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Black Chrome finish on aluminum

June 2, 2011

I have been designing and building electronic gadgets for many years and until now have never been stumped on how to properly finish something. I have been looking for how we can achieve what is called "Black Chrome" finish on aluminum parts. The part has many fins (heatsink) and it would seem that powder coat is not going to work well due to the fins and the deep grooves. Oh yes, we do not want a real chrome process either as this is way to expensive, this is for a part that could go into product by the 100,000 at some point. Wondering if electrophoresis could be a solution, not sure what other names that one goes by.

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks.

Andy Bellows
product designer - Ottawa, ON, Canada

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Because it is a heat sink, I would try to avoid the paint as it is a good insulator.
A bright dip followed by a black anodize or possibly a thin hard anodize might work.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
June 3, 2011

I have just started using Lumiclad from Birchwood Technologies [a finishing.com supporting advertiser]. The process puts down a layer of zinc (with what is basically zincate, I believe) and then a layer of molybdenum oxide. Won't be as hard as anodizing, but will give better coverage than powder. Price likely to be somewhere in between.

Justin Kumpf
manufacturing - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
June 21, 2011