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Testing Hardcoat with a Conductivity Tester [Missouri] 

May 4, 2007

I have a tool (6061 Al)that was welded (2139, machined, and then anodized (hard coat). The appearance looks like an alligator skin with a montage of green and silver marks. Can you test with a conductivity tester to see if the hardcoat is present?

Mike Rule
Engineer - St Louis, MO, USA

hardcoat conductivity can be tested by ohmmeter with two metal contacts. Set the scale limit to 1 kohm, slightly touch the surface with two contacts in the distance 1-2 sm from each other. If ohmmeter reading shows more than 1 kohm, that it is good anodizing. However thickness of the coating can be tested only in metallographic laboratory with special equipment.

Anna Berkovich Russamer Lab Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania