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Finishes for magnesium (Mg) alloys

I am currently doing a research on Mg alloys in watch making. I want to know the different finishes available. The finishes need to be decorative, corrosion resistance, hypo-allergic and have reasonable mechanical properties. Any comment on the subject is appreciated.

Doris Wong
- Hong Kong

You can either anodize it or putting a chrome conversion coating on a magnesium alloy. You can also put a paint after treating the surface with a chrome conversion coating.

S. Y. Yuen
- Hong Kong, China

There are new ceramic oxidization coatings which produce extremly high hardness and corrosion resistant surfaces on Mg. This can be polished to produce a pleasing appearance (depending on alloy) and accept paint easily as well as certain dyes.

Trevor Amos
- Southampton, England, UK

March 6, 2009

Hi, Doris. We have two reviews of magnesium finishing on line here: "Finishing of Magnesium" and "An Update on Magnesium Treatments".

If you can possibly find it, try to get hold of Dow's "Magnesium Finishing" handbook. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

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