Tips for Applying Epoxy and High-Solids Paint
Controlling a coating’s thermal viscosity is a top priority, says Sames Kremlin’s Steve Romer.
#racking #basics
How to Minimize Fading of Anodized Colors
All color-anodized parts fade, but if the process is optimized, you can expect years with minimal loss in color, says Reliant Aluminum Products’ Mark Jozefowicz.
#basics
How to Keep a Plating Bath from Slowing Down
Alkaline plating baths form carbonates over time, and these carbonates cause the baths to become less efficient, resulting in slower plating speed. Asterion’s Roger Sowinski outlines three options for removing carbonates.
#basics
Michigan Takes Steps to Eliminate PFOS, PFOA and PFAS
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is requiring wastewater treatment plants with industrial pretreatment programs to screen for and eliminate these compounds commonly used in the metal-finishing industry.
#basics #sustainability
How to Audit a Liquid Paint System
To correct paint system settings that have drifted over time, Sames Kremlin’s Steven Romer strongly recommends annual audits.
#basics
How to Control Orange Peel and Powder Thickness
Powder expert Rodger Talbert outlines three steps you can take to limit orange peel with powder coating.
#basics
How to Get Sprayed Metal Coatings to Stick
MIT research reveals that, in bonding of sprayed metal coatings, melting sometimes hurts rather than helps.
#basics
How to Test Coatings with Nanoindentation
Fischer Technology’s Rahul Nair explains the benefits of using nanoindentation to measure a coating’s mechanical properties.
#basics #measurement-testing
Understanding Liquid Film Defects
Col-Met Engineered Finishing Solutions’ Judith Lietzke explains the causes of paint film defects and how to prevent them.
#basics
When to Look at Racking Options on a New Line
Where does racking fit in planning a new powder coating line? Production Plus’ Donovan Dixon says right from the start.
#basics #racking
How to Treat Spent Electroless Nickel Baths
What options do today’s platers have for dealing with the disposal of EN baths? Metal Chem’s Michael Aleksinas outlines the technology that’s currently available.
#basics
When to Discard Solution, Recharge a Parts Washer
How can we determine the ideal time to discard the cleaning solution and recharge these washers? Chemetall’s David Gotoff answers this question.
#basics
How to Minimize Appearance Issues in Liquid Coatings
Q. What can you recommend to minimize appearance issues problems? PPG’s Michael Kowalski explains the controlled and uncontrolled variables that affect liquid coatings.
#basics
How to Apply the 720 Rule to Current Density Anodizing
What can you tell me about the 720 Rule as it applies to current density anodizing? Plating expert Sjon Westre, Ph.D., from Chemeon, answers this question.
#basics #racking
Faraday's Children (and Nickel): The 40th William Blum Lecture
This article is a republication of the 40th William Blum Lecture, presented at the 86th AESF Annual Convention in Detroit, Michigan on June 21, 1999. In this lecture, Dr. George DiBari describes the search for the ideal nickel anode material and the outlook for survival of nickel plating at the end of the 20th century.
#surfin #basics
How to Mask Common Part Features for Liquid and Powder Coating
Q. Could give us some tips on making sure we are using the proper masking tools for our parts. Masking expert Andrew Oniszczuk from EPSi answers this reader’s question.
#basics
The Systems View in Automotive Finishes: Essential, but Overlooked - The 38th William Blum Lecture
This article is a re-publication of the 38th William Blum Lecture, presented at the 84th AES Annual Convention in Detroit, Michigan on June 23, 1997. This lecture reviews a number of works in automotive finishing R&D in which understanding of the overall system was absolutely essential to success, from classical nickel-chromium plating to work in vacuum/electroplated hybrids for plated plastics, electrogalvanized zinc and hard chromium in stamping dies.
#basics #surfin #vacuum-vapor
Author: Time for EPA to Lead in 'Real World' Safety Standards
"I implore our new administration in Washington to take the lead and bring good sense and reason back into the regulatory process."
#pollutioncontrol #basics #regulation
How to Liquid Coat Carbon Fiber Composite Panels
Q. I am trying to liquid coat a carbon fiber composite panel. The panels look good hot out of the oven, but after cooling I am getting readthrough of the fibers. What’s causing this appearance loss? Liquid coating expert Donald Campbell has the answer.
#basics #curing
How to Implement Ambient Temperature Cleaning
Q. How can we find an ambient temperature spray cleaner to implement for our five-stage pretreatment line used prior to powder coating? Cleaning expert David Peterson has the answer.
#basics