The term “metal processing and finishing” refers to a variety of procedures used to modify the surface of metal goods and components in order to increase their resilience, aesthetic appeal, and environmental protection. This process is the final one in the production process. Metal processing and finishing services also involve cleaning and polishing techniques to further enhance the appearance of the finished product.
To make sure that manufacturers and businesses choose a metal finishing method that meets the needs of their metal products, let’s break down each of these categories. Businesses will save time, money, and labor by taking the time to master the various Mechanical Finishers Cincinnati finishing procedures.
Altering And Adding Metal Finishing Processes
To change the surface of a part or product, metal finishing processes are added to or altered. In order to achieve desired features and attributes, such as better durability, aesthetics, solderability, and chemical resistance, a layer of the desired material is added rather than being removed or reshaped.
Although there are many ways to add to or change a part’s surface, electroplating, electroless plating, passivation, hot blackening, and powder coating are some of the most popular.
Types of Metal Finishes
A metal product or component’s exterior can be finished by forming a thin layer of enhancing material or by removing material from the component’s surface. Several ways exist for coatings to enhance metal surfaces, including:
- Improved durability
- Corrosion resistance
- Chemical resistance
- Electrical resistance
- Abrasion resistance
- Reducing friction
- Making a surface conductive
- Decorative appeal
There are numerous sorts of metal finishes, and each has a unique impact on substrates and surfaces. This tutorial will walk you through the many metal coatings that businesses employ to enhance their goods.
- Electroless Plating
Chemical plating, also known as electroless plating or auto-catalytic plating, is a method of metal processing that uses chemicals to coat metal rather than electricity. Using a reducing chemical bath to create a catalytic reduction of metal ions and plate the component without the use of electrical energy, the electroless plating method involves the deposition of metals such as nickel, silver, gold, and copper on the surface of a range of materials. Electroless plating, in contrast to electroplating, is a chemical technique that doesn’t call for any additional equipment or electrical power. Numerous technical benefits of electroless plating include, but are not limited to:
- makes a metal layer that is uniform
- does not require advanced racks or jigs
- flexibility in plating volume and thickness
- achieves matte, bright, and semi-bright finishes.
- Passivation
The chemical process of passivation makes a material passive, or less prone to corrosion. Corrosive particles are eliminated by immersing parts in a solution of nitric or citric acid. Passivation creates a shell of protection around the metal without altering the component’s outward appearance while reducing the amount of iron that can react with the environment and cause rust. Numerous materials, including silicon, aluminum, ferrous materials, stainless steel, and nickel, can be passivated.
- Electroplating
Electroplating is also referred to as electro-deposition onto the surface of a metal part or component, known as a substrate, during the metal finishing process of electroplating, also known as electro-deposition. In the process of electroplating, a substrate material—typically one that is lighter and less expensive—is enclosed in a thin layer of metal parts cleaning services Cincinnati, such as copper or nickel. A single metal or a mix of metals can be electroplated onto an object by the manufacturer. Multiple layers of metal are frequently used by manufacturers to increase strength and conductivity. Among the materials frequently employed in electroplating are, but are not restricted to:
- Brass
- Copper
- Gold
- Iron
- Nickel
- Silver
- Titanium
- Zinc
- Buff Polishing
An alternative to electropolishing that doesn’t use the electro-chemical process is buff polishing. Like buffing a car, buff polishing involves using a machine with a cloth wheel to clean and buff the surface of your components. The outcome is a glossy, lustrous finish that is perfect for metallic components that require a high quality look.
- Hot Blackening
Hot blackening is a metal finishing process that coats the surface of a substrate with a thin layer of black oxide. This technique employs a series of tanks containing various cleaning agents, coolants, and caustic materials and is typically carried out in large batches, resulting in a process that is best suited for smaller parts.
Hot blackening is commonly used by manufacturers to increase the abrasion resistance of metal finishing Cincinnati parts and provide a black matte finish on automotive parts, firearms, and military applications that require a protective dark coating.
Also read about, The Zinc Plating Process
- Phosphate Coating
Phosphate coating, also known as phosphatization, is a chemical treatment commonly used on steel parts and other metals such as cast iron to create a thin adhering layer that provides strong adhesion and increases corrosion protection. Iron, zinc, or manganese phosphates are commonly used in the thin adhering layer of phosphate coating. It is important to note that the phosphate coating finish produces a gray to black appearance.
- Powder Coating
Powder coating is a metal finishing process that involves the application of a dry powder rather than a liquid to coat a metal product. A variety of ingredients, including pigments, curatives, flow modifiers, leveling agents, and other additives, are combined to create the dry powder coating during the powder coating process. After making the powder, it is electro-statically deposited onto the surface of the substrate and placed in a specially designed oven to produce long molecular chains with a high cross-link density.
Removing And Reshaping Metal Finishing Processes
Metal finishing techniques such as removing and reshaping are used to change the surface of a part or product to achieve the desired finish by removing or reshaping it. When the end user wants a polished, reshaped, abrasive, or aesthetically pleasing finished part or product, these metal finishing processes are used. There are several methods for removing/reshaping a part’s surface, but the most common are electro-polishing, buff polishing, and abrasive blasting.
When choosing a metal finish, several factors must be considered, including the type of metal used, the cost-effectiveness of the finish, and production speed. Mechanical Finishers INC can help you choose the best finish for your low to high volume metal parts. Contact info@mechfin.com today to learn how our engineers can assist you in determining the best finish for your part.
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