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Greater scratch resistance for Alodine finish to aluminum

 

Can the gold Alodine finish to aluminum be treated or applied thicker so that it is more scratch resistant? (Both classes of AMSC5541, 1A and 3, scratch easily.) If not, is there another gold/yellow colored plating or finish for aluminum that is electrically conductive, corrosion resistant, and scratch resistant?

Answers to a previous question (#11689), suggested tin or nickel, but my customers are requesting a gold color.

Chris Wagner
- San Jose, California, USA

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I don't think a thicker coating would be more scratch resistant. I suppose you could brass plate the parts, although it would involve a number of steps and so it would cost quite a bit more.

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

I would mask of the areas of electrical contact with an excellent tape, burnish the tape edges so that it does not leak, anodize and dye yellow/gold. You can touch up the masked off areas with chromate touchup for improved corrosion resistance if desired.

Alternative would be to zinc plate and chromate.This is a much thinner chromate, so will show scratches less, but will scratch.

Third-paint it.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida