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In contemporary manufacturing and product creative design,surface finishing technology plays a pivotal role. It not only significantly enhances the external beauty and durability of the product, but also gives the product a series of specific functional properties.A wide variety of materials are used in surface finishing processes, each with its own unique properties and application areas. This article aims to provide an in-depth explanation of several widely used surface finishing materials and their performance in practical applications.

What Materials Are Used in surface finishing？

Thematerials used in the surface finishing process are extremely diverse, covering but not limited to the following categories:

Materials	Description
Metals and their alloy materials	Metals such as chromium, zinc, nickel, copper, etc. are often used as electroplating finishing to enhance the corrosion resistance of products and give them decorative beauty.
In the field of plastics and composite materials	ABS plastic is popular because of its good electroplating adaptability, while carbon fiber composite materials and other materials have further improved their performance through specific processing technologies.
Ceramic and glass materials	These materials are often used in the vacuum electroplating process to form a metal-like surface layer, or as a protective layer to improve the heat resistance and corrosion resistance of the product.
Chemical coatings and inks	Including water-based paints, powder coatings, electrophoretic coatings and other types, which provide necessary protection and decorative effects for products, or achieve specific functional requirements.
Environmentally friendly surface finishing materials	These materials, such as low-VOC emission coatings, recyclable or biodegradable materials, are designed to respond to the current urgent need for environmental protection.
New high-tech surface finishing materials	Nanomaterials are used to create super-hydrophobic, self-cleaning surfaces; self-healing coatings can automatically repair themselves after damage; smart materials can flexibly adjust their performance according to changes in the external environment.

What Are the Common Materials for Metal Surface Finishing?

There are a variety of materials commonly used for metal surface finishing, and the selection of these materials often depends on the nature of the substrate, the desired surface properties, and the application environment. Commonly used materials formetal surface finishingmainly include the following:

1. Cast iron:Cast iron has excellent fluidity, low cost and good wear resistance, and is often used in construction, bridges, engineering components and other fields.In metal surface finishing, cast iron can be rust-proofed by applying asphalt coating.
2. Stainless steel:Stainless steel is an alloy made by incorporating elements such as chromium and nickel into steel. It has excellent corrosion resistance and rigidity.The surface of stainless steel can be finely processed, such as polishing, electroplating, etc., to obtain different appearances and properties.
3. Zinc:Zinc has extremely high corrosion resistance and is often used as a surface coating material for steel. Zinc castings are widely used in door handles, faucets, electronic components and other fields. In addition,zinc can also be combined with copper to form brassand used to make various alloy products.
4. Aluminum:Aluminum has the advantages of being flexible and malleable, easy to make into alloys, and has a high strength-to-weight ratio. It is widely used in transportation, aircraft parts, kitchen appliances and other fields. The surface of aluminum can be treated with anodizing, electrophoretic coating, etc. to improve its corrosion resistance and aesthetics.
5. Magnesium alloy:Magnesium alloy has the advantages of light specific gravity, high specific strength and specific stiffness, and good thermal and electrical conductivity. It is commonly used in automotive parts, 3C product casings and other fields.The surface of magnesium alloy can be electroplated, sprayed and other treatments to enhance its corrosion resistance and decorative properties.
6. Copper:Copper has excellent electrical and thermal conductivity, as well as good corrosion resistance, and is often used in wires, engine coils, printed circuits and other fields. The surface of copper can be polished, electroplated, etc. to obtain a bright, smooth appearance.
7. Chromium:Chromium is commonly used in stainless steel as an alloying element to enhance its hardness. In addition, chromium can also be used in chrome plating processes to form decorative coatings, hard chromium coatings, black chromium coatings, etc., which are widely used in automotive components, bicycle parts, bathroom faucets and other fields.

What Coatings and Plating Materials Are Used in Surface Finishing?

