•   MIL-A-8625 Type II & III                     •   ASTM B-580           •   AMS 2468                                 •   AMS 2469           •   AMS 2471                                 •   AMS 2472

Typical applications of aluminum anodizing include:
• Surgical Cases & Trays • Surgical Instrument Handles • Dental Components • Jet engine control valves, pistons and gears
• Race housings for bearings • Screw threads for hydraulic jacks • Aircraft landing gear components • Spraying systems & equipment
• Marine and architectural hardware • Medical handling and processing equipment • Textile machinery • Nuclear equipment
• Food processing & handling equipment

Our SAFECOAT hard anodizing process is the hardest anodic coating available: sapphire hardness to Rc70 with 25% greater abrasion resistance than conventional hardcoat. Thicknesses range from .0001 - .003” (.00254 - .0762 mm) on many alloys. All thicknesses meet abrasion resistance requirements of MIL-A-8625F Type III.

You can color-code parts to simplify assembly procedures and to reduce assembly and installation errors, or to enhance the appearance of trim and decorative hardware.

Anodizing is recommended for virtually all aluminum alloys. Difficulties can arise if an order of components is manufactured from different alloys, and this is not made known to the anodizer. Each aluminum alloy has a different rate of penetration and buildup. If different alloys are processed together, different thicknesses of oxide are formed on the different alloys. This can result in "out of tolerance" components.

1100 Series. The most commonly used are bronze-gray in color at .002” (.0508 mm). The maximum practical coating thickness is .0026 - .003” (.06604 - .0762 mm). Not especially good for machining.

2000 Series. The most commonly used are 2014, 2017 and 2024. Gray-black in color at .002” (.0508 mm) to blue-gray at .004 - .005” (.1016 - .1270 mm). The maximum practical coating is .002” (.0508 mm). Excellent machining characteristics. Avoid sharp corners in design.

3000 Series. The most commonly used is 3003, gray-black in color at .002” (.0508 mm), which is the maximum practical coating. Good for machining and recommended for colored anodizing.

4000 Series. Not commonly used.

5000 Series. The most commonly used are 5005 and 5052. Both are good for machining. 5052 has excellent dielectric properties when coated to .003” (.0762 mm), the maximum practical coating. For color anodizing, 5005 is the best choice.

6000 Series. The most commonly used are 6061 and 6063. Almost black at .002” (.0508 mm), the maximum practical coating is .0025 - .003” (.0635 - .0762 mm). 6063 is used for extrusions, 6061 forms excellent hardcoat for grinding, lapping and honing. Excellent dimensional stability, although a little “stringy” to machine.

7000 Series. The most commonly used is 7075, a high strength alloy. Blue-gray at .002” (.0508 mm), the maximum practical coating is .003” (.0762 mm), and maximum for salvage is .008” (.2032 mm). Not good for grinding and lapping.

8000 Series. Not commonly used.

Die Cast Alloys. The most commonly used are 218, 360, and 380, gray. The maximum practical coating on 218 is .0002” (.00508 mm); for 360 and 380 the maximum practical coating is .001” (.0254 mm). 360 and 380 are not as wear resistant as 218. Only 218 produces a hardcoat comparable to the hardcoat of wrought or cast alloys. The primary elements of die cast alloys 360 and 380 – silicone and copper – are detrimental to SAFECOAT hard anodizing.

Four kinds of information are crucial to processing your order accurately and quickly:
• Alloy • Buildup per surface • Masking requirements • Racking instructions

SAFECOAT hard anodizing can be applied to virtually any aluminum alloy. However, each alloy is different, so it is imperative that the alloy be properly designated on the drawing or purchase order.

SAFECOAT hard anodizing can be provided from .0002 - .003”, depending upon the alloy. Like other coatings, hardcoat will change the dimensions of the basic component. Unlike other coatings, however, half of the hardcoat is buildup and half is penetration. On your blueprints and purchase orders, be sure to allow for SAFECOAT hard anodizing buildup, not plating buildup.

It may be necessary to mask the coating from being applied to threaded or bored holes, ground points, mating surfaces and other areas. Areas to be masked must be clearly specified on the blueprint or purchase order. Because of the cost involved in this hand operation, it is usually more expensive to tap holes to a standard size and mask them rather than use oversized taps to compensate for hardcoat buildup. In most cases, it will be less expensive to coat the entire component, even if coating is required on only one area.

Proper racking is essential. Each component must be racked to maintain firm electrical and mechanical contact during the SAFECOAT hard anodizing process. Since each rack contact point leaves a small void in the coating, it is important for the contact to be made in a non-critical area. Your suggestions on rack placement will facilitate processing.