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Metal finishing Q&As since 1989
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New finishes for magnesium alloys -- anodizing and chromating
Q. I am currently doing research on Mg alloys in watch making. I want to know the different finishes available. The finishes need to be decorative, corrosion resistance, hypo-allergic and have reasonable mechanical properties. Any comment on the subject is appreciated.
Doris Wong- Hong Kong
1999
A. You can either anodize it or put a chrome conversion coating on a magnesium alloy. You can also paint after treating the surface with a chrome conversion coating.
S. Y. Yuen- Hong Kong, China
1999
A. There are new ceramic oxidization coatings which produce extremely high hardness and corrosion resistant surfaces on Mg. This can be polished to produce a pleasing appearance (depending on alloy) and accept paint easily as well as certain dyes.
Trevor Amos- Southampton, England, UK
1999
by Dow Chemical Co.
![dow_magnesium](../abwd/dow_magnesium.jpg)
is sometimes available on
AbeBooks,
eBay, or
Amazon
... but if not, you can find libraries which have copies on WorldCat.org
(affil links)
A. Hi, Doris. We have a review of magnesium finishing on line here: "Finishing of Magnesium". Further, magnesium can be electroless nickel plated.
If you can possibly find it, try to get hold of the "Dow Handbook on Magnesium Finishing" . Good luck.
Regards,
![Ted Mooney, finishing.com](../portraits/ted_mooney_beach.jpg)
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
March 6, 2009
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