Plating and coating options for industries in particular are governed by levels of quality and specific parameters and standards determined by certification criteria.
In other words, in the world of metal plating, versatility and product/service range is important in order to reach as many different possible certification requirements as possible. As technology progresses and our innovations grow increasingly complex, the need for higher standards and greater levels of quality control are necessary. This is especially true for businesses that want to deal with high-standard contracts such as those from the military and aerospace industries, where anodizing standards like MIL-A-8625 are the norm.
This specific military specification deals with the anodizing of much, if not most products in the military and aerospace industries – two industries with an extremely high bar for quality, and zero tolerance for equipment failure or bad design.
MIL-A-8625 acts as a guideline, a list of specifications that need to be met by private businesses that plan to do business with the military and other industries. The factors and criteria determined by this specification include many common issues such as:
* Corrosion Resistance
* Potential Coating Weight
* Dying Capabilities
* Abrasion Resistance
* Paint Adhesion
Some of these like paint adhesion and dying capabilities might seem superficial, but in industries like aerospace and the military, it’s easy to see why the ability for a metal to be anodized in a certain way, or retain its paint, is critical.
Outside of these material and performance factors, businesses are also rated for process control, testing capabilities and contact marks.
There are at least 8 different anodic coating classes, as per Anodizing, and each of them have to do with the corrosion resistance of a coating, and other resistance factors. Understanding how they matter and how they tie into the industry you’re working in will give you better insight into how to improve your offering by sourcing better plating and coating services.