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metallized Finish on Aluminum

2003

I have designed and prototyped an aluminum die cast front panel for a product we are developing. The first parts have been produced through a rubber plaster mold process. Our marketing group would like to retain the "ruggedness" and "sturdiness" of the metal and would like a brushed or matte appearance like that seen on stereo equipment. I have tried metal looking powder coats but they do not look natural and plating is expensive and does not provide the desired finish. Any suggestions?

Marc DeFrancesco
- Petaluma, California, USA

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2003

The brushed appearance you refer to is usually not obtained from powder coating or plating but from applying a sandpaper belt against the parts on a machine sometimes called a "Timesaver". Whether it will produce a scratch finish on a diecasting that is close enough to what you see on rolled and extruded aluminum is a question that experiment will resolve.

However, there is an issue "between the lines" of your inquiry because you seem to imply that no corrosion proofing surface treatment will be conducted--and that doesn't sound completely reasonable to me.

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