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Setting up small e-coat line

We manufacture a small aluminum part by the hundreds of thousands - Looking for advice on setting up in house e-coat. Especially looking for a water based finish for Aluminum that makes it ACQ compatible.

Jim Guffey
Part manufacturer - Perry, Kansas, USA
May 31, 2008

Hi, Jim. You haven't explained the part in question and how it interfaces to ACQ, so it's hard to be exacting in the response, but aluminum is so far away from copper on the galvanic scale (it almost couldn't be worse) that this sounds really problematic. Most coatings 'breathe' and/or have porosity or pinholes; and organic coatings can chip or wear off. If this is a critical fastener, it sounds like a major problem.

You may wish to consider anodizing it first, followed by some kind of paint. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
June 2, 2008

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