In surface finishing, commonly used coatings and plating materials mainly include the following:

Coating

• Shell paint:suitable for electronic shell, with metal touch and alcohol resistance, can be compound daub PU or UV light oil.
  Chameleleon paint: multi-angle unreal paint to enhance the value of goods, create excellent appearance.
• Electroplated silver coating:non-toxic imitation electroplating effect, strong alcohol resistance, suitable for auto parts, home appliance decoration and crafts, suitable for ABS, PC and metal parts.
• Rubber paint:single composition, soft and elastic texture, antifouling and anti-solvent, used for metal and non-metal surface coating, suitable forABS, PC, PS, PP, PA and hardware parts.
• Conductive paint:designed for PS and ABS plastic, conductive magnetic, shielding electromagnetic waves and magnetic lines, without welding glue, to achieve the goal of plastic for metal.
• UV paint:UV curing, transparent bright, high hardness fast drying, protective surface coating, hard brightening.
  Pearl powder: pearl pigment, used for cosmetics, plastics, printing ink and automotive paint.
• Night paint:including luminous powder, light for up to 8 hours at night.

Plating materials

1. Gold:As an electroplating material,gold is mainly used to improve the electrical conductivityand decorative effect of the coating layer, giving it a dazzling luster.
2. Silver:Silver is often used in electroplating for electronic components to meet its conductive needs, but it is also favored by high-end ornaments, because its coating not only has excellent conductive performance, but also has excellent reflective characteristics.
3. Nickel:nickel plating layer can significantly improve the corrosion resistance and decoration of the workpiece, and its coating layer is bright and wear-resistant. Nickel plating has been widely used in lamp lamps, coins and hardware.
4. Chromium:Chromium plating layer is famous for its bright appearance and excellent wear resistance. Although its rust resistance is slightly less than galvanizing but better than oxidation treatment, chromium can significantly increase the hardness and wear resistance of metal parts. Therefore, chromium plating layer has been widely used in the fields of home appliances, electronic product accessories, tools and faucets.

How Do Abrasives and Polishing Compounds Improve Surface Finishing?

Abrasives and polishes play a vital role in improving surface finish. Here's a detailed explanation of how they work:

Abrasive

Sand paper and sand wheel:

Sandpaper is made by using adhesives to hold the abrasive particles(such as silicon carbide, alumina, etc.) firmly on the paper. Using manual or mechanical methods, the friction can effectively remove the rough, rust and old coating of the surface, thus making the metal surface more smooth.

The grinding wheel is usually made of mixing and pressingof abrasive particles (such as corundum, silicon carbide, etc.) and adhesives (such as resin, ceramics, etc.). During the rotation process, the grinding wheel can effectively remove the material on the metal surface, thus achieving a rapid and smooth treatment effect.

Sand blasting medium:

• Sand is a common natural grinding materialand is mainly used to remove stains and oxide layers from metal surfaces. However, it is crucial to choose the appropriate granularity and species to prevent excessive damage to the object surface.
• Glass beads are a material commonly used in fine sandblasting processing, which can effectively eliminate small defects on the surface without causing excessive damage to the basic materials.
• Spray peening technology covers many types of steel balls and cast iron balls, especially suitable for heavy sandblasting processing, can effectively remove heavy oxide layer and rust.

Polish

Wax:This is usually applied to the last polishing process of a metal surface, which creates a protective film that enhances the surface finish and corrosion resistance.Wax polish can be used either manually or by mechanical means, usually after polishing, needing to be scrubbed or polished to remove the excess wax layer.
Red:The product contains fine abrasive particles and lubricants that effectively eliminate subtle scratches and imperfections on the metal surface during the polishing process.A polishing paste or polishing oil can be used by a mechanical polishing equipment(such as a polishing machine) to produce a smoother and more glossy surface effect.

What Chemicals and Solutions Are Used in Surface Finishing?

During the surface finishing process, commonly used chemicals and solutions cover the following categories:

Etching solution:

• Composition:This solution is mainly composed of a mixture of acids and bases. Typical ingredients include sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and sodium hydroxide.
• Function:The etching solution accurately carves and textures the metal surface through chemical reactions, removing part of themetal material to create the desired pattern or texture effect.

Passivation chemicals:

• Composition:Commonly usedpassivation chemicalsinclude nitric acid, citric acid and potassium dichromate.
• Function:These chemicals are mainly used for surface protection treatment of metal materials such as stainless steel. By forming a tight passivation film on the surface, they can significantly improve the corrosion resistance of the metal. This passivation film can effectively isolate the metal from direct contact with corrosive substances in the environment, thereby effectively extending the service life of the metal.

