[Milsurplus] Satin finishing aluminum

Sun, 27 Oct 2002 22:17:36 -0500

Al
Years ago when working at Microwave Semiconductor Corp. we used a product
called Irrodite to protect aluminum.  A kit came in quart paint style
cans as a dry powder.  One was used as a cleaner (caustic?) and the other
was the conversion coating.  The complete kit was mixed and stored in
plastic gallon containers, one for each solution.  Used for months until
solution was depleted.  I would guess either MacMaster-Carr or a
laboratory supply house would have it.  If I have spelled Irrodite right,
a Google search should turn up some information.
Regards
Jim

On Sun, 27 Oct 2002 21:52:32 -0500 Al Klase <[email protected]>
writes:
> [email protected] wrote:
> 
> > The yellowish aluminum seen in a lot of military stuff is the 
> result
> > of a "chromate conversion coating" but I don't know any more about 
> it.
> > 
>  
> Yes, sodium hydroxide will get you a satin finish, but
> that's the easy part.  For long life some kind of protective
> finish is required.  Most commercial stuff gets a
> "conversion coating" of some sort.  I was involve with this
> years ago.  After the etch and rinse the work is dunked in a
> second solution and rinsed again. This prevents corrosion
> and finget printing etc.  There are clear ones as well as
> the yellow mentioned above.  Two trade names I know of are
> "Alodyne" and "Clear Coat."
> The $64 question is where to get the chemicals in small
> quantities.
> 
> Regards,
> Al
> 
> 
> -- 
> Al Klase - N3FRQ
> [email protected]
> Flemington, NJ 08822
> Web Page:  http://www.webex.net/~skywaves/home.htm
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