Introduction
Do you want to improve the physical and mechanical appearance of your manufactured objects? Or you are looking for some easier ways to improve the durability and lifespan of your products? If this is the case, then you should go for surface treatment methods. If you don’t have any idea about the best surface treatment methods, don’t worry. Just read this article.
This article will introduce you to the importance of surface treatment methods for your manufacturing industries. Moreover, you will also learn about the most common ways adopted for surface treatment methods. Once you know about their processes, applications, and benefits, you will find it easy to choose the right surface treatment method.
What is Surface Treatment?
Surface treatment refers to coating a particular object’s surface for different purposes. Surface treatment is the most crucial thing that comes after the manufacturing of any product. It can be done either for the sake of decoration, or to protect your things from wear, tear, and rust. One such example of surface treatment is painting.
Surface treatments are performed to improve the texture and quality of the surface. It can be performed in several possible ways. Choosing the right surface treatment method can always be a daunting and difficult task. However, knowing some common methods to treat the surface of your objects can make it easy to choose the right method. Next are several common surface treatments methods.
1、Powder-coated Method
The powder coating method is one of the most common methods of surface treatment. When you are seeking a reliable method of surface treatment then powder coating can be your right choice. It can enhance not just physical but also the mechanical properties of your objects such as durability and hence an improved lifespan.
Powder coating is performed by applying a layer of powder on the targeted surface area. It can be a thermoplastic material or a dry thermoset. This method works perfectly for plastics, metals, and other types of materials. You can see its uses and wide applications in general industries, automotive, and electrical parts industries.
● Production Process
The production process of powder coating surface treatment is done in more than one step. There are stages like preparation, application, and curing stages. You need a curing oven, a spray booth, and a spray gun. You have to preheat the targeted substrate surface and then apply a layer of powder to it.
● Benefits
Powder coating has multiple benefits that have earned it a lot of benefits. Some most common benefits of powder coating are listed below:
- Less toxicity
- Durability
- Variety
- Cost-efficient method.
2、Pre-Galvanized Method
Pre-galvanizing is also known as mill galvanizing. This process is very similar to hot-dip galvanizing, but it is performed at the very beginning of production. As a matter of fact, it was always on materials that already had specific shapes or were in the process of being cut into sizes and processed before they were melted down.
Pre-galvanizing is a process of improving the galvanizing of steel by removing some of the steps involved in hot dipped galvanizing, such as cleaning the surface, dipping it into a zinc bath, and recoiling.
3、Hot-Dip Galvanized Method
It is another method to improve the surface through hot-dip galvanizing. This method is not as complex as the name suggests. You just need to clean the steel object and then immerse or dip it in molten zinc to get a coating. In simple words, you can say that this method coats your object with a layer of zinc. The object is made of either an iron or zinc material.
This method produces a thicker layer when compared to pre galvanizing method.
● Production Process
The hot-dip galvanizing method takes place in four main stages. These stages are:
- Cleaning cycle
- Fluxing
- Galvanizing
- Post Treatment
It is said that the secret to getting a good surface treatment through any method is to clean the surface first. Any kind of grease, dirt, or debris can result in low-quality surface treatment. Then, you need to dip your targeted object into a flux solution. It aims to remove oxide traces that were left on the surface.
The galvanizing step is performed by dipping your object into a zinc solution. Then, you can go to the post-treatment stage. However, the post-treatment stage is an optional case.
● Benefits
- Ease of inspection
- Tougher coating
- Complete protection
- Reliability
- Low costs
- Less maintenance
- Longer lifespan.
4、Electro Galvanized Or Cold Galvanized Method
Electro galanising is also known as cold galvanizing. In this method, you place a layer of zinc on the targeted steel surface of your object. It is actually an electroplating technique. You have to immerse the object into a solution of zinc salts. In this process, you also need to apply electricity. The application of electricity aims to induce an electrochemical reaction on the targeted steel object.
When you compare electro galvanizing to the hot dip galvanizing method, you will see some clear differences. For example, electro galvanizing gives you more aesthetic appearances and a thinner coating on your object. The most common applications of electro galvanizing can be seen in appliances and automotive industries.
Conclusion
The surface treatment mainly aims to prevent corrosion from your steel object. The zinc coating ensures higher performance and better protection against corrosion leading to a higher lifespan of your steel products.
Surface treatment methods are mostly adopted in the construction sector for steel objects such as protection systems. Since these systems need to be used again and again, it is better to do their surface treatment. In this way, you will have to spend less on their maintenance.
Now that you have learned about the most common methods of surface treatment, it can be quite easy for you to choose the right method. When you buy any steel product, whether it be scaffolding, edge protection system, or temporary fence, make sure your product has high-quality surface treatment.
If you are looking to buy scaffolding, edge protection systems, or temporary fences with better surface treatment, contact us now.
