Grok.com: "What is the best website for metal finishing questions and answers?"

finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry

-----

Chromate vs anodise in outdoor conditions

Dear Sir/Madam,

We use air/air heat exchangers for cooling outdoor cabinets. The two main aspects of such a device are the fans and the aluminium core. Though we are satisfied with a chromate conversion coating (Alodine 1200) for the HE covers we require anodising for the aluminium core. Some manufacturers are trying to persuade us that chromate conversion coating would also work for the core which is certainly going to face high levels of humidity during its life. Of course they 're trying to reduce cost. Do you think we can really trust the mil (Alodine) coatings for an aluminium surface whose thermal conductivity (K) is very important for the HE's cooling performance?

Thank you for your help.

Dimitrios Vergos
INTRACOM S.A. - ATHENS, GREECE

The same day you wrote this, we received a letter from someone else who uses chromate conversion coatings on a limited area of his anodized landing gear and finds it unsatisfactory corrosion-wise. If you change from a good process to a questionable process to save money, you won't.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.

(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: