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Trivalent Coating vs Anodizing  

January 15, 2010

I am trying to pick a process for between anodizing and trivalent coating?

Could somebody help in picking one...give me pros and cons.

Thanks

Karan Kohli
product designer - Kalamazoo, MI, USA
  ^- Privately contact this inquirer -^

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January 18, 2010

Hi, Karan. Anodized coatings are non-conductive, hard, more corrosion and abrasion resistant, more expensive, and can be decorative. Trivalent chromate conversion coatings on aluminum are conductive, somewhat corrosion resistant, usually better undercoatings for paint, and less expensive.

Unfortunately you haven't given us any hint of the application yet, so we have no idea what qualities or properties of the coatings, or difficulties in the application methods, or environmental exposure aspects might pertain to your parts. We often say that this is like asking whether travel by rail or ship is better. It's fine to wax on about the mellifluous rhythm of the rails and the scenic vistas and weigh these against the smell of the ocean breeze and the 24-hour 5-star dining . . . but if your travel is to be between landlocked cities or distant islands such comparison efforts were irrelevant :-)

Regards,

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