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Black coating for material used on agricultural equipment

 

I am an engineer with a hydraulic cylinder manufacturer. We use pins to mount cylinders to their respective applications. I am trying to find a coating that will protect the pins (AISI 1045 steel rod)from their environment. We will also use the coating process to coat spring steel clips and a nut and bolt. The hydraulic cylinder is used on agricultural equipment and could be exposed to fertilizer and coastal conditions. We desire that the protective coating be black in color. We have tried black oxide coating (rust showed up) and are now trying zinc plating with black passivation.

Are we moving in the right direction or is there another process that will protect better and be relatively as cost effective?

Casey Coykendall

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Your are moving the right direction and if the zinc and black does not work try zinc iron and black. Black oxide only stops rust when oiled zinc is a far better way.

Martin Trigg-Hogarth
surface treatment shop - Stroud, Glos, England
 

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Cathodic electro deposited epoxy coating is available in black color and is extensively used in automotive appliations. You can explore that as an alternative.

Gurvin Singh
Mohali, Punjab, India