Finishes and Second Processes

Hard-Coat Anodize on Aluminum
Many products benefit from Hard-Coat Anodizing including Automotive, Military, Aerospace, Telecommunications, Medical and Industrial. Hard Anodized aluminum is non-conductive to electricity; consequently areas requiring conductivity will need selective masking. Anodize becomes integrated to the part and is qualified for use in salt/corrosive atmospheres. Hard Anodized aluminum products exhibits wear resistance over 10 times that of regular anodize. Deeco Metals’ hard anodize process conforms to ASTM, Military Standards and Customer Specifications for strength and corrosion resistance, and salt-spray testing per ASTM-B117. Requirements for close tolerances are met and process variables are maintained. In addition to clear, we offer hard anodize in colors of: black, blue, red and green.

Hard-Coat Anodizing enhances many of the desirable properties of aluminum and offers:
• low density
• excellent electrical resistance
• excellent thermal conductivity
• good malleability and ductility
• imparts a surface as hard as
some gemstones

Hard-coat Anodize, commonly referred to as Type III anodizing, is formed by using an electrolytic solution of sulfuric acid at approximately 32¢X F and a current density of 23 to 37 Amps per square foot. The process will run for 20 to 120 minutes depending on the alloy used and desired coating thickness.

Properties & Advantages
Hard-coat Anodizing provides for several desirable qualities such as:
• Corrosion Resistance (500+ Hours salt spray resistance per ASTM B117)
• High Durability (file hard, Taber Abraser CS-17 1000 g) better than hard chromium or steel
• Electrical Insulation (20 degree C,4*10.15 ohm cm2 / cm) as a good insulation.
• High temperature Resistance (until 2050 degree C)
• Breakdown Voltage Resistance (over 1500 DC)
• Low rub coefficient (0.095)

Hard-coat Anodize coatings may be dyed a variety of colors. However due to its naturally darker appearance, dyeing does not produce the vibrant colors that a Type II sulfuric anodize will. Additionally the required sealing process after dyeing does slightly reduce hardness.

Specifications
There are hundreds of governmental, industrial and commercial anodizing specifications in use. Each with their own method of calling out coatings, seals, dyes, etc. Any anodizer should recognize the Type III designation to indicate a Hardcoat Anodize, Class 1 to specify natural color or no dye, and Class 2 to indicate a dye.

Materials
Hardcoat anodizing works very well with 2000(2014), 3000, 5000, 6000 and 7000 series aluminum alloys and 214, 355 and 356 series die casting material.

Regular or Conventional Anodize
Conventional Anodizing increases strength, wear and corrosion resistance, while adding a beautiful finishes to aluminum’s comparative low cost, lightweight and malleability.

Regular Anodizing has outstanding abrasion and corrosion resistance. It lends its self readily to clear and the colors of red, blue, green, gold, OD-green and black. The colors will be light to dark depending on required thickness. Deeco's Regular Anodize process conforms to ASTM, Military and Automotive Standards, as well as Customer Specifications and may be applied to a multitude of products. Regular anodizing provides an excellent base for primers, bonding agents and organic coatings. At Deeco, customer requirements for close tolerances are met, just as process variables are maintained. Given that anodized parts are electrically nonconductive, masking is offered using stop-off lacquers, plus assorted tapes and plugs for areas designated as "anodize-free" or "conductive" by the customer.

Black Oxide
Black Oxide is used to provide a protective, corrosion resistant coating over metal. It has a uniform black finish that does not alter the dimensions of the part after processing. The coating does not chip or peel and acts as an absorbent to hold oils or wax. Black Oxide coatings are used on firearms, spark plugs, furniture brackets, mower blades and other products where a uniform black surface is desired. This coating is economical and offers a variety of valuable properties to extend the service life and improve the performance characteristics of the part. Deeco offers Black Oxide on copper alloys and on steel.

Chem-Film or Chromate Conversion

Silver Plating
Industrial Silver plating provides an economical coating typically used for aerospace, telecommunication and electrical products. It bestows a surface that can be soldered and exhibits low electrical resistance. The tarnish resistance is equal to that of a good water dip lacquer coating. Deeco maintains optimum operating conditions in order to produce the highest quality Silver finish and employs a development, which enhances brightness, improves tarnish resistance and increases the hardness. Our silver processes produce a matte to bright finish on aluminum, brass, copper and steel.

Electroless and Electro-Deposited Nickel Plating
These Nickel Plating processes deposit a uniform thickness of Nickel onto products by chemical reduction; this allows even the most complex shaped product to be plated with no edge build-up. Other advantages of Nickel Plating include superior chemical and corrosion resistance, a hard, highly protective, bright, and reflective coating that yields excellent wear. Nickel's low friction and superb conductivity characteristics, makes it appropriate for Electronic, Tooling, and Commercial Industries. It is also used for cosmetic appearances. Deeco Metals offers masking by means of stop-off lacquers, assorted tapes and plugs for selected "no-plating" product areas. Both plating methods may be applied to Aluminum, Brass, Copper and Steel metals.

