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Galvanizing alternatives

2001

Help,

I am interested in an aluminum anodized finish or an alternative finish to galvanizing. The application is an .010" carbon steel plate fin on a 3/4" carbon steel tube. The temperature could be as low as -50 deg F cycling to +50 Deg F.

Jeff Welch
- Jacksonville, Florida, USA

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I don't think your temperature range precludes many finishes. Aluminum vapor deposition or electroplating, followed by anodization, is a possibility but I don't think it would necessarily be high on the substitution list unless you have some particular reason because it would certainly be much more expensive than galvanization. The first question is what is wrong with galvanizing? Without more facts to go by, I think my first suggestion would be to consider electroless nickel--although this would be a barrier layer plating rather than a sacrificial plating like the galvanizing or the anodized aluminum.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2001