.

Once a metal has been dyed, hot water or steam, often mixed with nickel acetate, is used to seal the surface and to convert the oxide into its hydrated form. This process decreases bleed out and can improve corrosion resistance.

Chromic Acid

2008-12-04T06:27:00.000-08:00

Chrome plating is done in very highly concentrated (about 32 oz./gal) chromic acid, H2CrO4 -- "hexavalent chromium" -- the stuff that made Erin Brockovich a household word. If a neighborhood child develops cancer from any cause whatsoever and his/her parents find out that you were chrome plating, God help you. Factories that use this stuff require exhaust scrubbing, they require fume suppressants that are monitored every day. The workers require medical surveillance (frequent blood tests for absorbed chromium).

If you do illegally dispose of chromic acid you will probably be caught because it leaches through the ground very readily and turns up in the aquifer, and it is not only easily detectable but it's visible at 1 part in a million, and all wells and water supplies are monitored for chrome.

Dropped a beaker on the garage floor? That could be enough to poison all of the wells for a few city blocks in every direction, and you do not have "pollution insurance" in your homeowner's policy.

On top of all this, many city councils have a written or de facto ban on chrome plating.

Finally, chrome plating is notorious for hydrogen embrittlement. If you don't know how to immediately and properly bake the parts to relieve the embrittlement, you can turn hardened steel parts like springs, steering linkage, and fasteners into brittle glass.

Decorative Chrome Plating

2008-12-04T06:25:00.000-08:00

Decorative chrome plating is sometimes called nickel-chrome plating because it always involves electroplating nickel onto the object before plating the chrome (it sometimes also involves electroplating copper onto the object before the nickel, too). The nickel plating provides the smoothness, much of the corrosion resistance, and most of the reflectivity. The chrome plating is exceptionally thin, measured in millionths of an inch rather than in thousandths.

When you look at a decorative chrome plated surface, such as a chrome plated wheel or truck bumper, most of what you are seeing is actually the effects of the nickel plating. The chrome adds a bluish cast (compared to the somewhat yellowish cast of nickel), protects the nickel against tarnish, minimizes scratching, and symbiotically contributes to corrosion resistance. But the point is, without the brilliant leveled nickel undercoating, you would not have a reflective, decorative surface.

By the way, there is no such thing as "decrotif chrome plating". That is just a misspelling of 'decorative'.

Chromium 6 exposures

2008-12-04T06:24:00.000-08:00

Standard for Hexavalent Chromium

2008-12-04T06:06:00.000-08:00

Why be concerned about Chromium VI? Hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) is an IARC-1 human carcinogen. According to the EPA, "The best estimate of the excess risk of lung cancer from exposure to hexavalent chromium...is 8 cases of cancer in every 100 workers exposed." -Environmental Protection Agency, Chromium VI (CASRN 18540-29-9). Other adverse health effects associated with Hexavalent chromium overexposure include irritation of the nose, throat, and lungs. Repeated or prolonged overexposure can damage the mucous membranes of the nasal passages and cause ulcers to form. In some cases the damage is so severe that the septum (the wall separating the nasal passages) develops a hole. Skin exposure to hexavalent chromium over prolonged periods can cause ulcers to form. Some workers develop an allergic sensitization to chromium. In sensitized workers, contact with even very tiny amounts can cause a serious skin rash. Exposure to Chrome 6 can also cause permanent eye damage in some cases.
Employees performing welding or thermal cutting tasks on chromium - containing metals are likely to be over-exposed to Hexavalent Chrome unless engineering controls and / or respiratory protection are used.

Metal Chrome > Stainless Steel Fender Trim

2008-11-27T07:05:00.000-08:00

These wonderfuly crafted trim pieces are easy to install and are custom made for an exact fit to your Chrysler 300 / 300C.
* Made of 304 NeveRust stainless steel
* Covered by Putco's NeveRust lifetime warranty
* Polished to a brilliant finish
* Easy installation using stainless steel hardware

* Complete hardware included for drill or no-drill installation
* 4-Pc set comes with trim for all four fenders
* Provides 3/4 coverage of fender area, as shown in picture

Stainless steel fender trim polished to a high shine adds the perfect accent to your Chrysler 300 / 300C.

Vertical Billet Grille

2008-11-27T06:44:00.000-08:00

E&G Classics offers you a grille for your 300 with a classic, throw-back style composed of many small, vertically aligned bars and enveloped with a polished surround ring and a main bar running down the front of the grille. Made of high-quality, polished stainless steel, this is a full replacement for your factory original grille. Lower bumper mesh inserts are also available for a complete look.
* Classic look
* Vertical bar style
* Stainless steel construction
* Full replacement grille
* Step-by-step installation instructions included

E&G Classics has been known for more than 35 years as the leading manufacturer of high-quality automotive restyling accessories and grilles. Its focus of engineering expertise on the Chrysler 300 has produced outstanding results.

Note: When purchasing lower bumper mesh inserts, be sure to match your 300's styling with the proper vent, using the images above. OEM Chrysler Wings emblem available in "Suggested Accessories" below. Some drilling required.

Metal Finishing > Tips for Polishing

2008-11-19T04:09:00.000-08:00

When polishing any metals there are always things to be taken into consideration whether the metal is aluminum, stainless steel, brass, silver or gold.
Things that make life easier, healthier, safer, quicker or basically deliver better results.
We will try to pass on some of the tricks we have learned to save you time and effort.
1) Clean up your work as much as you possibly can before you try to polish it.

2) Clean up your work area regularly placing hazardous tools and chemicals out of harms way.

3) Avoid build up of buffing dusts, soiled cloths, or mixing dusts and cloths.

4) By mixing solvents , various metal buffings, shavings, and maybe a bit of oil in a bin we have the potential for a big firework. Don't do it.

5) Do not smoke, use open flame burners or any other source of ignition in a fume or dust laden atmosphere. People often forget about dust explosions. They are normally fatal.

6) Clean up your work piece between every buffing stage with either alcohol or mineral spirits to remove dirt and residue from compounds.

7) Any abrasive or polish is only as fine as its coarsest component.

8) Use cloths that have no labels and preferably no sewn edges.

9) When you are polishing large pieces, do small areas at a time, it's faster and more consistent.

10) When you do a final polish, clean up and then buff it out. Any dirt on the cloth? Buff it again

11) Never put waxes over chrome. It makes it look hazy.

12) Remove buff lines with flour or sodium bicarbonate.

13) Remove surplus waxes and polishes from seams, pit marks or awkward to get at places with flour.

14) Mist your final buffing with a light misting of water and buff it again. This seals both metals and waxes and helps reduce water stains from rain and condensation

15) Always use top quality soft cloths for your final buffing.

16) Use light pressure, especially on polishing strokes when power buffing. It reduces scratches.

17) Always move buff machines slowly across work pieces, again, less scratches.

18) Never, ever, use anhydrous solvents, ammonia or acids, or polishes that contain them on aluminum, Brass, Copper or bronze. They eat Zinc and attack most alloys. Brass is Zinc and copper, it is normally present in aluminum, it is used to make many steels and alloys less corrosive.

19) Always try to make finishing strokes with machines or by hand in the direction of the grain if the metal is rolled.

20) If you use electrical tools make sure there is a G.C.F.I. (Ground circuit fault indicator) in the line. It might save your life.