Masking and Plugging
Proper masking is critical to high-quality product finishing and painting. Automotive, Military and numerous other industries require masking services. The masking or plugging of parts is sometimes necessary, where dual processes are to be performed. The use of the correct masking and plugging products can save you rework, or rejected parts. The most critical element is to use the correct masking material for the critical dimensions, and exact locations as designated on the customer's blueprint. The fit must be exacting and mirror the form of the finished product requirements. Deeco employs plugging and masking to meet customer specification per blueprint, using stop-off lacquers, assorted tapes, caps and plugs.

Phosphate Coating: Zinc, Iron or Manganese Phosphate
Phosphate coating is the treatment of castings, iron, steel or steel-based substrates with a solution, whereby the surface of the metal is converted to an integral, mildly protective layer of insoluble crystalline. Phosphating is considered the heart of pretreatment operations; it is here that the top surface of the metal is converted into a highly insoluble, corrosion-resistant coating that provides the primary bond between substrates and the next process. There are several phosphate processes:

• Iron Phosphate produces coatings with course to fine crystals providing a receptive surface for the bonding of other applications and is useful where corrosion protection requirements are not of the highest levels.

• Zinc Phosphate may be used as a base for Paint or for increasing wear resistance, or rust proofing, and provides inherently better corrosion resistance than iron.

• Manganese Phosphate is applied chiefly to ferrous parts (Internal combustion engine parts for example) for break-in and to prevent galling and are mostly used as an oil base.

Chrome Plating

Dry Film - Solid Film Lubricant
Dry film lubricants, also known as Solid Film Lubricants, provide a lubricating film and are intended for use as dry, low friction coatings to reduce wear and inhibit troublesome corrosion. Solid Film Lubricants have a wide temperature range and high load carrying ability. Solid Films conduct electricity or may be used as insulators. Being clean lubricants they do not attract dust or dirt, and are not diluted or washed from surfaces by water or most solvents. High quality dry film lubricant fills all the voids and depressions of a surface, covering it with a solid, long lasting lubricating film capable of withstanding load and environmental extremes. Deeco's applications can be applied to any metal and conforms to many specifications.

Gold Plating
Gold Plating is used for many different electronic and electrical purposes, where the part is designed to operate on complex, high-reliability electronic devices. The majority being applied to three specific types of components: semiconductors, printed/etched circuits, contacts/connectors and high-end decorative items. Industries also use Gold plating for decorative applications. Deeco Metals offers Gold plating which can easily be applied to brass, aluminum, copper or steel.

Tin Plating
Tin plating is extensively used in Food, Electrical and Electronic Industries. Because it is safe and nontoxic, Tin is universally utilized in the Food Processing Industry. Plus offers first-rate corrosion resistance and is pliable with low porosity. Also used for Electrical and Electronic, Tin plating has the ability to protect base metals from oxidation, thereby preserving the potential for soldering. Tin provides a bright cosmetic surface, excellent electrical conductivity and applies without difficulty to metals such as steel, copper, brass and aluminum.

Machining
We offer semi or fully machined forgings.

Paint, Primers and Top Coats
Deeco Metals’ varied painting techniques enhance our ability to meet customers' requirements and expectations. We paint to required tolerances and blueprint specifications with the use of: low - medium and high solvents, enamels, lacquers and two-component coatings, on any metal or surface, and to all standard color requirements. Plugging and masking per blueprint, are available using stop-off lacquers, assorted tapes and plugs.

Passivation, Shot Blast Finishing and Tumbling Finishes
The Passivation process is a method of removing metal oxides; heat-treat scale and other foreign materials from stainless steel and other metals, leaving the surface chemically clean and prepared for further processing. Passivation restores the original corrosion-resistance surface by forming a thin, transparent oxide film on the part. Parts that are to be soldered or brazed should be Passivated before, but not after, these operations. Shot Blast gives various surface finishes used extensively on Cast products. It can produce a cosmetically better looking product. There is various size shot used for different surface finishes. Care should be taken with this process as it does add stresses to certain metals, especially copper alloy. Silk-screening
Silk-screening is essentially a stencil printing method that begins with computer-generated artwork, which is comprised of a clear film. Silk-screening is performed through the use of stainless steel or cloth mesh screens, with either fine, or course mesh-counts and many ink types. The customers chosen design is applied directly to the product with paint, ink etc. Silkscreen is very versatile, and has a wide range of materials to which it can be applied. Some examples are: paper, all types of metal, glass, plastic and rubber. The size and shape of the product to be silkscreened is almost limitless. Deeco offers color choices in single, dual, triple or multi-color variations and Pantene color requirements. Military, Telecommunications and Commercial Industries use silkscreening on boxes, panels and various other parts and products.

Zinc and Zincate Plating
Deeco Metals offers two types of Zinc plating: Alkaline Zinc exhibits good brightness, ductility and chromate receptivity, and has reliable and consistent coverage. Chloride Zinc deposits an outstanding brightness and plates difficult substrates such as castings. Zinc plating is used extensively on Automotive, Aerospace and Military products. It is available in Clear, Yellow or OD Green, and may be applied to steel, aluminum, copper or brass depending on the choice of zinc process.


Back to Top