Can the AL coating be polished?
At 09:05 AM 2/27/2001, you wrote:
>Hey listers - The high cost of chrome plating started thinking of an
>alternative.
>
>I have been working on getting the space program to use a coating that is
>corrosion resistant and even looks good. We now use it on SRB
>"wash-dry-fly" parts. The military has been using it for years, but the
>space people are more cautious - read need much more testing. The coating
>is IVD-Aluminum. Ion Vapor Deposition of pure aluminum. This coating is
>sacrificial so parts will not corrode if the coating is damaged. It is very
>corrosion resistant - we have samples of steel plates that have IVD with an
>"X" scratched through the coating siting on the beach at the Cape for 8
>years with absolutely no corrosion. The coating has a bright aluminum look
>- like a new bead blasted head. In fact it is bead blasted after the
>coating process. Then it can be clear coated for a "deeper" look.
>
>IVD is deposited on any metal part in a vacuum chamber buy vaporizing 99%
>pure aluminum. The parts are charged so the AL vapor is attracted. This
>coating has VERY GOOD adhesion and can stand high temperatures. I had a set
>of headers for a race car coated. After one season the coating had turned a
>little gray, but no corrosion. And these headers went through hell getting
>in the car - many scratches!
>
>I plan on contacting the outfit that does the IVD and talk to him about
>doing my custom Roadster suspension parts, windshield frame, brake parts,
>and the like. With chrome plating being so high, this may be a cheaper
>alternative. It is not as shiny as chrome, but better than powder coating.
>They need a batch of parts at a time and the basket in the camber is about 3
>feet by 12 feet. I will post pictures of a part that has IVD when I find
>one. I gave most away to the project people during presentations on pushing
>this process.
>
>Let me know what you all think. I will keep you updated after I talk to the
>IVD folks.
>
>Phil
>SEROC
Brian '68 1600
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