What is powder coating?
Liquid paint is composed of pigment, resin, and solvent. Powder coatings are simply pigment encapsulated in a powdered resin and are thus thought of as “paint without the solvent.”
What is bright dip?
Bright dipping is a process for increasing the specularity or brightness of aluminum by leveling the microscopic roughness or “peaks and valleys” on the surface of the aluminum. The process cannot do macropolishing or smoothing of scratches or pits. This…
What is anodizing?
A coating of aluminum oxide is grown from the aluminum 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.
What is anodized aluminum good for?
Because anodizing is such a versatile process, there are thousands of different applications. Just to name a few, these include: Architectural products like windows and doors Appliances Automotive Lighting Food preparation equipment Furniture Sporting goods Marine
What is an alkaline etch?
Etching aluminum in sodium hydroxide is by far the most common pretreatment for aluminum that is to be anodized. It imparts a matte finish to the end product. Alkaline etches are also used to strip off anodic coatings. However, under…
What is hardcoat anodizing?
This can be a vague term, but usually hardcoat refers to a very thick and hard anodic coating. This kind of anodizing is accomplished with a bath similar to the standard sulfuric process, but with the temperature reduced to about…
What is a conversion coating?
A conversion coating is a chemical treatment applied to aluminum. It is sometimes known as “passivating”, “chrome phosphate” or “alodine.” Chrome-free conversion coatings are now available. This is usually done prior to painting or applying an adhesive, and is accomplished by immersing…
What about paint rack marks?
Mechanical contact must be made with each part that is painted. The heavier a part is, the more mechanical contact required.
Is the anodic coating a good electrical insulator?
If you have an application where electrical conductivity is important, you should test an actual production run for this characteristic. You should also make sure that the anodizer knows this is a design parameter for your application. The dielectric strength…
Is silicone required to seal cornice joints?
Depending on the applied weather barrier and water proofing requirements, silicone may not be required for sealing cornice joints. However, it is recommended.