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NEED ALONISATION TREATMENT?

2003

We are currently getting some aluminum parts chromed or nickel plated. We are experiencing some problems (peeling) because the parts are submitted to severe environment. We don't want anodization because of the coloration we get. I have heard of a treatment called ALONISATION. This treatment give a faded gold which would be perfect for our application.

Can anybody tell me where to get this treatment ?

Regards,

Ray Duteau
- Coaticook, Quebec, Canada

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2003

Let's slow down a bit there, Ray :-)

Nickel-chrome plated parts don't peel due to severe environment, they can take Alaska winters and Death Valley summers and all the hardships that the road in between can impose upon them. Nickel-chrome plated parts peel when they weren't pretreated in a fashion that provided good adhesion. If you like nickel-chrome plating, that's what you should have!

Anodized parts can in general be dyed almost any color you like, including faded gold, although it is true that if these are castings or certain aluminum alloys, a grayish or blackish coloration may arise from anodizing.

Alonization is not a surface treatment for aluminum, it is a surface treatment for steel that involves diffusing an aluminum surface onto it.

Because of your reference to "faded gold" I have the feeling that what you may mean is "Alodining" (perhaps semantically corrupted into alodination and subsequently alonisation). Alodine is a Henkel trade name for chemicals used in MIL-C-5541 [affil link] chromate conversion coating of aluminum. Good luck.

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