21) If you use air tools drain your tanks regularly, and if you can put an air drier between the compressor and the tank. Dry air equals less rust. Your tank will last a life time.

22) Don't rush your polish job. It will show.

23) Always wear safety glasses when working with power tools.

24) Always use liquid polishes, pastes, paint strippers, solvents, etc. in well ventilated areas.

25) Never, ever, remove oil, grease, buffing compound from the skin with solvents, mineral spirits, gasoline, kerosene, alcohol or similar chemicals. If soap and maybe a little pumice wont do it. stay dirty, it'll wear off. Use chemicals and you may save the undertaker a little formaldehyde, but other than that, the potential results are all negative.

26) Avoid particulate absorption of metals. Excess metals in the system cause all sorts of disorders and they are readily taken in through the skin and lungs.

27) The easiest way to reduce contamination is to polish in the open air and in areas where the is a cross flow of air

28) Don't let all my warnings get you down or frighten you, just be sensible and enjoy your polishing safely.

29) Remember that polishers always have a bright future.

Metal Finishing > Chrome of sparkling new parts

2008-11-19T03:57:00.000-08:00

Chrome brings visions of sparkling new parts and is not only used to improve the appearance of metals but to protect it from corrosion. To many people, plating conjures up images of parts being dipped in vats of molten metal or some kind of paint being sprayed on. What I will try to do is dismiss some of those myths about electroplating.

Electroplating is both a science and an art that requires an understanding of chemicals, metallurgy, electricity and how to combine all three to achieve the desired result. Electroplating is the process of putting a metallic coating on a metal (electrolysis) by passing an electrical current through a nonmetallic solution (electrolyte) containing a dissolved form of the metal to be plated.

Chemistry 101

Electrolysis is defined as: The chemical breakdown of an electrolyte (any substance which in solution form is capable of conducting electricity) by the action of an electrical current passing through it by means of conducting electrodes. These electrodes are called anodes and cathodes. Ions (atoms with a positive or negative electrical charge) move towards the opposite-charged electrode, where they give up their electric charges and become uncharged atoms, i.e., the chrome has stuck to the piece being plated!
Solid foundation

The first step in the process is preparation of the piece by removal of the grease, the seals, the gasket materials, the bearings (not bushings), bearing races and any and all paint. If these are removed before going to the stripping tank then the stripping acids do a better job and the chrome job turns out a whole lot better. Cleaning and stripping is one of the most important steps in the plating process because the article’s final appearance depends primarily on a good solid foundation. If the piece is not clean then Three things can happen.

* The piece will refuse to plate
* The plating will be patchy or spotty
* The plating will prematurely peel

Take it all off

There are different stripping procedures required for different base metals and for different types of previous metal coatings. Aluminum and steel, two of the most common on motorcycle parts, go through two different types of stripping processes. Aluminum, being softer, will suffer destruction when faced with the steel stripping process. Steel with paint on it can be dipped in a hot caustic soda, and aluminum with paint goes into an epoxy stripper. Old plating is removed by a reverse current sulfuric acid bath where the piece becomes anodic instead of cathodic. Stripping costs can add a substantial amount to the final bill. Today’s stronger-bonding epoxy paint is extremely hard to get off the base metal. Stripping, sandblasting and re-stripping are often required to remove undesired coatings.
Getting buffed up

In this order, these steps play a vital role in preparing the surface for a quality finish. Grinding involves removal of very large amounts of metal to get the general shape of the final product. Polishing is surface enhancement by means of metal removal which gets the article to the final shape. Buffing achieves the desired finish without much metal removal.

The base metal determines how coarse an abrasive is used for the surface enhancement operation. It has to be coarse enough to take out any imperfections, yet not too coarse because the rough wheel marks will have to be worked out. Each preceding step’s rough wheel marks must be taken off using less coarse wheels so the desired mirror-bright finish is achieved.

Porosity in the base metal is the cause of pitting, it’s like a sponge. This commonly affects older aluminum parts such as early FL sliders, early inner and outer primaries, early rocker boxes and Narrow Glide upper triple trees to name a few. There are ways to fix the pits but it can be very expensive and time consuming and doesn’t hold up as well on a street-driven bike. Pitting is sometimes impossible to get out because the more it is polished, the bigger the pits become.

The next step in the process after polishing is cleaning and the base metal determines how the article is cleaned. Aluminum and steel are both dipped into an air-agitated, hot soap bath and scrubbed by hand to remove the heavy buffing compounds that are associated with polishing. Steel goes into a reverse current electro-cleaning tank to gas the oxygen off and remove any last traces of grease and dirt. Aluminum goes into a nitric “desmutting” acid chemical process and is coated with Zincate to aid in thoroughly cleaning the base metal.

During the cleaning process, rinsing of both the aluminum and steel is paramount between each step to prevent carryover of chemicals from one tank to the other which could pollute and/or dilute the tank. The aluminum and steel process come together with the copper plating which gives a good corrosion inhibitor, aids in further cleaning and gives the nickel a better surface to adhere to. Keep in mind that this copper flash is only done to give the plater a “peekaboo” into how the piece will ultimately come out. If it ain’t right here, then the piece goes back through the cleaning process again to ensure a quality job.

Up to this point, most of the process has dealt with cleaning and preparing the metal for the nickel sulfate bath, a non-cleaning electrolyte, so it is essential that the piece be clean or else the nickel will not stick. Nickel is the “jacket” that accounts for most of the finish and brightness. The part is placed into the nickel bath and connected to the negative end (cathode) of a source of electricity. The positive electric terminal (anode) is connected to another conductor which is also placed into the bath. The electrical current separates the nickel in the bath and the coating is deposited on the metal surface of the article being plated.

The thickness depends on the strength of the current and the duration in the bath. Could be anywhere from a half a thousandth all the way to six thousandths of an inch. The amount of nickel applied will vary depending on the tolerances of a given piece. Not as much plating should go on an oil pump as a primary cover, because of the tighter tolerances needed on an oil pump.
Chrome it

After a thorough rinsing, the piece is ready for the chromium acid bath. Chromium, being an element, is chrome; but, just as cooks have different recipes, chrome processes come in varieties. One process being the hexavalent type, which is the brighter blue variety. The trivalent type process produces a gray-yellow variety of chrome. Trivalent is said to be more environmentally friendly, but hexavalent can be just as friendly to the environment if handled correctly and the proper final rinsing agents are used to convert hexavalent to trivalent. By the way, environmental concerns add a substantial amount to the final cost of the chrome.

Chrome is a low-efficient bath which means that it takes 36 times as much energy to throw (plate) chrome as it does to "throw” nickel. That amounts to about one amp per square inch. Sometimes a piece yellows in low-lying (low density) areas, which is the nickel showing through, and extra anodes are then placed on the piece to help the chrome get to it's proper destination. Some pieces require over 1000 amps to get the chrome to “throw down" in these low-density areas on the piece being plated.

After final rinsing, the piece is un-racked, wiped down and chrome buffed. Since so much amperage is used during the chroming process, areas of high density have accumulated some white spots that have to be buffed out. Chrome buffing also helps take out some of the imperfections and makes the surface smoother.
Double and triple plating

The terms double, triple, and quadruple plating are sometimes confused with different thicknesses of the deposit rather than how many coats of the different types of metal plating are on the piece (such as copper, nickel, and chrome) and not necessarily the thickness of the plating.

