Metal structural parts are widely used in various fields, and their surface treatment process is crucial to improving performance and appearance quality. Among them, wear resistance and aesthetics are important indicators for measuring the quality of metal structural parts, and different surface treatment processes will have different degrees of influence on these two aspects.
Electroplating is a common surface treatment process. By plating a layer of metal or alloy on the surface of metal structural parts, its wear resistance and aesthetics can be improved. For example, hard chrome plating can significantly increase the hardness of the metal surface, thereby enhancing wear resistance. The hardness of hard chrome plating is usually between HV800-1200, which can effectively resist wear and friction. At the same time, the electroplating layer has good gloss and uniformity, which can make the surface of metal structural parts smoother and brighter, and improve the aesthetics. Different electroplating colors, such as silver white of chrome plating and golden yellow of copper plating, can also meet different aesthetic and decorative needs.
The spraying process is to spray materials such as paint on the surface of metal structural parts to form a coating. The sprayed coating can provide a certain wear resistance. For example, some coatings containing wear-resistant particles, such as tungsten carbide particles, can increase the wear resistance of the surface. In terms of aesthetics, the spraying process can achieve a rich variety of colors and textures. By selecting different colors of paint and adjusting the spraying parameters, you can get smooth, matte, frosted and other surfaces with different textures to meet different design requirements and give the metal structural parts a good visual effect.
Chemical plating is a plating method that does not require an external power source. Chemical plating of nickel-phosphorus alloy is a common process. The coating has high hardness and good wear resistance. It can also show good corrosion resistance in some corrosive environments, thereby indirectly improving wear resistance. The surface after chemical plating is relatively uniform and flat, with a certain glossiness, which can improve the appearance of the metal structural parts. Moreover, through subsequent polishing and other treatments, its aesthetics can be further improved, making its surface brighter.
The phosphating process is to form a layer of phosphate chemical conversion film on the metal surface. The phosphating film can improve the wear resistance of the metal structural parts because it can reduce the friction coefficient and reduce the degree of wear. At the same time, the phosphating film can also serve as a good base for subsequent coatings, enhancing the bonding strength between the coating and the substrate, thereby further improving the overall wear resistance. In terms of aesthetics, phosphate coating usually presents a uniform color such as gray or black. Although it is not as rich in color and gloss as electroplating or spraying, it can give metal structural parts a simple and stable appearance. It is suitable for some occasions that do not require particularly high appearance but focus on practicality and wear resistance.
The oxidation process can form an oxide film on the metal surface. For example, the anodizing of aluminum and aluminum alloys forms an oxide film with high hardness and good wear resistance. The thickness and porosity of the oxide film can be controlled by adjusting the process parameters to meet different wear resistance requirements. In terms of aesthetics, anodizing can obtain various colors such as classic silver white and bronze through electrolytic coloring or dyeing processes, giving metal structural parts a unique appearance. Moreover, the surface of the oxide film is relatively smooth and has a certain glossiness, which can enhance the overall aesthetics of the product.
The surface treatment process of metal structural parts has an important influence on its wear resistance and aesthetics. Different surface treatment processes, such as electroplating, spraying, chemical plating, phosphating, oxidation, etc., play their respective roles in improving wear resistance and aesthetics by changing the metal surface's organizational structure, hardness, roughness and other characteristics. In practical applications, it is necessary to select appropriate surface treatment processes according to the specific use environment, performance requirements and aesthetic needs of metal structural parts to achieve the best wear resistance and aesthetics, thereby improving the quality and service life of metal structural parts and meeting the diverse needs of different fields.
