The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Protective Coating for Magnesium-Aluminum Alloys

Please advise the suitable protective coating for the Magnesium-Aluminum alloys, and it is much appreciated if you can release the contact information of suppliers. Thanks!

Alex Hsu
-Taoyuan, Taiwan, R.O.C.
1999

My company does both aluminum & magnesium finishing & we can definitely provide you with the proper finish. The composition of the material is needed to determine what is the proper finish for your material / product.

David A. Kraft
- Long Island City, New York
1999

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Luke Engineering offers a patented hardcoating for magnesium, Magoxid-Coat(r). This anodic coating is superior in both corrosion and wear resistance to other widely available conversion coatings for magnesium. Contact us via the Finishing.com directory for more information.

Chris Jurey, Past-President IHAA
Luke Engineering & Mfg. Co. Inc.

Wadsworth, Ohio

1999

Dear David & Chris: Something misunderstanding for my problem statement that the substrate is MgAl alloy ( about Mg:90%, Al:10% ). Please recheck whether the suitable coating materials or processes or not, and place your expertise again. Thanks with regards.

Alex Hsu
-Taoyuan, Taiwan, R.O.C.
1999

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One of the most common magnesium alloys, at least in the United States, is AZ91. This contains 90% Mg, 9% Al, and 1% Zn. Almost all magnesium coatings, including Magoxid-Coat(r), are designed for these alloys.

Chris Jurey, Past-President IHAA
Luke Engineering & Mfg. Co. Inc.

Wadsworth, Ohio

1999

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Dear Chris:

Thank you for your advise. Exactly as you said that the alloys is AZ91D. Please advise your expertise. Thanks!

Alex Hsu
-Taoyuan, Taiwan, R.O.C.
1999

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I think it might be incumbent to decide what are the properties you are looking for in the coating first,ie; thicknesses, are you looking for a paint base, protection during handling/shipping, corrosion protection, a colored finish, impregnation for sealing porosity, retardant for galvanic corrosion if dissimilar metal inserts are used, or a combination of the above? Once that is decided, based upon end use, you can then decide what finish is appropriate. Try to get a hold of a booklet put out by DOW called "Operations in Magnesium Finishing". That may help. Once you have an idea of what properties are required than any one of the magnesium finishing companies can help you decide what is most cost effective for your needs.

Ward Barcafer, CEF
aerospace - Wichita, Kansas
2000

Please advise whether someone have tried to apply Zn coating on magnesium alloys, particularly AZ91? What is his experience? It is much appreciated if you can release the contact information of suppliers. Thanks!

Avi Rochman
- Tel-Aviv, Israel
2000