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Fingerprint corrosion on Aluminum louvers

We have a project that the end product is a vent with Aluminum louvers. The size is about 1.5 ft x 2 ft. The louvers are made of Aluminum 1100 sheet metal. When a batch (1000 vents) is done, our customer found that finger prints were readily left on the louvers and caused corrosion.

It is too late and too costly to anodize a finished product like this. Can boiling the louvers in water be a solution to this problem? Or is there any recommendation? Chromate conversion will not be any option.

Lorin Tam
Hardware manufacturer - Hong Kong
2007

2007

Aluminum is an active metal, Lorin -- you have to do something in terms of a coating. Anodizing or chromating are long-term solutions. Boiling them and then clear coating them is a possible short-term solution. Simply boiling them and nothing else probably won't achieve much.

Next time, remember that the mechanical surface finish also plays a big part in fingerprint visibility. Also, everyone except the final consumer should always be wearing gloves. Good luck.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
(Ted can offer longterm or instant help)
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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