Metal Finishing

A surface preparation process that propels abrasive media (steel shot, grit, glass bead, aluminum oxide) at high velocity against metal surfaces to remove mill scale, rust, weld spatter, and old coatings.

Quality control evaluation methods used to verify that a paint or coating has bonded adequately to a substrate.

An electrochemical process that converts the surface of aluminum into a dense, hard aluminum oxide layer.

A surface treatment that forms a protective coating by chemical reaction with the base metal.

A transparent finishing coat applied over a basecoat or powder coat to provide additional UV protection, gloss enhancement, or a secondary chemical resistance layer.

The ability of a metal or coated surface to withstand degradation by moisture, chemicals, salt, or galvanic action.

The removal of burrs, sharp edges, and projections left by shearing, laser cutting, machining, or stamping.

A finishing process that creates a smooth, consistent radius on cut or sheared edges.

An electrochemical process that deposits a thin, controlled layer of metal (zinc, chrome, nickel, or tin) onto a substrate.

A powder coating or wet paint technique that charges coating particles electrostatically, causing them to be attracted to and wrap uniformly around the grounded workpiece.

A process in which cleaned steel is immersed in a bath of molten zinc at approximately 840 degrees F.

A decorative surface treatment applied to stainless steel or aluminum by brushing in a single direction with abrasive belts or pads.

An abrasive metal removal process used to smooth weld seams, remove surface imperfections, prepare edges, or achieve a specific surface finish.

A surface preparation process using selected media such as glass bead, plastic bead, steel shot, or walnut shell, chosen to achieve a specific surface profile and cleanliness level without damaging the substrate.

The measurement of coating dry film thickness in thousandths of an inch (mils).

A chemical treatment of stainless steel using nitric or citric acid to remove free iron and other surface contaminants, allowing the natural chromium oxide passive layer to fully develop.

An abrasive finishing process that uses progressively finer abrasive compounds or buffing wheels to reduce surface roughness and increase surface reflectivity.

A dry finishing process in which electrostatically charged powder resin is applied to a grounded metal part and cured in a convection oven at 325 to 400 degrees F.

A preparatory coating applied to bare metal before the topcoat to promote adhesion, provide a first layer of corrosion resistance, and fill minor surface imperfections.

An accelerated corrosion test (ASTM B117) in which coated parts are exposed to a continuous salt fog environment to evaluate the long-term corrosion resistance of a coating system.

A mechanical surface treatment in which small metallic or ceramic shot is blasted at a metal surface to induce compressive residual stresses in the surface layer.

The microscopic roughness created on a metal surface by abrasive blasting, measured in mils of peak-to-valley height.

A measure of the texture of a machined or finished surface, expressed as the arithmetic average deviation of surface height from the mean plane.

A powder coating formulation using Triglycidyl Isocyanurate as the curing agent, known for exceptional UV resistance, outdoor durability, gloss retention, and chalk resistance.

The final finishing coat applied over primer or conversion coating.

A mass finishing process in which parts are placed with abrasive media in a rotating barrel or vibrating bowl.

Traditional coating application using solvent-borne or waterborne liquid paint, applied by spray gun, brush, or roller.

A chemical conversion coating applied to steel prior to liquid painting or powder coating, which improves paint adhesion and provides a first layer of corrosion resistance by creating a crystalline zinc phosphate surface layer.