The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Any alternatives to blackening?

Hi, We are a custom machinery manufacturer in Ontario Canada, and find that our parts we send for blackening can become scratched quite easily. We are trying to see if there may be a better method for finishing our parts. It doesn't necessarily have to make them "black" just a nice finish on the aluminum and steel, that resists scratching, rusting etc.

Thank you,

Christine Brine
Manufacturer of Hot Stamp Presses - Stratford, Ontario, Canada
2005

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Not my area, but you should be able to get a nice finish on aluminum that will last by anodizing. As for steel, you might consider a PVD coating. We regularly coat steel items such as firearms and knives with TiN and other hard coatings. You must be a little careful as to the type of coating that you get. A good scratch-resistant TiN should be 3 to 5 microns thick. There are some companies that put down much thinner coatings -- under one micron thick. These coatings don't hold up very well unless they are deposited on a hard substrate, such as chrome plate.

Jim Treglio - scwineryreview.com
PVD Consultant & Wine Lover - San Diego,
California
2005

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What is the base metal for cheap Jewellery , over which this Titanium Nitriding is done.Will that base metal with stands Titanium Nitriding Temperature of 450 °C - 750 c

Mr Jim,
Is this Titanium Nitriding can be done on tin alloy , which can with stand a temperature of 140 C. Please Advise.

Panjala Mukesh
fashion jewelry mfgr.
Hyderabad, India
2005

Black Oxide is dirt cheap. That being said many companies use electroless nickel. Especially when they have aluminum and steel. This makes the machine or parts look uniform and have eye appeal that gives them an edge in the marketplace .

Todd Osmolski
- Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
2005