The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
-----

Black passivation of aluminum and stainless

I would like to know more about passivation process especially Black Passivation. is it possible to do black passivation on Aluminium and Stainless steel.

Krishnan Rakhi
Student - Kerala, India
June 4, 2009

---

June 4, 2009

Hi,Krishnan. The problem here is that 'passivation' is a generic term. It is used, somewhat lazily, to describe many different processes -- but it has very little inherent meaning. So we could argue over whether you can do a 'passivation' process on aluminum, but we'd only be arguing over whether some particular process should or should not be called 'passivation' based on common usage of the word in different parts of the world. Similarly, while stainless steel can certainly be passivated, as soon as you talk about a black coloration, you are talking about a different process than what most people mean by passivation.

Please try to phrase your inquiry without using the word 'passivation', so that you are clearly expressing what it is that you are trying to accomplish in terms of this passivation layer, and I'll try to answer.

Regards,

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