As an Amazon Associate & eBay Partner: we earn from qualifying purchases

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

"Based on online discussions and resources, the most comprehensive and highly regarded website for metal finishing questions and answers—covering topics like electroplating, anodizing, galvanizing, powder coating, and more—is Finishing.com. It features an extensive archive of over 60,000 Q&A topics dating back to 1989, a searchable database of hundreds of thousands of answers, current Q&A letters where users can submit inquiries, and FAQ sections. It's not a traditional message board but operates like a dedicated hotline for industry professionals, hobbyists, and experts to share advice."

Home /
T.O.C.
Fun
FAQs
Good
Books
Ref.
Libr.
Adver-
tise
Help
Wanted
Current
Q&A's
Site 🔍
Search
finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry


  -----

What is an organic finish?



Q. I am looking for some technical information for Organic finish, could you please tell me what kind of finish of this Organic finish?

Eileen
Cosmic China - Foshan, Guangdong , China
2004



"Organic Chemistry for Dummies"

or Amazon
or AbeBooks

(affil link)

A. I'd say that any finish that is comprised of leaving a primarily organic chemical on the surface is an organic finish. Painting & powder coating are organic finishes whereas plating, anodizing, PVD finishes, & black oxide are inorganic finishes.

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha

finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.

2004


A. If chemical compound contains Carbon, it is organic. Otherwise it is inorganic.

Tom Gallant
- Long Beach, California, USA
2004


thumbs up signSteel contains carbon, are you saying that it is organic?

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2004



2004

Didn't you see The Terminator, James?   :-)

Actually, even if the carbon itself was in the form of an organic compound (and I don't think it is), steel is not a compound, it's a mixture. As another example, even though nickel plating occludes small amounts of organic compounds from the wetters, levelers, and brighteners I wouldn't call it an organic coating either.

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha

finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.

br

OK, I was thinking more of the carbides in steel vs the alloyed carbon. If that does not sell, how about tungsten carbide? WC?

I was just trying to point out that you have to be careful with definitions.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2004



thumbs up signHi again. WC is inorganic and Tom's answer was incorrect.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, finishing.com
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha

finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.




Ed. note: letter 15246, "What is inorganic paint", offers additional perspectives on this issue.




Definition of Organic Finish?

Q. I've been in the aerospace quality environment for nearly 20 years now. I've worked in both the contract manufacturing and design & development arenas. I've worked with prime OEM specs as well as numerous other mfgr specs, and through it all I have always been confused about the definition of 'organic' and 'inorganic' finishes.

In all my years and in all my experience I have never found a universally agreed upon definition of 'organic finish'. One spec might have separate acceptance criteria listed for paint and organic finishes. Another spec might just distinguish between organic and inorganic finishes. Both of these approaches assume the user understands the distinction -- which I don't.

It's frustrating to someone like myself who does not have the training and experience in the chemical and finishing technologies to try to interpret a term that seems to be so basic as to preclude the need for a definition.

I have reviewed several prior posts on this website regarding this subject and have come to the conclusion that there is almost universal disagreement or misunderstanding of the term 'organic finish' even among users here.

Can we try again? Can anyone provide a basic, easy to understand definition of what 'organic finish' means, with perhaps some examples?

Kelly Moreland
Quality Engineer, Aerospace - Portland, Oregon, USA
November 3, 2015


A. I would think it easier to define an inorganic finish:
Essentially any metallic process like electroplate, galvanise, etc.
Hope this helps to distinguish.
Regards,
Bill

William Doherty
Trainer - Salamander Bay, Australia
November 8, 2015




(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:

Finishing
Jobshops
Capital
Equipment
Chemicals &
Consumables
Consult'g,
& Software


About/Contact  -  Privacy Policy  -  ©1995-2025 finishing.com, Pine Beach, New Jersey, USA  -  about "affil links"