News Release

Apticote gives Aluminium greater hardness and a new lease of life

January 2002

 
The use of aluminium is increasing year on year, driven by the its weight advantage; manufacturing benefits such as ease of machining, casting and forming; and modern alloy formulations that improve its mechanical properties.

The most widely recognised applications are in the automotive industry where manufacturers such as Audi make extensive use of aluminium to reduce weight, which improves fuel economy and, consequently, their environmental credentials.

However, aluminium does have disadvantages - such as susceptibility to unsightly pitting corrosion and inherent softness. Whilst the painting and anodising of aluminium is widespread and goes some way to correcting these disadvantages, its useage is still limited in many industries by its softness.

To address these problems and enable aluminium to be used for a greater range of functions, Poeton Industries has developed a range of unique coatings that transform the hardness of the surface of aluminium. Apticote consistently achieves 600vpn, 1000vpn and 1500vpn hardness on selected aluminium alloys, often combined with properties such as high lubricity, low friction, and wear and corrosion resistance.

The company's Apticote range of surface treatments, which includes nickel composites and nickel/polymer coatings, chromiums and Keronite, vastly increases the applications for aluminium.

The process can be applied to a wide range of aluminium alloys including high silicon casting materials such as LM25, wrought materials from 6065 to 7075 and L63 and L168, and the latest aluminium metal matrix composites (AMCs).

The Apticote 400 range of coatings is ideal for electronic and electrical components, enclosures, etc. for both large and small components. Coatings have achieved four times the wear resistance of electroless nickel in Tabor Abrasor Tests and outperform hard chrome in dry running applications operating at temperatures from -115ºC to +260ºC.

Extremely complex shapes can also be treated effectively because the Apticote process covers evenly wherever the coating touches the component. Typical thicknesses of 12µm to 50µm can be applied with a high degree of accuracy and post-coating finishing is not normally necessary. Surface hardness, as coated, is aproximately 600VPN and can be increased to 1000VPN in certain cases.

Apticote Keronite 3000, the latest addition to the Apticote coating range, is achieving hardness figures of 1500VPN in Poeton's test laboratories and promises a number of useful properties for tomorrow's engineer. Coatings up to 150µm are possible and post-machining is not normally required.

In the automotive industry Apticote has been used to provide high levels of wear resistance on a variety of functioning parts for brake/ABS systems, power train and fuel systems. A particularly interesting (effective?) application that significantly increases engine performance is the coating of piston crowns to allow the compression to be raised without re-detonation occurring. A further benefit is the catalytic effect of Apticote on the actual detonation process, which yields improved flame propagation and spontaneous combustion.

To discuss Apticote coatings for aluminium, sample part processing or technical advice call Poeton Industries now on 01452 300500.

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