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Achieving an 'electrically conductive' Satin finish for Aluminum [Australia] 

May 9, 2007

I need to put a soft Satin finish on Aluminum machined knobs. Problem is that it needs to be electrically conductive. Out goes Anodizing. And Hard Anodize is cosmetically not a choice. My thinking is an acid etch (similar to first etch in anodizing) then Clear Chromate. Am I whistling Dixie here or does a "tried and true" solution exist.

Fred May
Chief Engineer - Product Design - Balmain, NSW, Australia

Hi Fred,

Your thinking would work.

Anodizing - You may achieve the required cosmetic finish, but more than that the anodic layer is Bad conductor of electricity.

regards

Keshava Prasad M
- Chennai, India