What is Alodine®?
What is Alodine®? Also known as chem film, Alodine ® is a chromate conversion coating that protects aluminum and other metals from corrosion. Related products include Iridite ®, TCP-HF, and Bonderite ®. Chromate conversion coatings are a type of chemical conversion coating.
What is the Alodine anodizing treatment?
Alodine anodizing treatment is a kind of aluminum alloy surface treatment, which is mainly used to improve the corrosion resistance of aluminum alloy structures and the adhesion with primers.
What is Alodine finish on aluminum?
Alodine Aluminum – The Brand versus the Finish. Alodine is actually a brand. It is an international brand of various materials from Henkel Technologies for use in conversion, anodizing and functional coatings that are suitable for use on aluminum, magnesium and other non-ferrous materials for corrosion protection and paint adhesion.
What is the general procedure for coating Alodine?
2. The general procedure for coating Alodine is as follows: 1) Using a cleaning brush or rag, cleanly remove the liquid grease solvent from the damaged surface and dry the surface with hot air or wipe it dry. 2) Remove debris from the surface with tools such as alumina sandpaper or emery cloth until a clean and smooth aluminum surface is obtained.
How long does alodine last?
Alodining is a process in which a metal is coated with a chemical called alodine. This coating hardens to the surface and can last for years if painted, not requiring reapplication.
Why is alodine used?
Chem film or Alodine is a chemical conversion coating that's mostly used to protect aluminum from corrosion. It's primarily used to passivate aluminum as it protects this metal and serves as a base for paint coatings. It leaves aluminum unaffected, so it's easier to put paint over it without changing anything.
When should you apply alodine?
APPLICATION OF ALODINE Apply the diluted Alodine liberally to the aluminium surface. Treat only as large an area at one time as can be conveniently handled with the equipment being used (approximately 6-10 square feet of surface.)
What is alodine made of?
Its ingredients include chromium(IV) oxide, barium nitrate, sodium silicofluoride and ferricyanide. In the aluminum industry, the process is also called chemical film or yellow iridite, Commercial trademarked names include Iridite and Bonderite (formerly known as Alodine, or Alocrom in the UK).
Can alodine be removed?
The unit has been is service for several years and the desire is to "clean" the aluminum on the part an put it back into service. The unit cannot be stripped and re-Alodined because foam padding is on it in several locations. Mild solvents such as water, Isopropyl Alcohol [affil.
Is alodine cancerous?
It contains material which can cause cancer. The compound contains chromium, which may cause allergic reactions. Exposures in large quantity may lead to kidney damage, failure and eventually death. If swallowed this product can cause corrosive damage to the gastrointestinal tract.
How long do you leave alodine on aluminum?
This will take 3-6 minutes depending on the activity and temperature of the surface. * See Section 6 for precautions to be observed when using these materials. Remove excess Alodine from the surface by flushing with clean water or gently swabbing with a soft sponge or cloth.
How thick is alodine coating?
0.00001-0.00004 inchesAluminum chromate conversion coating/alodine produces a thin coating in the range of 0.00001-0.00004 inches (0.25-1.0 µm) in thickness. Chemical conversion coatings on aluminum are amorphous in structure with a gel-like composition hydrated with water.
Can you paint over alodine?
In general you can shoot top coat right on top of alodine as long as its is dry and baked or aged, the baking/ageing process helps develop the conversion coating thickness in the presence of air.
What color is alodine?
Alodine is a slightly cheaper process than anodizing, though it is more prone to scratches, wear, and cosmetic damage. The most common color of the coating is an iridescent greenish-gold, and thus it may also be used for cosmetic purposes.
What is the difference between alodine and anodize?
The primary difference between Alodine (chem film) and anodizing is that anodizing is an electrolytic process and Alodine (chem film) is not. Alodine (chem film) and anodizing are both processes used in aluminum finishing to improve corrosion resistance. Both transform the outer layer of the surface of the metal.
What is the difference between Iridite and alodine?
Iridite is a trade name for a whole family of chromate conversion coatings. Alodine 1200S is the trade name for aluminum chromate that meets MIL-C-5541. Iridite 14-2 is the particular trade name for a product that is chromate conversion for aluminum.
What is Alodine?
Also known as chem film, Alodine is a chromate conversion coating that protects aluminum and other metals from corrosion. In chromate conversion co...
What is Alodine Used For?
Aerospace - Aluminum corrosion protection is critical to aerospace metal finishing applications to prevent surface exposure. Marine - Watercraft, l...
What is a chromate conversion coating?
A chromate conversion coating protects the underlying aluminum against corrosion, serves as a base for paint adhesion, and can allow for electrical...
What is Alodine?
Alodine, commonly known as Chem Film, is a chromate conversion coating that protects metals, most typically aluminum, from corrosion. A chromate conversion coating is a type of chemical conversion coating, which is a type of coating used on metals.
Principle of the Alodine finish?
The defining principle of Alodine aluminum finish is the electrochemical reaction of chromate. The Alodine coating process is actually a quite simple chemical process. Aluminum coatings are usually created through passivation, which makes the coated metal surfaces chemically inert.
Alodine coating types
The different types of chromate conversion coating usually vary in chemical composition and shape. While there are many different types, the most typical ones are Type 1 and Type 2 of the MIL-DTL-5541 standard. Other standards available today are AMS-C-5541, MIL-C-81706, and AMS-2473 and 2474. Below, we will consider the MIL-DTL-5541 types.
Main characteristics of Alodine finish
Aside from alodine coating, anodizing layers are also great ways of protecting aluminum surfaces from corrosion and rust. However, one of the ways alodine aluminum coatings are different is the thinness of the film, which is usually between 0.5 and 4 microns.
Alodine vs. Anodizing
Anodizing and Alodine are two of the commonest aluminum finishes available today. They share the same goal in CNC machining, which is making the metal more resistant to corrosion and rust. The difference is in how they do it.
Applications of Alodine finish
Alodine finishing is a vital metal finishing process for aluminum and aluminum alloy in several different industries and fields.
FAQs
Alodine finish is a chemical conversion coating used for metals, particularly aluminum, to improve its resistance to rust and corrosion.
What Does a Chromate Conversion Coating Do?
First off, you should know that chromate conversion coating is a general mechanical process. This form of technology adds a coating to everyday metals like:
How to Tell if Something Has a Chromate Conversion Coating
The coating itself has a pretty distinct coloring. It has an iridescent green or yellow color when applied. This is a stark contrast to the otherwise gray, white, black, or silver coloring of the original metal.
What is Alodine?
If you’re using the trademarked chromate conversion coating from Henkel Surface Technology, then it’s technically called an Alodine coating. You can also call this coating a chem film or chromate conversion.
What is Chem Film?
Chem film is another term that’s synonymous with chromate conversion coating. It’s another general term that doesn’t refer to the trademarked process that Alodine refers to.
How is the Coating Applied?
Since this is an all-purpose coating, it shouldn’t surprise you that the application can be performed in a few different styles. The coating can be applied to the base material by:
The Chromate Conversion Coating Process
The process is pretty straightforward. Though there are some variations from one manufacturing facility to the next, they basically follow the same process.
How Long Does an Alodine Coat Take?
Despite the process being so specific and taking 5 steps and multiple rinses, it doesn’t take that long. Depending on the size, application, and specs, an Alodine coat will take between 10 to 30 minutes altogether.
