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Scratch resistant electrically conductive aluminum coating

2001

I need a conductive coating on aluminum that resists scratches. I have tried gold Alodine, ( AMSC5541 both class 1A and 3), but they get scratched just by sliding parts on a desk. Is there something more scratch resistant? Would a Chromate work? Or is Chromate just a misnomer for Alodine?

Chris Wagner
- San Jose, California

Chromate is not a misnomer, it's a generic name for the MIL-C-5541 process. Alodine is one brand name. Aluminum can be electroplated with whatever metal would meet your needs, but that would be a far more expensive process than chromating.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2001

Consider tin plating.

Dado Macapagal
- Toronto, Ontario
2001

Electroless nickel works well for this application.

Todd Osmolski
- Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
2001

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