Guide to Selecting the Most Appropriate Aluminum Coating
The most widespread metal used in various industries is aluminum alloys. Due to its lightweight, durability, and strength, it has many applications. Additionally, it forms a thin oxide film that makes it corrosion resistant. The oxide film only goes away after being melted at over 10000C. However, an aluminum coating is important in increasing the aesthetics and durability of the components. The common types of aluminum coatings used include powder coating, Alodine coating, and anodizing. Here is a further insight into the best coating for your aluminum surface and why they are important.
Reasons for Aluminum Surface Finishing
The question arises why you need to make appropriate aluminum coating and yet an oxide layer already exists. We know that the oxide layer requires very high temperature for it to come off. However, modern customers and manufacturers demand a lot from aluminum parts. We subject them to the extremes that can be too much for the protective layer to withstand.
For instance, in the aerospace industry, the rockets covered with thin aluminum sheets achieve melting point temperatures of the oxide on their surfaces. The thin oxide film can easily crack due to rapid temperature variations. This increases the corrosion risk to the aluminum surface. Another instance is exposing marine parts to the highly corrosive salt water. It usually gradually corrodes away the aluminum covering. Therefore, the need to provide an additional coating to the aluminum is more for these reasons.
Overview of The Modes of Aluminum Coating
The three main modes of appropriate aluminum coating include powder coating, alodine coating, and anodizing. Here is a step by step description of the techniques.
Powder Coating
Powder coating is a newer eco-friendly technique to apply a paint coat on aluminum. The process requires a pneumatic gun to spray ionized dry powder. What makes the paint particles stick on the aluminum parts is its ionized nature. The final process is placing the part in an oven for baking. It additionally makes the powder film uniform and allows the powder and part to connect. The new layer is more corrosive resistant and wear-resistant.
Powder coating achieves a less prone cracking coating. The ionized powder sinters permanently on the material surface thus achieving this feature. Additionally, the technique is complementary to anodizing. Anodizing makes the surface porous thus the powder flows into it easily as it melts during the baking process.
Compared to liquid painting, powder coating is less toxic. However, it requires wearing of protective gear to prevent inhalation of the tiny powder particles. They are not good for your lungs.
Alodine Coating
Alodine surface finishing is an aluminum metal surface treatment that improves on its corrosion resistance. The process uses chromate as the principal electrochemical reaction to form a thin anodizing film. It does not use an electrical current to initiate the chemical coating process. Additional goals of using alodine are to increase the adhesion capabilities of the primer. It also enhances the conduction capabilities of the aluminum alloys. Despite alodine coating being cheaper, it is prone to scratches, cosmetic damage, and wears.
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What’s The Advantage For Alodine Coating?
As one of the appropriated aluminum coating. Alodine coating has a few advantages over the other aluminum coating options. First is its short operation time that utilizes translates to less power consumption. This means you will pay less to get such services. Secondly, alodine coating works best on large volume production. One of the main features of the process is its easy maintenance of the electrochemical reaction. Lastly is how alodine coating creates thin films of the coating. They are approximately 0.5 to 5 microns thick. Additionally, the film is characteristically porous and soft. This leads to a coat that does not interfere with the properties of the aluminum alloy. Also, part size remains relatively the same even after coating it with alodine.
Anodizing
Overall, anodizing is a unique coating technique, which is one of the appropriate aluminum coatings. The process involves placing an aluminum part inside a tank with conducting liquid. Therefore, we do not add new material but instead, use the material itself to create a new coating. Then, a current with high amperage and low voltage flows through the tank and the part. Lastly, an oxide layer forms on the part. It is porous and lies on the outer surface of the part.
Anodizing creates a durable coating compared to the other coating techniques. This is because it is part of the material. However, it is a bit costlier since it requires more energy. Anodizing also achieves a matte finish making it an excellent option.
One exceptional downside of anodizing is that it decreases part conductivity. Take into consideration this disadvantage for aluminum parts for electrical appliances.
Conclusion
Consider having your aluminum parts get a powder coating, alodine coating, or anodizing to benefit from the techniques. All your parts will be corrosion resistant and have an increase in aesthetic value. Contact Creatingway now for aluminum coating services.
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