About surface coatings used in reducing vehicle weight
Aluminum in vehicles needs protecting. It also needs coatings which improve paint adhesion. These coatings must provide both corrosion resistance and meet organic coating adhesion tests. They must also be free of hexavalent chromium.
Our Iridite conversion coatings and Oxidite anodizing products are proven over many years. They are all chromium-free.
Describes the electroplating of decorative metals onto ABS* based plastic.
First the ABS need is metalized. This achieved by etching the surface. Then coating the roughened surface with traces of a precious metal. This process provides 'seeds' for depositing the copper, nickel and chromium layers.
High strength steel needs coatings to provide corrosion resistance. On threaded fasteners they should meet predefined coefficient of friction ranges. Being high strength, coatings should also prevent the risk of hydrogen embrittlement.
For example, ZinKlad 1000 coatings have a high a surface hardness of 500 HVN. This makes them ideal for self-thread cutting threads, as they will not be removed on assembly.
*Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)