Pioneer Metal Finishing

Alloy Specs

WROUGHT ALLOYS

Alloy Series Major Alloying Constituents Common Alloys in Series Recommended Maximum Thickness for Hard Anodize General Comments for Alloy Series
1000 none 1100 0.033" Good for cosmetic appearance for clear & dyed anodize
2000 copper (Cu) 2011 0.0015" Generally not suitable for hardcoat. Susceptible to burning
2014 0.0015" (requires customer release of liability)
2024 0.0015"
  • This alloy series is very susceptible to galvanic corrosion.
  • Copper in alloy leads to a yellow coating with poor weather resistance.
  • Loses its shine and starts to show heavy grain pattern after etching.
  • Natural yellow color of anodize coatings > 0.0005" affects color match.
3000 manganese (Mn) 3002 0.0018" Susceptible to oxide streaking, tears, etc. from the rollout operation.
3003 0.0018" 3004 achieves darker gray appearance at same thickness as 3003 series
3004 0.0018"  
4000 silicon (Si) 4043  
  • Used as welding rod material.
  • Produces a heavy black smut that is hard to remove.
5000 magnesium (Mg) 5005 0.0028" Susceptible to oxide streaking, tears, etc. from the rollout operation.
5052 0.0028" Hardcoat finish typically has excellent dielectric properties.
6000 magnesium (Mg) 6005 0.0033" 6000 may show grain pattern after processing.
silicon (Si) 6061 0.0020"
  • 6061 temper affects the amount of coating thickness achievable.
  • Slightly higher thickness possible on T65, T651 (0.0025") than on T6 (0.0020").
  • T5 temper prone to cloudiness after chemical brightening.
6063 0.0033"
6105 0.0033"
62620 .0018"
6463 0.0033"
7000 zinc (Zn) 7075 0.0033"
  • Zinc will produce yellow coatings.
  • 7075 susceptible to blistering of hardcoat finish.
  • 7075 coating becomes increasingly brittle and more prone to chipping as thickness increases. Also, more susceptible to crazing at higher coating thickness. Loses its shine very quickly if etched.
  • This alloy series is very susceptible to galvanic corrosion.

CAST ALLOYS

Alloy Series Major Alloying Constituents Common Alloys in Series Recommended Maximum Thickness for Hard Anodize General Comments for Alloy Series
Poured Castings silicon (Si) 319 0.0028"
  • Very porous. Poor choice when corrosion resistance is required.
  • Not recommended for chemical brightening.
  • Acid etch recommended to prevent smut.
  • Dichromate seal not recommended.
  • Coating builds faster on machined surfaces than on cast surfaces.
  • Variation in coating thickness measurement greater on cast surfaces.
355 0.0028"
356 0.0028"
357 0.0028"
Almag  
Mic6  
Tenzalloy  
Die cast silicon (Si) 218  
  • Poor choice when corrosion resistance is required.
  • Not recommended for dye work or chemical brightening
  • Acid etch recommended to prevent smut and produce uniform appearance for clear and black coatings.
  • Dichromate seal not recommended.
  • Higher thickness (0.0005) possible on machined surfaces.
  • Coating builds faster on machined surfaces than on cast surfaces.
  • Variation in coating thickness measurement greater on cast surfaces versus machined surfaces
  • 218 produces a coating comparable to wrought or sand cast alloys
  • 0.0002" thickness achievable as cast
  • 0.0005" thickness achievable machined.
360 0.0004"
380 0.0004"
390 0.0004"
413 0.0004"