Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


-----

Finish for underground enclosure

2005

Hello,

I am designing an electronics enclosure that will buried underground for approximately 10 years. Can anyone suggest a proper finish or perhaps any resources I could use to select a proper finish? The base metal is 5052 aluminum.

Thanks!

Mike Bowers
Electronics Packaging - Northern Virginia

---

Mike

TAR.

That's short, sweet and succinct .... just ordinary el-cheapo asphalt such as used on the outide of walls which are partially 'underground'.

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).
2005

---

What is underground? No, seriously.... underground in Virginia is a whole lot different than undergroud in upstate New York (we still see glaciers!) or in coastal Florida. Soils are characterized as acidic or basic so the corrosive conditions vary regardless of inland or coastal, harsh winters or temperate, etc. 5052 is a pretty good choice and I know that they simply use chromate conversion coating for communication / cable boxes that sit on telephone poles in the northeast. My guess is that chromate alone in the ground will not be sufficient - my guess would be chromate followed by a good powder coat.

Milt Stevenson, Jr.
Syracuse, New York
2005