Industry has high standards to meet. Specifications for component durability require obtaining certain base marks. In the fight to assure their components are more than capable of achieving the tasks requested of them, manufacturers turn to metal finishing. This process is one response companies are making in the fight against the increasingly corrosive elements of the natural and built environment.
What Is Metal Finishing?
In industry, finishing refers to any type of process that involves altering the surface properties of a component or other item. Various types of finishing exist including powder coatings and metal finishing.
Corrosion Protection and Metal Finishing
Among certain industries such as those in aerospace, automotive and the military, metal finishing is a commonplace method used to improve the qualities of certain components. Of particular concern is the need for corrosion resisting coatings. Factors in the selection process must consider:
- The specific substrate metal and its susceptibility to certain types of corrosion
- The metal coating/plating
- The thickness desired
- The type of environmental exposure
- The actual and desired longevity of the existing component
- The type of corrosion protection required
In metal finishing, the method of application does not greatly influence the desired outcome.
Corrosion Prevention and Specific Metal Coatings
Certain metal finishing or coatings acts best for specific kinds of corrosion. Below are a few examples of metal finishing in action and the types of corrosion such coatings aid in resisting.
- Galvanic corrosion: Zinc and aluminum are effective coatings for iron and steel alloys. They deliver reliable and long term protection against this type of corrosion for such structures as bridges
- Stress Cracking: Cadmium, applied in a thin layer, acts to help block the absorption of hydrogen that causes this type of corrosion. It is effectively sued to coat steel and iron bolts, fasteners and threaded fasteners, bolts
Other metal coatings that actively prohibit the development of corrosion on metals include nickel-chromium and cobalt-chromium. These particular alloys feature a low level of porosity. This makes them extremely resistant to moisture absorption.
Selecting Metal Finishing
In today’s competitive and demanding marketplace, manufacturers need to make sure their products are durable and long lasting. This requires paying attention to detail. All components require the type of protection they need to meet specifications and public (or military) expectations. While many options are open to meet this goal, one of the best means of doing so is readily accessible. This is the best and most affordable option. It is one opted for by most manufacturers today. It is metal finishing – the best means to reinforce and improve on the basics and defend it against the corrosive effects of usage and the environment.
