Finishing Services

Alodine

Chromate Conversion Coating

At a glance

Applicable Materials

Colors

Clear, Gold

Applications

Tools, hardware, electrical systems

Thickness

0.25-1.0 µm0.00001-0.00004 inches

About the Process

Chromate conversion coating, more commonly known as chem film or by its brand name Alodine, is a chemical coating that passivates and protects aluminum from corrosion. It is also used as a base layer before priming and painting parts. The standard most commonly specified in engineering applications is MIL-DTL-5541F, which refers specifically to coating of aluminum alloys.

This protective layer is much thinner than an anodizing layer, and while both are created by immersion of parts into a bath, Alodine is a simple chemical coating and the process does not use electrical current.

Alodine is a slightly cheaper process than anodizing, though it is more prone to scratches, wear, and cosmetic damage. The most common color of the coating is an iridescent greenish-gold, and thus it may also be used for cosmetic purposes. However, this color comes from hexavalent chromium, which is toxic, so for RoHS compliance needs, there are clear versions of the coating available as well.

Design considerations

  • Plugging threaded/reamed holes not required unless tolerances are very tight, as thickness change is minimal.
  • Alodine coatings offer a much greater electrical conductivity than bare aluminum
  • Media Blast parts before Alodine to create a more consistent coating that hides small machine marks

YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN

CNC Machining Design Stack: From Design to Prototype

Your comprehensive toolkit for mastering the art of designing parts for CNC machining and seamlessly progressing from concept to prototype. Here’s what’s included:

Learn More

Finding the Right Secondary Operations after CNC machining, Part I: Heat Treatments

Welcome to the world of post-CNC heat treatment! Now that you’ve successfully CNC machined your parts, it’s time to give them the TLC they deserve. Don’t let those raw components go out into the world without a little extra oomph.  Once you’ve finished CNC machining your parts, your work isn’t done. Those raw components might […]

Learn More