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What is the difference between anodizing and e-coating?  

March 4, 2008

What is the difference between anodizing and e-Coating?
I mean what consideration should be taken to choose between them.

Felix Law
Product designer - Hong Kong, China

Hello, Felix. You posted your inquiry against letter 11694, which gives a pretty good intro to e-coating. Andizing would apply only to aluminum or titanium, so if you are thinking of another metal, anodizing is off the list of possible finishes. What do you want to finish and what properties are important to you?

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

Felix,
Anodizing is an oxide layer that when sealed is often desireable against corrosion depending on exterior environment such as wind,sand and abrasion. Colored anodize does not do well under UV exposure. Anodizing applies mostly to aluminum. Fabrication of the aluminum after anodize will expose the raw material and subject it to oxidization.
E-Coating offers a thin coating that protects a surface but may wear with abrasion. E-Coating as a urethane, has excellent exterior UV protection,even with organic decorative dies. E-Coating can be used on any conductive metal. E-Coating as an epoxy, is used extensively in the automotive market as is not well suited for exterior applications.
Both e-coats are applied by submersion and offer coverage to all surfaces, including welds.

Mike Dywan PMA Photometals Phoenix, Arizona