Sound technical content, curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----
Possible to black oxide Inconel?
this text gets replaced with bannerText
Q. Very simply, can Inconel be black oxided? I'm guessing that we'd have to use a bath similar to that used for black on stainless.
MIL-T-4 StevensonSyracuse, New York
May 11, 2023
A. Hi Milt.
That question in different form has been online here for 17 years without any encouraging answers.
It apparently can be discolored to a blue to purple color by heating, as discussed in thread 46264, "Discolorations on Inconel 718" though. Further, it would seem that cold blackening with a selenium-bearing solution ought to work if the adhesion is sufficient -- a dab of gun blue / cold blue might be informative.
But as for a true black oxide conversion coating, it seems that inconel has too little iron in it, and too much nickel, chrome, and other stuff to form black rust.
Scholar.google.com lists a number of articles on the subject. As far as I can see, all of them are behind the Elsevier paywall, but we can at least read the abstracts.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
⇩ Related postings, oldest first ⇩
Q. Hello,
I am new to the wire industry and would like to know how to continuous oxide Inconel wire in small diameters.
Thanks,
Bob Martin Company - So. el Monte, California, USA
2005
A. Sorry, George, I am not familiar with black oxiding of Inconel being possible. But what properties are you seeking and why? Is it just for color? Might cold blackening or anodizing be acceptable? Thanks.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Is Black Oxide plating on Inconel 718 possible?
Q. Hi, I sent out an Inconel 718 part for black oxide plating and the platers told me that they cannot black oxide Inconel 718. They tried to multiple times, but it will not work. Multiple other platers told me the same. Anyone here know if black oxide is possible on Inconel 718? Thank you!
Kendrick Kim- Union City, California USA
March 22, 2018
A. Hi Kendrick. Black oxide, according to the common vernacular, is a process for building an extremely thin (no dimensional change) black finish on steel. It happens because nitrite & other oxidizers in the boiling hot caustic solution are able to convert the surface of steel parts to this black oxidized condition. But Inconel 718 is extremely resistant to such oxidation, being over half nickel, plus 19% or so chromium, another something like 10% between molybdenum, columbium, titanium & cobalt -- leaving less than 20% iron ... so I would agree with the plating shops you've contacted.
Depending on exactly why you want/need a black finish, maybe you should talk to PVD coaters about applying a thin, hard, black layer? Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Hi Ted, understood! That's exactly the conclusion I came to myself, but wanted to confirm that here with the pros. I am confident now in stating this to the customer. Cheers.
- Union City, California USA
Inconel 625 black finishes?
Q. Hello, I am interested in having a black finish applied to a machined inconel 625 part. Much like black anodize for aluminum. Needs to be thin and durable. The less reflective, the better. Suggestions?
Scott RoweRowe Technical Design, Inc. - Dana Point, California USA
November 15, 2018
Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread