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Suitable Alloy for Decorative Anodising and High Pressure Die-Casting?

 

We high pressure die-cast aluminium fishing reels (approx. 100,000 per year) using LM6 alloy. We currently paint them. We are interested in producing an attractive die-cast product that is either anodised or finished in some other attractive finish. Our castings are thin walled with quite fine features cast in.

LM5 has been suggested as an alloy that anodizes well but probably wouldn't be suitable for high pressure die casting. Can anyone recommend a more suitable alloy for casting and decorative anodising? Or, other, cost effective, finishing processes suitable for high pressure die castings in LM6 (or similar)?

Thank you,

Silvio Murgia
- Buxton, Derbyshire, England

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The Canning Handbook [on eBay, Amazon, AbeBooks] has a table which shows LM6, at 12% Si, as unsuitable for color or bright anodizing. You might be able to use that table to narrow down your choices, and still give you the alloy necessary for your casting operation. See the Chemicals Directory. They do some nice effects on aluminum.

  
Tom Pullizzi
Falls Township, Pennsylvania