Metal Finishing > Chroming Process

2008-11-19T01:46:00.000-08:00

Anodising aluminium>Adding beauty and durability

2008-11-02T01:19:00.000-07:00

Bang & Olufsen over the years, has become famous for not only its stylish products but for their 'feel' and looks. Many products produced nowadays are of a hard-wearing aluminium; aluminium which has gone through the process of anodisation in order to harden the aluminium surface considerably and make it highly resistant to physical damage such as scratching. As the products' mirror finish and smooth surface without protrusions are easily cleaned, their beautiful appearance will be the same for many years.

Anodised aluminium has been a Bang & Olufsen hallmark for many years, but as the mirror-finished anodisation process is one of the most demanding metallurgic surface processes, Bang & Olufsen is the only manufacturer of audio and video equipment to use it. Anodising aluminium successfully combines science with nature in order to create one of nature's best metal finishes.

The process is electrochemical which thickens and toughens the naturally-occurring protective oxide. The resulting finish, depending on the process, is the second hardest substance known to man, second only to diamond. The anodic coating is part of the metal, but has a porous structure which allows secondary infusions, (i.e. organic and inorganic colouring, lubricity aids, etc.).

Anodise > COLOUR DYES

2008-11-02T01:08:00.001-07:00

Organic dyes are usually used because of their great variety and depth of colours. Industrial dyes can be obtained, but only in too large a quantity for our purposes. Coloured artist Inks are generally suitable, as are food colour
Dyes with varying results. A yellow dye gives the "gold" anodised look because of the translucence of the anodic coating and the metallic reflection.
Some writing Inks are also suitable such as Skip or Carter, which gives a great "black".
The trick is to find a colour with a pigment size small enough to enter the microscopic anodic oxide coating and be sealed there. Experimentation and patience are both recommended.
COLOUR PROCESS

Dyes may be used hot, usually 150 F, or at room temperature. The dye and the effect required will determine the choice. I usually use mine at room temperature and an immersion time of between one minute to 15 minutes, depending on the depth of shade required. Agitation is required. A "coarse" dye will just accumulate on the surface and will wash off during fixing.

Anodise > FIXING PROCESS

2008-11-02T01:05:00.000-07:00

Fixing is done in plain old H2O (near boiling) for about 20 minutes.
Preferably, use distilled water to avoid those nasty mineral deposits
on our nice parts - temperature: 200 F.
A certain amount of dye will leach out into the water before the surface seals. It is best to avoid actively boiling water since this agitation will accelerate the colour loss.
Chemical additives for the fixing bath are available, but I haven't found any to recommend.
To keep colour loss at a minimum I have found that rotating the part in
steam for ten minutes before total immersion does a considerable job in reducing leaching probably by closing the pores and sealing the dye before washing it out.
The finished part is buffed with a clean cloth to remove any smutty deposits.
A little wax brings out the colour.

Reproduced from an article by Ed Cox in Strictly IC Aug/Sept 1988....USA Publication
(No Copyright infringement intended)

Method And Materials

2008-11-02T01:04:00.000-07:00

Aluminium oxide

2008-10-25T00:57:00.000-07:00

Aluminium oxide, also known as alumina, is the main component of bauxite, the principal ore of aluminium. The largest manufacturers in the world of alumina are Alcoa, Alcan and Rusal. Companies which specialise in the production of speciality aluminium oxides and aluminium hydroxides include Alcan and Almatis. The bauxite ore is made up of impure Al2O3, Fe2O3, and SiO2. Bauxite is purified by the Bayer process:

Al2O3 + 3 H2O + 2 NaOH → 2NaAl(OH)4

The Fe2O3 does not dissolve in the base. The SiO2 dissolves as silicate Si(OH)62-. Upon filtering, Fe2O3 is removed. When the Bayer liquor is cooled, Al(OH)3 precipitates, leaving the silicates in solution. The mixture is then calcined (heated strongly) to give aluminium oxide:

2Al(OH)3 + heat → Al2O3 + 3H2O

The formed Al2O3 is alumina.

Anodise method

2008-10-25T00:55:00.000-07:00

Distilled water is recommended because the use of ordinary tap water invariably contains some minerals which will cause smutty deposits on the work and generally not contribute to consistent results. The acid anodising solution needs to be stored and used in a suitably sized plastic, or glass, open ended container.
A lead strip cathode plate(s) is required. The lead plate(s) should be about twice the surface area of the largest workpiece (anode) to be anodised.
I use a variable DC power supply (2 to 30 V surplus unit) which I find ideal but any charged car battery will do the job. I find that most small parts require around 10 V to maintain the required current density through the bath; so 12 V should suffice for most work.
An ammeter reading from 0 to 3 AMPS (for 20 square inch, maximum) Is a must, as well as a heavy duty rheostat in series with the supply and the anodising tank.
The resistance of the rheostat will, of course, vary with the size of the work
contemplated, but it can be calculated from the required
current density of 145 to 175 milliamperes (ma) per square inch of the anode
workpiece. The workpiece surface area must be calculated In order to set the anodising current. And, a surplus wirewound rheostat (variable resistor) of a few hundred ohms will do.

Let's assume that we want to anodise a propeller spinner, or flywheel, the surface of which, is calculated to be 2.5 sq. inches . The anodising current density required will be:

Minimum: 0.145 X 2.5 = 0.362 Amps
Maximum: 0.175 X 2.5 = 0.437 Amps

So, the current must be between 362 and 437 ma. In anodising this part I would
maintain my adjustment at 4oo ma.
The part to be anodised must be chemically clean. No effort must be spared buffing and cleaning prior to complete degreasing in hot water using a strong detergent. At this stage handle the part with rubber gloves or not at all.
Use only the aluminium contact strip fixed to the part. Rinse well and you're ready to anodise.

Method And Materials of Anodise

2008-10-25T00:53:00.000-07:00

Some three years ago I took to wondering if it would not be practical for the home workshop enthusiast to renew those faded or damaged anodised parts which contribute so much to the good looks of a completed project and or new parts.
Since practical advice seems to be rather difficult to come by, I read a few books, followed some experimentation, achieved much discovery of an artful process, and Success !!!

The process itself, though chemically complex, is rather simple.
First it involves the transformation of the surface aluminium oxide to
aluminium hydroxide (anodise), then to a hydroxide monohydrate.
An interesting property of hydroxide is its ability to absorb dyes into the microscopic porosity's of its surface. After impregnating, or dyed with a colour medium, the surface is then "sealed" into a monohydrate and the surface becomes very hard and resistant to wear.
Method And Materials

The process requires the use of either chromic or sulphuric acid in the
anodising electrolysis bath. I have limited my use to the sulphuric process
because of the ready availability of battery acid and the ability of the
process to absorb a wide variety of dye .The acid used is "1270 SElead
acid(, battery electrolyte obtainable wherever you buy new car batteries.
Cut this 50/50 with distilled water to obtain the anodising solution.

Anodizing of aluminium Step by Step

2008-10-25T00:46:00.000-07:00

# Mix up 10 to 20% Sulphuric Acid solution with pure distilled water. Enough to fill whatever container you are going to use about 2/3 full. Leave to cool. This mixture can be used many hundreds of times for anodizing runs. It will eventually pick up impurities any become less effective. Remember, never add water to acid, always add acid to water so it doesn't fizz and bite back! Do not let any extra water, caustic soda, sodium bicarbonate or similiar near the acid bath.
# Prepare your aluminium piece. Finish is everything - anodizing does not hide a poor finish. Clean it up with 1200 paper and maybe polish.
# Cover your working area in something disposable. Putting the anodizing bath on a big sheet of glass is a good idea - keeps any splashed acid off the worktop. Make sure the bucket of sodium barcarbonate solution is handy for dipping things in. I suggest getting a big (ie several kilos) carton of bicarbonate from a catering suppler or cash and carry. If you do spill a serious amount of acid, its nice to have some alkali handy to neutralise it.
# Fizz the aluminium in caustic soda solution until it looks a nice grey colour. If the aluminium is already anodized, it is possible to remove the anodized layer by leaving it in the caustic soda bath for longer. I've not read of the correct strength of the caustic soda bath for preparing the metal. An eggcup or two of caustic soda granules in a pint of warm water works for me.

# Suspend the aluminium part in the acid so it is completely immersed using some kind of aluminium wire or aluminium strut. The only metals allowed in the bath are aluminium and lead. Make sure you get a good electrical connection. Bear in mind that any parts where the suspending wire touches the part it will not be anodized, and will not take up the dye. Twist a bit of wire into a tapped hole or something. Make sure that you don't touch the part. Grease from finger prints can leave a mark on the finished item. Get some good gloves.
# Place a Lead cathode in the bath. This should have a surface area of at least twice that of the aluminium part. Don't let it touch the aluminium part at the anode.
# Attach the positive connection of your power supply to the aluminium anode and the negative connection to the lead cathode.
# Run the power at 12 volts for about 45 minutes. The cathode will fizz a lot, the anode will also show some small bubbles. The acid will heat up. If you are not sure its working, use an ammeter to see whats going on. You should not allow the acid to become warm - ideally it wants to stay at 20C. Let the acid cool between anodizing runs, or rig up a cooler. Remember only lead or aluminium in the tank. Even a fan blowing on the tank helps. If you think about it, 12v at, say 2 amps, acts like a 24 watt header, and thats before the heat created by the reaction.
# There is a lot of words written about what current to anodize with. Apparently you are supposed to anodize at between 4 and 12 amps per square foot of anode surface area. With most parts its almost impossible to estimate the surface area. After etching in the caustic soda, you'll throw your calculations out even further. For my purposes I just run the whole thing at 12 volts and let it draw as much current.
# Remove aluminium part from the acid and wash in distilled water. Try not to drip acid from the part over the kitchen whilst moving to the water. If you must walk around the house with bits of aluminium covered in acid, hold a bowl of bicarbonate underneath.
# Dip the part in the chosen dye for between 1 and 15 minutes depending on how much colour you want. Heating the dye will increase the speed of colour uptake, however no hotter than 50C or you will start to seal the layer. Experiment is the key! With the Dylon dyes I normally mix them up with about a litre of warm water and use that. The dye mix can be used over and over again. Keep the dye mix out of sunlight.
# Boil the part in distilled water for 30 minutes to seal the surface. Some of the dye will leak out into the water before the surface is sealed, but its not too much of a problem. You might want to hold the part in hot steam for a while before you put it in the water. Start the water at about 95C and bring it to a simmering boil over the course of a few minutes. You can buy anodizing sealers to add to the water, but I've not needed this. I have an unconfirmed suspicion that commerical anodizing dyes need a special sealer.
# Give it a good rub with a very soft white cloth. Sometimes a get a bit of colour coming off the sealed part, but this stops after a few moments rubbing. I find a good long boil reduces this problem.

ANTIQUE BLACK FINISH

2008-10-25T00:42:00.000-07:00

This solution is designed to instantly darken steel to a black hue. It may be used either as a spray or an immersion solution. The darkness of the color produced is determined by the immersion time. After the part being treated has been darkened and dried, it may then be burnished to create highlighted areas and enhance the antique effect. This product will work on bare steel and also on steel surfaces plated with our EasyPlate™ or EasyRust™ solutions.

Vinyl Tape 2" x 36 yards - Anodize equipment

2008-10-13T05:26:00.000-07:00

Used for color coding; lane marking and safety coding to meet OSHA requirements; decorating, striping on vehicles, boats, sporting equipment, etc. Masking for hard chrome plating & anodizing; harness and pipe wrapping. Duct and joint sealing. Features/benefits... Product is of superior quality, with a long shelf-life, and "write-on? capability. It provides a very effective vapor and moisture barrier. It is highly conformable and resistant to aging, sun, water, fungus, bacteria, oil, acids, alkalies and corrosive chemicals. It provides good abrasion, impact and rupture resistance. Specifications... Backing Matte surface, soft PVC Adhesive Synthetic rubber resin Total thickness 6 mil (0.15mm) Adhesion 22 oz/in. Tensile strength 16 lbs/in. Elongation 150% at break Temperature resistance -20°F to +176°F Moisture absorption Less than 1.5% Moisture vapor transmission Less than 2.5% (gm/100 sq in/24 hrs) Metal corrosion None to copper, brass, steel, aluminum Accelerated aging factor Greater than 100% (% of original adhesion to backing after aging) Government specifications Conforms to A-A-1689B, Type II (met cancelled spec PPP-T-66E, Type 1, Class 2)

Worldclean Industrial

2008-10-11T05:24:00.000-07:00

Worldclean Industrial Co., Ltd is theleader in aluminum anodizing and surface finish turnkey plant engineering,which integrates civil engineering, mechanical engineering, instrument control,electricity and chemical industry technique in Taiwan. Worldclean gathers agroup of senior professional technicians and talented managers in those fields,providing not only equipment but a wide range of supplies, such as processdesign, equipment manufacture/installation and test performance, according tocustomers exact requirement. Moreover, Quality is essence, customer is firstis Worldclean's principle. With specialized and abundant experiences,Worldclean is capable of designing various different projects to meet everyclient's need.
Worldclean is experienced in offeringturnkey solutions for
1. Aluminum Anodizing Equipment
2. Electrophoretic Deposition (E.D.)Equipment
3. Powder Coating Equipment
4. Electroplating Equipment

Anodizing Package Module

2008-10-09T05:21:00.000-07:00

A complete anodizing system including state of the art equipment for the professional shop. It includes everything needed to run the most common Type II anodized aluminum parts in single modularized section taking up only an area of 4'X10'.
Here is what is supplied in the package:
1) 1-12 station polypro tank module with compartments sized at 18"X 24"X30 deep". These stations are as follows: 1-cleaner,2-rinse,3-etch,4-rinse,5-deoxidzer,6-rinse,7-anodize,8-spray rinse,9-rinse,10- seal,11-spray rinse,12-hot rinse.
2) Rectifier -SCR 100amp/24 volt with digital ramp and timer
3) 2 ton chiller with circulation pump
4) N>TEC aluminum bussing system, heat exchanger, and a sparger system with low pressure blower
5) Heaters and controllers to maintain temperatures.
6) 1 all purpose Aluminum rack
7) Instruction manual, test panels and 4 hrs of phone consulting
The set up is complete and ready for your maintenance people to connect*. Just bring water and power to the terminals provided and fill with appropriate solutions defined in the instruction manual. A Hard coat Type III option.

