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

If your business manufactures or sells steel products, then you already know the importance of having a metal finish. But do you know what type of finish would be best for the particular product? Do you know the factors to weigh to help determine the best finish? In this post, we'll cover the different types of steel finishes and how to ensure that you're choosing the best one for your metal product. Here's a closer look at what you need to know:

Alloy Steel: What You Need to Know

Steel products by themselves have always been durable, but what if such products could be manufactured to be even harder, more durable, and more resistant to corrosion? That's where alloying elements come into the picture.

Alloying elements being added to steel products have roots that date back to the 1820s, with the first commercial alloy steel coming in 1868 when tungsten was successfully added to improve its overall hardness. As research and development improved over time, so too did the understanding of how armaments and mixes of alloying elements influenced the end steel product. The most common alloy steels today include those that include:

• Chromium
• Cobalt
• Molybdenum
• Nickel
• Tungsten
• Vanadium
• Brass
• Carbon Steel

Types of Steel Metal Finishes

Steel metal finishes are applied to help improve part performance and aesthetics. There are various types of finishes that you can administer on a particular product or part. Here's a look at some of the most common finishes:

• Phosphating: A common metal finishing process that enhances corrosion resistance and lubricity while also creating a foundation for paint or more coatings. Phosphate coating consists of applying a dilute solution of phosphate salts and phosphoric acid to the surface of the steel part.
• Electroplating: This finishing method involves depositing a metal or metal alloy onto the part surface to create a thin coating. Some of the most common materials used in the electroplating process include brass, copper, gold, iron, silver, titanium, and zinc.
• Powder Coating: This finishing method involves administering a dry powder onto the metal product. It's typically administered electrostatically. End products tend to offer enhanced durability and also often stand up better to chemicals, moisture, and UV light.

Benefits of Surface Finishes For Steel & Steel Alloys

As we said earlier in this post, surface finishes for steel and steel alloys are typically applied to enhance durability and improve aesthetics. Outside of these two main benefits, other benefits include:

• Enhanced chemical resistance, which is an important trait for products that need to operate in demanding environments.
• Abrasion resistance.
• UV protection.
• Creating a surface that makes it easier for subsequent coatings or paints to adhere to.

How To Choose The Best Steel Finish Option

How do you choose the best steel finish option for your part run? There are a number of factors that should be weighed. For instance:

• What are your end goals for the part? For example, if enhanced chemical resistance is a necessity, you'll want to select a finishing method that can help the part achieve this.
• How precise do the tolerances need to be? Phosphating, for example, is typically deployed when high-end, precision-machined steel parts are required.
• What industry is the part for? Parts created for various industries such as aerospace, automotive,  medical, firearms, and more have different requirements.

Need more help deciding on a finish? It's always best to work with a qualified, professional firm that can understand your specific needs and suggest the best finishing option. Contact Light Metals Coloring for more information and for assistance with your next part run.

Light Metals Coloring's Steel Finishing Services

Light Metals Coloring is an industry leader in providing high-end finishing solutions in industries that range from automotive and aerospace to consumer electronics. At LMC, our state-of-the-art manganese phosphate coating process is designed to create high-end steel parts via immersion. We can also work to meet the Mil-DTL-16232 phosphating specification. Contact us today to learn more.

Contact Light Metals Coloring

For more information on the different types of steel finishes that are administered and for help in selecting the right one, contact Light Metals Coloring today. At LMC, we work to become a true extension of our customer's business – and this involves working with our partners to truly understand the product and suggest the best finishing option to meet their end goals. Contact us today for more information.