Different Types of Aluminum Finishes & How To Choose The Right One

April 14, 2023

Most companies that make aluminum products and most businesses that sell aluminum products know that their product needs a protective finish. But you might be surprised to learn just how much these firms have to learn about the available various finishes. That's why it makes sense to work with a credible, qualified, and professional firm – such as Light Metals Coloring – that can essentially serve as an extension of your business, especially when it comes to selecting the metal finishing process that makes the most sense for your part.

In this post, we'll provide an overview of the various types of aluminum finishes, discuss the benefits of high-quality aluminum finishes and help you understand what factors go into selecting the best finish for your part. Read on to learn more about aluminum finish options and how to decide the best one for your part:

Types of Aluminum Finishes

Let's start by discussing the different aluminum finishes. You might be surprised to learn just how many you have to choose from when it comes to your next part run after it leaves the extrusion die. Here's a look at some of the more popular finishing options:

Anodizing

Anodizing is one of the most popular finishes for aluminum. It's administered via an electrochemical process that stimulates the naturally occurring layer of aluminum oxide on the part's surface to grow thicker. Anodizing offers many benefits, including improved corrosion resistance and improved wear resistance. It's a process that also accepts color dyes so that the finish can be customized if there's a need for end parts to be a certain color.

At Light Metals Coloring, we specialize in different types of anodizing, including high-efficiency anodizing, high-efficiency bulk anodizing, high-precision hardcoat anodizing, and high-efficiency hardcoat anodizing. Talk to the experts at LMC to learn how we can provide a range of anodizing specifications catered to your needs.

Bright Dip

Bright dipping is a finishing option that bathes the end part in a chemical pre-finish – usually before anodizing takes place – to produce a high luster and smooth surface finish on aluminum products. It doesn't just make for a smoother end product, but can also significantly improve part aesthetics. Other advantages of bright dip aluminum surface finishes include their corrosion resistance, easy application to complex parts, and the removal of deposits on the part surface. While bright dipping is commonly found on aluminum products in the cosmetics industry, it's applicable for many parts throughout many industries.

Mechanical Finishing

Blasting, grinding, and polishing are mechanical finishing options that don't use any special chemicals. Any one of them can be used on some parts or concurrently.

Powder Coating

Powder coatings are applied via a spray gun, and then parts are baked to melt and cure the coating into an even-part finish. Though powder coatings aren't as durable or as resistant to corrosion as anodized aluminum, they often make up for it in enhanced aesthetics. Colors tend to be bright, long-lasting, and resistant to UV rays.

Benefits of Surface Finishes For Aluminum & Aluminum Alloys

Surface finishes for aluminum are important for several reasons, mainly due to the range of benefits that they offer versus parts that are not finished. These benefits include:

Improved aesthetics
Ability to customize coloring
Adding corrosion resistance
Enhancing durability
Resistance to UV rays

How To Choose The Best Aluminum Finish Option

With so many finishing options, how do you go about choosing the right one for your application? It really all boils down to what you're looking to gain from a surface finish. For instance, if you're looking to enhance corrosion resistance and part durability, you'll likely want to pursue anodizing. If you're looking for an improved aesthetic, powder coating or bright dipping might be the better option.

On a similar note, it's beneficial to work with a qualified metal finishing company that understands the part and your requirements and can recommend the best finishing option for it. That's where Light Metals Coloring can help, as we pride ourselves on providing support for your project every step of the way, including offering customized metal finishing solutions for parts that require it.

Aluminum Finishing Services by LMC

For more information on aluminum surface finishes and aluminum coating options, contact Light Metals Coloring today. As experts in all things metals finishing, we'll carefully assess your part and its intended end use to recommend the best finish for it. We work in industries ranging from cosmetics to aerospace to automotive to firearms and marine - and quality is at the forefront of everything that we do.