Anodizing electrolyte:

• Composition:The anodizing electrolyte mainly contains electrolyte componentssuch as sulfuric acid, chromic acid and oxalic acid.
• Function:This electrolyte can form a dense oxide layer on the surface of metal (such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium, etc.). This oxide layer not only greatly enhances the hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the metal, but also has excellent insulation properties, providing a solid foundation for subsequent coloring, sealing and other treatments. At the same time, the selection and ratio of anodizing electrolytes have a crucial impact on the quality and performance of the oxide layer.

LS’s surface finishing services

AtLS Manufacturing, we provide comprehensive surface finishing services designed to enhance the performance and aesthetics ofyour components.Our lSO 9001:2015 certified processes include avariety of techniquessuch as polishing, anodizing, powder coatingand electroplating, allowing us to achieve superior surface qualityand durability. These finishing processes not only improve theappearance of parts but also increase resistance to wear corrosionand environmental factors. Whether you need surface treatmentsfor prototypes or production parts, our experienced team isdedicated to delivering high-quality finishes that meet yourspecific project requirements, ensuring both functionality andvisual appeal.

Summary

There are manytypes of materials used in surface treatment, each with its own characteristics. When selecting surface finishing materials, factors such as product application scenarios, performance requirements, cost-effectiveness, and environmental protection requirements need to be considered.Through the reasonable selection and use of surface finishing materials,the performance of the product can be significantly improved, the service life can be extended, and its decorative effect can be increased.

Disclaimer

The content on this page is for reference only.LSdoes not make any express or implied representation or warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or validity of the information. No performance parameters, geometric tolerances, specific design features, material quality and type or workmanship should be inferred as to what a third party supplier or manufacturer will deliver through the Longsheng Network. It is the responsibility of the buyerseeking a quote for partsto determine the specific requirements for those parts.Pleasecontact usfor moreinformation.

LS Team

LS is an industry-leading companyspecializing in custom manufacturing solutions. With over 20 years of experience serving more than 5,000 clients, we focus on high-precisionCNC machining,sheet metal fabrication,3D printing,injection molding,metal stamping,and other one-stop manufacturing services.
Our factory is equipped with more than 100 advanced 5-axis machining centers and is ISO 9001:2015 certified. We provide fast, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing solutions to customers in over 150 countries worldwide. Whether it’s low-volume production or large-scale customization, we can meet your needs with delivery as fast as 24 hours. ChoosingLS Technologymeans choosing efficiency, quality, and professionalism.
To learn more, please visit our website:www.lsrpf.com

FAQs

1.What are surface finishing materials?

Surface finishing materials refer to various materials used in surface finishing processes. These materials can change the physical, chemical or mechanical properties of the surface of the base material to achieve specific functions or decorative effects. Surface finishing materials can include metals (such as chromium, nickel, zinc), non-metals (such as plastic powder, ceramic coatings), chemical reagents (such as acids, alkalis, electroplating solutions), etc. The specific selection depends on the required surface properties and application environment.

2.What materials are used for finishing?

Finishing refers to the process of carefully processing workpieces to achieve predetermined accuracy and surface roughness during the manufacturing process. The materials used in finishing vary depending on the processing method and workpiece material, but usually include abrasives (such as grinding wheels, sandpaper, abrasive paste), cutting tools (such as diamond tools, carbide tools), polishing agents (such as polishing paste, polishing fluid), etc. These materials can help remove tiny imperfections on the surface of workpieces and achieve the required dimensional accuracy and surface finish.

3.What are the surface finishing tools?

There are many types of surface finishing tools. Commonly used tools include sandblasting machines (cleaning or roughening the surface), polishing machines (improving the finish), electroplating tanks (depositing metal layers), spraying equipment (forming protective or decorative coatings), and anodizing tanks (generating oxide films on the surface of aluminum or aluminum alloys).

4.Why surface treatment of materials?

Reasons for surface finishing of materials include: improving corrosion resistance, enhancing wear resistance, improving electrical or thermal conductivity, improving aesthetics and meeting specific functional requirements, such as anti-reflection, increased lubrication, electromagnetic shielding, etc.

Resource

1.Surface finishing

2.Polishing

3.Honing (metalworking)