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Need Hardcoat with clear color

 

I am looking for process that has the abrasion/wear characteristics of Hardcoat Anodizing but has the clear color of Type II anodizing. We have been using Hardcoat for many years in a high compression sliding load application with good success. Recently our marketing group is urging the move away from the Hardcoat due to the dark color. Is there a process (does not have to be anodizing) that is equivalent to Hardcoat in wearability yet clear in color?

Curtis Henderson
- Ft. Wayne, IN, USA

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Electroless nickel is a very different material than hard anodizing, but it does exhibit similar wear resistance. This would not exactly be "clear" but it would be a shiny chrome-like look. I don't think you will get a clear look on hardcoat anodizing, but the purer the aluminum the less dark it should be.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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Thanks for responding, Ted. We use Electroless nickel on one on the sliding parts already and the color is objectionable as well to the marketing group due to the bright chrome look. I am losing confidence that there is a process that meets the mentioned criteria. I have a feeling I may end up having to specially coat the wear surfaces and then apply type II anodizing to the outer surfaces to satisfy our marketing requirements.

Thanks again for the input,

Curtis Henderson
- Ft. Wayne, IN, USA

One of the hardcoat processes we run here, produces an almost clear coating depending on the alloy & thickness applied.

David A. Kraft
- Long Island City, New York