1. What are the Hard Anodise coating properties?
- Increased Corrosion Resistance
- Increased Durability / Wear Resistance
- Ability to be Coloured in Black Through Dying
- Electrical Insulation
- Anodising is Unaffected by Sunlight: All organic coatings will eventually fail due to exposure to ultra-violet light
2. Can any metal be anodised?
The anodising process can only be applied to Aluminium alloys. Although most Aluminium alloys can be processed, those with a low copper content (less than 3.5%) and a low silicon content (less than 5%) are recommended. The best results occur on 5000, 6000 and 7000 series, 355, 356 cast alloys and 319 die cast alloys. On the other hand, 2000 Series Alloy has excellent mechanical properties but very difficult to hard anodize.
3. Does Hard Anodise "thickness" mean the amount of buildup above the surface?
No, the term “thickness” includes both the amount of penetration and the amount of build-up. Unlike plating or painting which is 100% build-up, the coating thickness of hard Anodising is 50% build-up and 50% penetration, ie, Hardcoat penetrates the base metal as much as it builds up on the surface. However, the depth of penetration and amount of buildup can vary according to the aluminium alloy.
4. Will there be any marking from the Anodising process?
Yes, each component must be properly racked to maintain firm electrical and mechanical contact during the aluminum Anodising process. Since each rack contact point leaves a small void in the coating, it is important for the contact to be made in a non-critical area.