Surface Treatments

Enhance your parts with specialized surface treatments for improved performance, durability, and corrosion resistance.

Why Apply Surface Treatments?

Surface treatments modify the properties of your parts beyond what the base material provides. They can improve corrosion resistance, increase hardness, enhance appearance, and extend service life.

Protection

Prevent corrosion and wear in harsh environments

Performance

Enhance hardness, friction, and wear resistance

Aesthetics

Improve appearance and surface finish quality

Available Treatments

Anodizing (Aluminium Only)

Electrochemical process that converts the aluminium surface into a durable, corrosion-resistant oxide layer. Available in Type II (decorative) and Type III (hardcoat) for enhanced wear resistance.

Benefits:

  • • Excellent corrosion resistance
  • • Increased surface hardness
  • • Can be dyed in various colors
  • • Electrically insulating

Typical Applications:

  • • Aerospace components
  • • Electronic enclosures
  • • Architectural panels
  • • Consumer products

Zinc Plating (Steel Only)

Electroplating process that deposits a thin layer of zinc onto steel parts. Provides excellent corrosion protection through sacrificial protection. Available in clear, yellow, and black chromate finishes.

Benefits:

  • • Cost-effective corrosion protection
  • • Sacrificial protection for base metal
  • • Maintains tight tolerances
  • • Various chromate colors available

Typical Applications:

  • • Fasteners and hardware
  • • Automotive components
  • • Electrical enclosures
  • • General fabrication

Passivation (Stainless Steel)

Chemical treatment that removes free iron from the stainless steel surface and promotes the formation of a protective chromium oxide layer. Essential for maximizing corrosion resistance of stainless steel.

Benefits:

  • • Maximizes corrosion resistance
  • • Removes surface contamination
  • • Restores passive layer
  • • ASTM A380/A967 compliant

Typical Applications:

  • • Medical devices
  • • Food processing equipment
  • • Pharmaceutical equipment
  • • Marine applications

Chromate Conversion Coating (Chem Film)

Chemical surface treatment for aluminium that provides corrosion resistance and improves paint adhesion. Also known as Alodine or Iridite. Available in clear and gold finishes.

Benefits:

  • • Corrosion protection
  • • Excellent paint adhesion
  • • Maintains conductivity
  • • Minimal dimensional change

Typical Applications:

  • • Aerospace components
  • • Military hardware
  • • Electronic housings
  • • Pre-paint treatment

Deburring & Edge Finishing

Mechanical or chemical process to remove sharp edges and burrs left from cutting operations. Essential for safety, assembly, and aesthetic quality. Available in standard and precision levels.

Benefits:

  • • Improved safety (no sharp edges)
  • • Better paint adhesion
  • • Enhanced appearance
  • • Easier assembly

Methods Available:

  • • Tumbling/vibratory finishing
  • • Hand deburring
  • • Edge rounding
  • • Brushing/sanding

Treatment Comparison

TreatmentMaterialsCorrosion ProtectionAppearanceCost
Anodizing Type IIAluminiumExcellentVarious colors$$
Anodizing Type IIIAluminiumExcellentDark gray/black$$$
Zinc PlatingSteelGoodSilver/clear$
PassivationStainless SteelExcellentNo change$
Chem FilmAluminiumGoodClear/gold$
DeburringAllNoneImproved$

Need Help Choosing a Treatment?

Our team can help you select the right surface treatment for your application and requirements.