N-TEC Master Anodizer

2008-10-08T05:18:00.000-07:00

The N>Tec Master Anodizer is a computer control system for controlling an anodizing rectifier. Using the Master Anodizer you can reduce costs and improve quality. The Master Anodizer is built to implement technology developed over many years of practical anodizing shop experience. This technology has been developed by the Alpha Process Company of California, and for best results it should be used with the N>Tec Cathode System and Electrolyte Chemistry.

The reasons behind the product.

The original reason for developing the technology was to anodize critical aerospace military parts. Existing methods did not give a sufficiently repeatable process to achieve the high quality and environmental stability demanded in these applications.

What's the benefit?

By using the precise control technology incorporated in the Master Anodizer in a tank equipped with the N>Tec Cathode System and electrolyte you can get better quality hard anodizing, virtually eliminate part burning, reduce your energy costs, and achieve the shortest possible cycle times for the target quality.

It's easy to use�

Just enter the target coating thickness, the number of parts, and the area of one part using the simple and uncluttered keypad. Choose your current density and ramp time, or accept the previous values. Put the parts in the tank and press Start. The Master Anodizer will calculate the parameters needed for the job, then apply power according to a specifically determined profile. By continuously modulating (or pulsing) the anodizing current you will get improved coating quality, and eliminate wasteful burning and gassing. As the job progresses you can read the anodizing voltage, current, and the time remaining to completion directly on the display. When the job is done the Master Anodizer alerts the operator and either shuts down the rectifier or sets it to an 'idle' or 'soak' value, as desired. At any time you can pause the process, for example to monitor progress, and carry on from where you left off.

Anodic oxidation

2008-10-08T05:07:00.000-07:00

Anodizing (Anodic oxidation) is an electrochemical process in which an oxide (anodic) layer is chemically built on the surface of the metal. Now anodizing is a commonly used surface treatment, especially on Aluminum alloys for structural or architectural applications.
The anodizing process forms an oxide film, a hard, corrosion- and abrasion-resistant coating with excellent wear properties. This porous coating may also be colored using a number of methods, thereby enhancing its aesthetic value even as it protects the metal.
Anodized Aluminum is an important product for a number of industries, including aerospace and automotive manufacturers, as well as various sporting activities and most up-to-date electronic devices, like iPods.
Many acidic solutions can be used for anodizing, but sulfuric acid solutions are the most common. Chromic, oxalic, and phosphoric acids are also used in certain applications.

Aluminum Anodizing Equipment

2008-09-11T08:27:00.000-07:00

Worldclean is experienced in offeringturnkey solutions for
1. Aluminum Anodizing Equipment
2. Electrophoretic Deposition (E.D.)Equipment
3. Powder Coating Equipment
4. Electroplating Equipment
Worldclean Industrial Co., Ltd is theleader in aluminum anodizing and surface finish turnkey plant engineering,which integrates civil engineering, mechanical engineering, instrument control,electricity and chemical industry technique in Taiwan. Worldclean gathers agroup of senior professional technicians and talented managers in those fields,providing not only equipment but a wide range of supplies, such as processdesign, equipment manufacture/installation and test performance, according tocustomers exact requirement. Moreover, Quality is essence, customer is firstis Worldclean's principle. With specialized and abundant experiences,Worldclean is capable of designing various different projects to meet everyclient's need.

Anodise Powder Coating

2008-09-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

Worldclean is experienced in offeringturnkey solutions for
1. Aluminum Anodizing Equipment
2. Electrophoretic Deposition (E.D.)Equipment
3. Powder Coating Equipment
4. Electroplating Equipment
5. Anodizing Chemicals
6. Sandblasting Machine ForAluminum Profile
Worldclean Industrial Co., Ltd is theleader in aluminum anodizing and surface finish turnkey plant engineering,which integrates civil engineering, mechanical engineering, instrument control,electricity and chemical industry technique in Taiwan. Worldclean gathers agroup of senior professional technicians and talented managers in those fields,providing not only equipment but a wide range of supplies, such as processdesign, equipment manufacture/installation and test performance, according tocustomers exact requirement. Moreover, Quality is essence, customer is firstis Worldclean's principle. With specialized and abundant experiences,Worldclean is capable of designing various different projects to meet everyclient's need.

Aluminum Anodizing Chemicals

2008-09-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

Worldclean is experienced in offeringturnkey solutions for
1. Aluminum Anodizing Equipment
2. Electrophoretic Deposition (E.D.)Equipment
3. Powder Coating Equipment
4. Electroplating Equipment
5. Chemicals for Aluminum anodizing
Worldclean Industrial Co., Ltd is theleader in aluminum anodizing and surface finish turnkey plant engineering,which integrates civil engineering, mechanical engineering, instrument control,electricity and chemical industry technique in Taiwan. Worldclean gathers agroup of senior professional technicians and talented managers in those fields,providing not only equipment but a wide range of supplies, such as processdesign, equipment manufacture/installation and test performance, according tocustomers exact requirement. Moreover, Quality is essence, customer is firstis Worldclean's principle. With specialized and abundant experiences,Worldclean is capable of designing various different projects to meet everyclient's need.

The Anodized Solution

2008-09-11T08:13:00.000-07:00

Reduced Weight
Anodized aluminum weighs approximately 60% less than stainless steel, brass or copper - meaning more parts per pound and reduced shipping costs.

High Strength / High Performance
Our new MacPac-S material features an anodized quality surface alloy combined with a high strength core alloy resulting in higher yield, tensile and elongation numbers than ever before possible in an AQ quality aluminum.

Consistent and Efficient
Because anodizing is a "finishing" process, we can ensure consistent gloss and color. In addition our product arrives clean, ready for immediate production and in larger coil sizes - meaning less production down time for coil changeover.

Anodise Industrial Fabrication Process

2008-09-11T08:09:00.000-07:00

Aluminium oxide, also known as alumina, is the main component of bauxite, the principal ore of aluminium. The largest manufacturers in the world of alumina are Alcoa, Alcan and Rusal. Companies which specialise in the production of speciality aluminium oxides and aluminium hydroxides include Alcan and Almatis. The bauxite ore is made up of impure Al2O3, Fe2O3, and SiO2. These are then purified by the Bayer Process:
Al2O3 + 3H2O + 2NaOH + heat → 2NaAl(OH)4
The Fe2O3 does not dissolve in the base. The SiO2 dissolves as silicate Si(OH)6-6. Upon filtering, Fe2O3 is removed. With the addition of an acid, Al(OH)3 precipitates. The silicate remains in solution. Then:
2Al(OH)3 + heat → Al2O3 + 3H2O
The formed Al2O3 is alumina.
In 1961, GE developed "Lucalox", a transparent alumina used in sodium vapor lamps.
In August 2004, scientists in the United States working for 3M developed a technique for making an alloy of aluminium oxide and rare earth elements to produce a strong glass called transparent alumina.

Anodizing Description

2008-09-11T08:04:00.000-07:00

Anodizing is an electro-chemical process to retain the metallic appearance which makes aluminium possible to exploit its strength and lightness in a large number of applications, particularly in building and construction. Schimmer Metal Standard is equipped with horizontal anodizing facilities. We offer our customers with wide range of colors such as clear, light bronze, dark bronze and black colors.
The thickness of the aluminium oxide “anodized” coating can be varied by processing time. The depth of anodized coating may be varied according to application
25 Micron is recommended for heavy duty external permanent architectural application where little deterioration can be tolerated.
15 Micron is recommended for the majority of ordinary architectural requirements.
10 Micron is suitable for internal application and outdoor applications where cleaning is very frequent.

Aluminium Brass Copper Anodise

2008-09-09T02:28:00.000-07:00

Brass Copper Cast Casting Parts Components Fittings Foundries Foundry
Copper Cast Parts Components Copper Casting Foundry Copper Casting Foundries Copper Foundry Copper Foundries.
Finish And Coating :
* Natural, Nickel Plated, Tin Plated or any coating as per customer specification.
Any kind of special die casting sand gravity die lost wax shell molding castings and cast parts casting produced to user

Aluminum Coat Hanger Natural Anodized

2008-09-09T02:04:00.000-07:00

Features:
* One hanger
* Natural Anodized Aluminum
* Overall Dimensions: 7" H x 16.875" W x 0.75" D
Most offices need some kind of method for hanging up coats and hats of employees as well as guests. Peter Pepper Products offers a wide range of office products especially in this category. This coat hanger will certainly keep your coats neatly tucked away with a Natural Anodized Aluminum base. You can be sure that your coats stay in great condition off of the floor with Peter Pepper Products.

Aluminium separation

2008-09-09T01:56:00.000-07:00

Aluminium is a reactive metal that is difficult to extract from ore, aluminium oxide (Al2O3). Direct reduction — with carbon, for example — is not economically viable since aluminium oxide has a melting point of about 2,000 °C. Therefore, it is extracted by electrolysis; that is, the aluminium oxide is dissolved in molten cryolite and then reduced to the pure metal. By this process, the operational temperature of the reduction cells is around 950 to 980 °C. Cryolite is found as a mineral in Greenland, but in industrial use it has been replaced by a synthetic substance. Cryolite is a mixture of aluminium, sodium, and calcium fluorides: (Na3AlF6). The aluminium oxide (a white powder) is obtained by refining bauxite in the Bayer process. (Previously, the Deville process was the predominant refining technology.)

The electrolytic process replaced the Wöhler process, which involved the reduction of anhydrous aluminium chloride with potassium. Both of the electrodes used in the electrolysis of aluminium oxide are carbon. Once the ore is in the molten state, its ions are free to move around. The reaction at the cathode — the negative terminal — is

Al3+ + 3 e- → Al

Here the aluminium ion is being reduced (electrons are added). The aluminium metal then sinks to the bottom and is tapped off.

At the positive electrode (anode), oxygen is formed:

2 O2- → O2 + 4 e-

This carbon anode is then oxidised by the oxygen, releasing carbon dioxide. The anodes in a reduction must therefore be replaced regularly, since they are consumed in the process:

O2 + C → CO2

Aluminium Compounds

2008-09-09T01:36:00.000-07:00

* Aluminium ammoninum sulfate (Al(NH4)(SO4)2) is used: as a mordant, in water purification and sewage treatment, in paper production, as a food additive, and in leather tanning.
* Aluminium borate (Al2O3 B2O3) is used in the production of glass and ceramics.
* Aluminium borohydride (Al(BH4)3) is used as an additive in jet fuels.
* Aluminium chloride (AlCl3) is used: in paint manufacturing, in antiperspirants, in petroleum refining and in the production of synthetic rubber.

* Aluminium fluorosilicate (Al2(SiF6)3) is used in the production of synthetic gemstones, glass and ceramics.

* Aluminium hydroxide (Al(OH)3) is used: as an antacid, as a mordant, in water purification, in the manufacture of glass and ceramics and in the waterproofing of fabrics.

* Aluminium oxide (Al2O3, alumina, is found naturally as corundum (rubies and sapphires), emery, and is used in glass making. Synthetic ruby and sapphire are used in lasers for the production of coherent light. Aluminium oxidises very energetically and as a result has found use in solid rocket fuels, thermite, and other pyrotechnic compositions.

* Aluminium phosphate (AlPO4) is used in the manufacture: of glass and ceramics, pulp and paper products, cosmetics, paints and varnishes and in making dental cement.

* Aluminium sulphate (Al2(SO4)3) is used: in the manufacture of paper, as a mordant, in a fire extinguisher, in water purification and sewage treatment, as a food additive, in fireproofing, and in leather tanning.

Aluminium Coating

2008-09-04T08:32:00.000-07:00

Coating is the process of covering the aluminium surface with a suitable film (layer) made of organic compounds. Many aluminium components may be painted for various reasons, starting with decoration up to protection against specific environmental influences.
There are several types of coatings with different properties, which are available in a wide variety of colours.
Powder coating is an electrostatic process where powder is deposited on the aluminium. Then it is heated for a specific amount of time to ensure adequate polymerisation. This process makes the surface highly weather resistance. In Europe, polyester coatings are widely used, due to environmental influences; their main characteristics are wide colour range, various glosses levels and a good film performance.

Various polyester and acrylic finishes have been developed over the last decades and are used as wet coatings. Their main charateristics are durability and good weather and abrasion resistance.
The Qualicoat association has implemented technical specifications and set up a quality label recognised internationally to give users of coated aluminium a guarantee for high quality of powder/wet paint applications used in building and architecture.

NATURAL ANODIZING finishing

2008-09-03T08:28:00.000-07:00

At this point the material, after various rinsings, will go in the cold-fixing, or in the hot-sealing, according to the final range of shining wanted by the customer.
We encode the SILVER range in:
1B ARS FR brushed silver, cold sealing
1B ARC FR chemical silver, cold sealing
1B ARS CA brushed silver, hot sealing
1B ARC CA chemical silver, hot sealing

Specify anodised aluminium

2008-09-02T08:16:00.000-07:00

Specify the alloy of the aluminium you wish to anodise.
eg Aluminium extrusion will generally be 6060T5 or 6063T5
eg Aluminium sheet will generally be 5005
The above alloys are examples of standard international gradings of aluminium type alloys.
Specify the finish
Matt - anodised aluminium with a low specular reflectance
Bright - anodised aluminium with a soft bright to high specular reflectance
Polishing - a mechanical pre treatment to remove minor scuffing and die lines
Linishing - a mechanical treatment to provide a brushed finish to the aluminium
Specify the colour or name of the finish you require and the Anodiser providing the finish to make it easier to source.

Powdercoating Description

2008-09-01T08:14:00.000-07:00

The earliest use of powdercoating dates from the late 1940’s and is a process where a film of specially formulated thermosetting powder is applied to aluminium extrusion using an electrostatic charge. The powder is oven baked or “stoved” onto the metal in a curing oven, to provide a tough and durable finish.
The powder is a mix of resins and pigments that are available in a wide variety of colours and formulated for numerous applications. However, only powders designed specifically for architectural applications (where colour and gloss retention are critical) should be chosen for use with aluminium joinery. These polyester powders have advanced weathering properties including chemical, corrosion and ultra violet resistance.

Hard anodizing aluminium

2008-08-31T07:57:00.000-07:00

Hard anodizing is more commonly found in industrial or commercial applications than in consumer products. Some aluminum cookware may be processed through hard anodizing, but regular anodizing generally produces the durable non-stick coating preferred by consumers. Hard anodizing produces a much thicker coating of aluminum oxide,

penetrating holes and fissures in the surface to create a more uniform appearance than regular anodized aluminum. Aluminum sheets processed by hard anodizing may have a dark brown or black surface, but other colors can be created.
Hard anodizing is commonly used in aerospace components to provide an abrasive and wear resistant surface. Companies who carry out hard anodizing for aerospace components must be certified to do so.

