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Conductive Aluminum Finish

As a manufacturer of electronic instruments, we have a requirement that the aluminum enclosures must be electrically conductive to prevent RF leakage. This implies a conversion coating. In the past we have specified a gold or clear "Alodine" finish. Different fabrication houses offer different definitions of "Alodine". This leads to the inevitable rush to change the fabrication drawing for that particular vendor. Is there a generic terminology for "Alodine" or conversion coating aluminum?

Please note that we are excellent electronic engineers but dangerous where finishes and coatings are concerned.

Tim Lewinski
- Ann Arbor, Michigan, US

Tim,

I believe the term that you could spec on your prints would be MIL-C-5541. Alodine is just a brand name. There are different classes of chromate conversion coatings in this Mil spec. Please refer to Mil spec C-5541 to see which class would fit your needs (they have varying coating weights, and electrical properties), and, in turn..spec that coating on your prints.

Marc Green
anodizer - Boise, Idaho

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