The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

  -----

In need of colored metal with coloring blended into the metal

August 13, 2008

Hi All,

Does anyone know of a process to obtain colored metal where the chosen color is blended IN with the metal allow rather than a coating process?

Any information or thoughts much appreciated!

Chris

Christopher Zerbe
entrepreneur - Santa Barbara, California, USA

---

Hi, Christopher. In general this is not possible as the casting temperatures of metals exceeds dye temperatures, and the metal wouldn't really be metal anymore if it was full of dye molecules. However, I understand that researchers, I believe at the University of Rochester, have developed solid black metal and you might see what you can learn about that.

Anodized aluminum is a coating process that accepts dye, so you can get a rather thick and metallic looking colored surface if that's all you really seek.

Please tell us what you are trying to make.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
August 14, 2008

---

First of two simultaneous responses --

There are limited possibilities. Look at Black Hills Gold. It has reds, greens yellows and golds in some of their products. In this case, it is what is alloyed into the gold. I am not aware of anything that will work like that for iron or aluminum.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
August 15, 2008

---

Second of two simultaneous responses --

Depending on the metal being used you could also look into tempering, you can get wide variety of colors this way.

Marc Banks
Blacksmith - Melbourne, Florida
August 18, 2008