The automobile industry and the commercial cookware industry have both been long-time proponents of hard anodizing. Nonstick coatings such as Teflon must have a reliable method for application which can create a strong adhesive bond. Hard anodizing can incorporate Teflon or other substances during the electrolytic process. Some automotive parts also benefit from the hard anodizing process, since the finished product can withstand heat and is non-conductive. The medical field has also benefited from hard anodizing technology. The aluminum used in prosthetic joints is hard anodized for additional strength and resistance to the corrosive quality of blood.

Hard Anodizing Processes

2008-08-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

In hard anodizing the acid solution is cooled to the freezing point of water and the amount of electric current increased substantially. Hard anodizing yields a product resistant to harsh weather, salt sprays and abrasive machining processes. Aluminum processed by hard anodizing can be only a few points away from the hardness of diamonds. Hard anodizing shares many characteristics with sulfuric anodizing, but the two processes have clearly different results. Hard anodizing creates a much thicker aluminum oxide surface with a stronger bond to the original aluminum layer.

Processes Of Electroplating

2008-08-29T07:54:00.000-07:00

Electroplating encompasses a variety of processes that use the electroplating techniques for applying finishes to metal parts. These electroplating processes include decorative process such as chrome plating, gold plating, silver plating, zinc plating, cadmium plating, tin plating, antique bronze plating, rhodium plating, black chrome plating or non-decorative process such as nickel plating, copper plating and more, including electroplating of exotic coatings. Browse the directory below to locate suppliers of electroplating processes.

Anodizing Description

2008-08-29T07:52:00.000-07:00

(also Anodic Oxidation) Coating aluminium by a treatment that creates a thin and extremely hard layer of aluminium oxide on the surface of the metal. Dye-colored coatings can be applied during the process.

Aluminium Fact

2008-08-28T07:50:00.000-07:00

(Aluminum) The 13th element in the periodic table, and the earth's most abundant metallic element, aluminium was discovered in 1827. Aluminium has an atomic weight of 26.98, a melting point of 660.32°C (1220.576°F), and a boiling point of 2529°C (4566°F). Aluminium is an abundant, light metal with a silvery appearance, used in the manufacture of products requiring light weight, resistance to corrosion and electrical conductivity.

Anodic Thickness Grades Guide

2008-08-28T07:48:00.000-07:00

Description	Thickness Grade	Cleaning Intervals (max)
Interior	10	12 months
Mild	15	12 months
Mederate	20	6 months
Tropical	25	6 months
Severe	25	1 - 3 months

Jig marks on Anodise

2008-08-27T07:41:00.000-07:00

In order to anodise aluminium we need to hold on to the material in such a way as to pass an electrical current through it, this is commonly known as a jig mark. All items for anodising need to allow for a jig mark which is generally removed by the customer after anodising. You should allow the following for jig marks.
Extrusion = up to 50mm from each end
Sheet = Generally held in each corner up to 25mm. for large sheets in excess of 3.6 metres long additional marks maybe required on the top and bottom edges.

Anodise Colour Inspection

2008-08-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Anodising is like many wood veneers or marbles, it is a natural product that needs to be viewed in the terms of tonality of colour. When inspecting Anodised finishes for colour and finish tonality certain factors must be taken into consideration.
1. Light conditions
As the Anodised finish is translucent whether it is matt or bright finished it will tend to reflect light like gemstones, It this property that gives life to finish giving it a different appearance depending on the angle and intensity of the light source it is inspected in.
2. Distance from product viewed

to assist with colour inspection for anodised coatings, a distance of not less than 3 metres should be used for the inspection of Anodised coatings. This will help take away varying elements such as light reflecting and refracting from the different anodised surfaces.
3. Differences in perception of colour
Each person has a different perception of colour . This should always be taken into account when inspecting finishes.

Colour the anodising

2008-08-26T06:57:00.000-07:00

Sapphire adds colour to anodising by one of three methods
1. Absorption
The anodised aluminium is immersed in a tank full of dye and the dye absorbs into the pores of anodised coating until the desired shade is obtained.
2. Two Step
The anodised aluminium is placed in a separate tank and a current is passed into the tank and tin in

the form of stannous sulphate is plated into the pores of the anodised coating. These colours are UV resistant hence totally light fast.
3. Spectral®
Spectral is a three step process which manipulates the anodised coating to create different light refraction prior to 2 step colouring. This process creates a whole new palatte of colours that perform well against UV. (Refer to Spectral Tab for more information)

Aluminium Anodizing & Titanium Anodizing

2008-08-26T06:43:00.000-07:00

Anodizing is the process of slightly oxidising the surface of an aluminium component and impregnating the oxidised layer with a dye, imparting an attractive and corrosion resistant layer. Anodizing can come in a large variety of colours including clear. For best results a careful choice of aluminium grades is recommended as some grades do not anodize well.

Titanium anodizing is slightly different in that no dye is used. The various colours are imparted by varying the thickness of the oxidised layer which refract light in different ways to produce the colours.

Anodic coating for Magnesium

2008-08-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

* Patented hard anodic coating for Magnesium
* Excellent corrosion resistance
* Excellent wear resistance
* Good base for paint or other topcoats
* All magnesium alloys including die-castings
* Largest Piece - 5' x 3' x 3'

Hardcoat Anodizing

2008-08-19T11:23:00.000-07:00

Wear resistance is the most frequent reason for specifying Hardcoat Anodizing. However, because Hardcoat is also highly dielectric, it is often used to insulate assembly components. Corrosion resistance is a third reason for using Hardcoat. At normal film thickness of 0.002", the coating offers corrosion protection superior to that of other anodic coatings, especially when it is sealed.
Hardcoat is usually applied to machined wrought aluminum. Castings present little difficulty, although pressure die castings yield thin and unpredictable results. Among the many applications that have benefited for years from Hardcoat Anodizing are hydraulic and pneumatic components, pistons, screw threads, high speed machine components, aircraft brake and landing gear components and heat sinks.
Hardcoat Anodizing costs more than sulfuric acid anodize but is usually less than chromic acid anodize. In comparison to other wear-resistant coatings applied to aluminum, it is generally much more economical.

Hard anodize

2008-08-18T11:21:00.000-07:00

Hard anodizing is a term used to describe anodic coatings with surface hardness and/or abrasion resistance as their primary characteristic.
These anodic coatings are usually thick, greater than .001" (50%-buildup & 50%-penetration), by normal anodizing standards, and they are produced using special anodizing conditions. Thick coatings (over .004") will tend to break down sharp edges. Alloys with a very high copper or silicon content are less suitable for this process.
The color of the natural anodic coating depends on the alloy and the coating thickness. e.g. 6061 has a tan or gray color which darkens to almost black at .003"; 6063 has an amber shade which darkens to bronze. Both are considered clear

After hard anodizing surfaces may be sealed in boiling distilled water, sodium dichromate solution, dewatering oil, wax or PTFE solutions.

Hard colors anodizing

2008-08-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

Hardcolor™ is a process developed by Quality Coatings for those applications
which require both a hard, wear-resistant surface and cosmetically appealing
colors. This process has been received with great excitement by the medical
industry, for equipment used in hospitals and orthopedic surgery. It is also
currently being used in Marine applications, Automotive aftermarket products
and Electrical components.
Quality Coatings offers Hardcolor™ as a distinct process apart from other
anodizing processes. Quality Coatings pioneered Hardcolor™ applications and
can offer sound technical solutions to a variety of industrial requirements.

Aluminum Anodize-Sulfuric

2008-08-18T11:17:00.000-07:00

CLEAR, BLACK, GOLD, BLUE, RED, GREEN, YELLOW, ETC.
Specifications:
Mil-A-8625 Type II
BAC-5022
AMS 2471
AMS 2472

Aluminium Anodised Surfaces Using the MM-16

2008-08-09T01:13:00.000-07:00

Anodising is an induced thickening of the natural protective oxide film on the metal's surface. It is a conversion of the parent metal and thus is not a 'coating' in the usual sense. Variation of the conventional electrolyte composition and process variables produce anodic coatings with distinctive functional properties. Thus, very hard anodic films are developed to provide abrasion resistant surfaces on gears, pistons, bearings, and similar components. Anodic films may also be coloured by a variety of methods. Conventional sulphuric acid films are microscopically porous, and organic or inorganic dyes and pigments may be incorporated and sealed into the film.

The functional and decorative potential on the metal can therefore be widely exploited in applications ranging from building components to domestic cookware. Being able to characterise the aluminium oxide non-destructively is very important, and the use of spectroscopic ellipsometry allows online monitoring of the anodised surface on a production line.

Ellipsometric measurement were performed using the HORIBA Jobin Yvon MM-16 Spectroscopic Ellipsometer (SE) across the spectral range 450-850nm (1163 wavelengths). The measurement was performed at an angle of incidence of 70°. The acquisition data was collected in 30s and the MM-16 provides the full polarisation state of the sample with one measurement cycle, without the need for several hardware configurations. As a result the ellipsometric angles Ø and Ä are determined with very high accuracy and precision. The MM-16 also provides the full 16-element Mueller Matrix and this feature has major advantages for characterising depolarizing and often anisotropic samples with complex structure or geometry, where conventional ellipsometry is inapplicable. This feature can be also applied with success and accuracy to all cases currently covered by conventional ellipsometry. Aluminium oxide, Al2O3, is a medium refractive index and low absorption material that often exhibits anisotropic behaviour

A feature of the Mueller Matrix is that the off-diagonal elements are not equal to 0 when the sample exhibits anisotropic behaviour and especially when the measurement is done in a random position, that is away from the direction of the optical axis and at rotation of 90° from this optical axis, and when the optical axis is not orthogonal to the sample plane. In this example we can see the off-diagonal elements are not equal to 0 as it is shown on fig. 1. This standard feature of the MM-16 Spectroscopic Ellipsometer simplifies characterisation of such materials.

Anodise Structure of coatings

2008-08-09T01:09:00.000-07:00

Structure of most coatings is predominantly porous. There will be a very slight non-porous barrier film at the interface. Process control starts with the quality of the metal, its precleaning and racking, and finally ends with unracking, possible "clean-up" and final inspection. The job shop finisher or captive department generally has the least control over a very important requirement for good anodizing that is the metal quality. Type of mill product, alloys, worth, temper and so on has significant effects on the appearance, oxide coating property and functional properties like abrasion and corrosion resistance of the end product.

Anodizing will convert the surface of aluminum to an oxide

2008-08-09T01:04:00.000-07:00

Though it would naturally form aluminum oxide on its surface, it will be a very thin film. It offers a thicker oxide coating several times thick if required. The rigidity of this aluminum oxide coating challenges that of diamond. Due to this anodizing improves abrasion resistance. It can also appreciably modify and improve the appearance of aluminum. By the usage of dyes and special procedures, the finisher can make aluminum look like stainless steel, pewter, copper, or brushed bronze. The process will improve corrosion resistance, particularly when the metal surface is in exposure to humid, industrial, and marine atmospheres. The electrical insulating property of the anodic finish finds its application when dielectric properties are significant for electrical components. This type of aluminum is simple to clean and it resists heat to the high temperature where the metal itself melts.

Aluminium Wire Anodised

2008-08-09T01:02:00.000-07:00

Hollinbrow are the only stockiest of Anodised Aluminium Wire in Europe. Please contact us with your requirement
Continuous Anodised Fine Aluminum Wire from 0.050mm to 3.25mm on spools. Anodized Aluminum Strip and Ribbon, coated to specific standards or in the following colours :-
* Anodised Aluminium Coil
* Aluminium Coil
* Anodised Aluminium Wire

Anodize aluminium foil

2008-08-09T00:36:00.000-07:00

Aluminium foil is sometimes known as al-foil or alu-foil. It is also often called tinfoil, although it is not made from tin, or as silver paper although it is not made from silver; or in North America, as Reynolds wrap after Reynolds Metals, the leading manufacturer when it was introduced on the American market (much to the chagrin of Alcoa, Reynolds' main competitor, which had its brand "Alcoa Wrap" referred to as "Alcoa Reynold's Wrap").

Privacy Policy

2008-08-08T23:19:00.000-07:00

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Color anodizing and chemical brightening of aluminum parts

2008-07-26T08:24:00.000-07:00

IMP's modern 50,000 square-foot aluminum anodizing and metal finishing facility contains sophisticated equipment capable of handling large volume anodizing jobs easily and efficiently. A staff of qualified employees operating 24 hours a day produces outstanding quality and service at the lowest possible cost.

In addition to specializing in aluminum anodizing, chemical film and bright dip anodizing, IMP offers silk screen printing, pad printing, laser engraving, assembly and packaging for all anodized products.

Anodize Anodising Tips & Tactics

2008-07-19T10:04:00.002-07:00

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
* Expect aluminum anodizing projects to require a few days to a few weeks to plan and invoice. Lead times longer than six weeks should be rare.
* Understand that Type II anodizing increases the thickness of the aluminum coating by one-third and Type III (hard coat) increases it by one-half. Remember to double these figures when calculating the reduction in diameter of a hole. For example, if a part with a coating that is 0.6 mm thick is subjected Type II anodizing, the thickness of the coating will increase by 0.2 mm. The diameter of a hole will therefore be reduced by 0.4 mm.

Aluminum Anodizing Guide

2008-07-19T10:04:00.001-07:00

Aluminum anodizing is the process of thickening the layer of aluminum oxide that naturally exists on all aluminum surfaces. This layer has a higher resistance to corrosion and is more porous, allowing it to absorb paints more readily.

Cookware often is treated by anodizing companies to make both conventional and hardcoat anodized products. The process is environmentally friendly although FDA approval depends on the specific aluminum anodizer and process used.

Aluminum anodizing companies can mask certain areas of the part from the anodizing process. This is commonly done with holes. Flat areas that have lettering are more difficult to mask and this is frequently addressed with laser engraving or casting the lettering into the part.

Anodizing companies frequently coat anodized aluminum with chromium compounds to further slow corrosion in a process known as chromate anodizing on aluminum, or chromating. It is especially common in the aircraft industry where the effect of aluminum anodizing and chromating is known as chemical film.

Consider the following points about aluminum anodizing:

1. Buy an anodizing kit with smaller tanks to keep costs at a minimum.
2. Chromating may be even cheaper than anodizing.
3. Coat anodized aluminum with Teflon to create a new market for your products.