Metal Conditioning - Revision history

Jbowman90: /* Steel Conversion Coating */

2007-12-31T14:22:21Z

Steel Conversion Coating

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:22, 31 December 2007
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	[[Image:Zinc Parkerized Plate.JPG\|thumb\|200 px\|Zinc Parkerized Steel Plate]]		[[Image:Zinc Parkerized Plate.JPG\|thumb\|200 px\|Zinc Parkerized Steel Plate]]

	There are two basic home brew processes (consistent with AC43.13-1b) that can be used to protect steel parts. The first is [http://www.performancecoatings.dupont.com/dpc/en/us/html/prodinfo/chromasystem/H-19299_5718S.pdf Dupont 5718s]. It is applied like etch and leaves a zinc rich layer on the steel and even does some conversion coating. 5718s can be bought from most Dupont jobbers for about $22/quart. The second is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkerize zinc parkerizing]. Zinc parkerizing requires a bath of parkerizing solution at about 190F. So this is only realistic for small steel parts. The Dupont 5718s would be used on large parts like the engine frame. Parkerizing creates a zinc phosphate conversion coat on the steel with a porous, crystal-like structure suitable for soaking up zinc chromate or oxide primer making it extremely corrosion resistant. Parkerizing does not change the dimensions of the part. Parkerizing is a common process used with guns and can be obtained from those sources. An example is [http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1106&title=ZINC%20PHOSPHATE%20PARKERIZING here]. In reality, zinc parkerizing and Dupont 5718s are virtually the same light green, zinc phosphate compound.		There are two basic home brew processes (consistent with AC43.13-1b) that can be used to protect steel parts. The first is [http://www.performancecoatings.dupont.com/dpc/en/us/html/prodinfo/chromasystem/H-19299_5718S.pdf Dupont 5718s]. It is applied like etch and leaves a zinc rich layer on the steel and even does some conversion coating. 5718s can be bought from most Dupont jobbers for about $22/quart. The second is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkerize zinc parkerizing]. Zinc parkerizing requires a bath of parkerizing solution at about 190F. So this is only realistic for small steel parts. The Dupont 5718s would be used on large parts like the engine frame. Parkerizing creates a zinc phosphate conversion coat on the steel with a porous, crystal-like structure suitable for soaking up zinc chromate or oxide primer making it extremely corrosion resistant. Parkerizing does not change the dimensions of the part. Parkerizing is a common process used with guns and can be obtained from those sources. An example is [http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1106&title=ZINC%20PHOSPHATE%20PARKERIZING here]. In reality, zinc parkerizing and Dupont 5718s are virtually the same light green, zinc phosphate compound. 5718s works at room temperature but does not produce the same effectiveness as parkerizing.

Jbowman90 at 14:19, 31 December 2007

2007-12-31T14:19:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:19, 31 December 2007
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	Before you can put a conversion coat on steel, it must be etched like aluminum. The same steps are followed. You may notice black developing on the surface. This is the acid converting rust to iron phosphate.		Before you can put a conversion coat on steel, it must be etched like aluminum. The same steps are followed. You may notice black developing on the surface. This is the acid converting rust to iron phosphate.

			[[Image:Zinc Parkerized Plate.JPG\|thumb\|200 px\|Zinc Parkerized Steel Plate]]

	There are two basic home brew processes (consistent with AC43.13-1b) that can be used to protect steel parts. The first is [http://www.performancecoatings.dupont.com/dpc/en/us/html/prodinfo/chromasystem/H-19299_5718S.pdf Dupont 5718s]. It is applied like etch and leaves a zinc rich layer on the steel and even does some conversion coating. 5718s can be bought from most Dupont jobbers for about $22/quart. The second is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkerize zinc parkerizing]. Zinc parkerizing requires a bath of parkerizing solution at about 190F. So this is only realistic for small steel parts. The Dupont 5718s would be used on large parts like the engine frame. Parkerizing creates a zinc phosphate conversion coat on the steel with a porous, crystal-like structure suitable for soaking up zinc chromate or oxide primer making it extremely corrosion resistant. Parkerizing does not change the dimensions of the part. Parkerizing is a common process used with guns and can be obtained from those sources. An example is [http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1106&title=ZINC%20PHOSPHATE%20PARKERIZING here]. In reality, zinc parkerizing and Dupont 5718s are virtually the same light green, zinc phosphate compound.		There are two basic home brew processes (consistent with AC43.13-1b) that can be used to protect steel parts. The first is [http://www.performancecoatings.dupont.com/dpc/en/us/html/prodinfo/chromasystem/H-19299_5718S.pdf Dupont 5718s]. It is applied like etch and leaves a zinc rich layer on the steel and even does some conversion coating. 5718s can be bought from most Dupont jobbers for about $22/quart. The second is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkerize zinc parkerizing]. Zinc parkerizing requires a bath of parkerizing solution at about 190F. So this is only realistic for small steel parts. The Dupont 5718s would be used on large parts like the engine frame. Parkerizing creates a zinc phosphate conversion coat on the steel with a porous, crystal-like structure suitable for soaking up zinc chromate or oxide primer making it extremely corrosion resistant. Parkerizing does not change the dimensions of the part. Parkerizing is a common process used with guns and can be obtained from those sources. An example is [http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1106&title=ZINC%20PHOSPHATE%20PARKERIZING here]. In reality, zinc parkerizing and Dupont 5718s are virtually the same light green, zinc phosphate compound.

Jbowman90: /* Steel Conversion Coating */

2007-12-31T14:16:12Z

Steel Conversion Coating

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:16, 31 December 2007
Line 35:		Line 35:
	Before you can put a conversion coat on steel, it must be etched like aluminum. The same steps are followed. You may notice black developing on the surface. This is the acid converting rust to iron phosphate.		Before you can put a conversion coat on steel, it must be etched like aluminum. The same steps are followed. You may notice black developing on the surface. This is the acid converting rust to iron phosphate.

	There are two basic home brew processes (consistent with AC43.13-1b) that can be used to protect steel parts. The first is [http://www.performancecoatings.dupont.com/dpc/en/us/html/prodinfo/chromasystem/H-19299_5718S.pdf Dupont 5718s]. It is applied like etch and leaves a zinc rich layer on the steel and even does some conversion coating. 5718s can be bought from most Dupont jobbers for about $22/quart. The second is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkerize zinc parkerizing]. Zinc parkerizing requires a bath of parkerizing solution at about 190F. So this is only realistic for small steel parts. The Dupont 5718s would be used on large parts like the engine frame. Parkerizing creates a zinc phosphate conversion coat on the steel with a porous, crystal-like structure suitable for soaking up zinc chromate or oxide primer making it extremely corrosion resistant. Parkerizing does not change the dimensions of the part. In reality, zinc parkerizing and Dupont 5718s are virtually the same light green, zinc phosphate compound.		There are two basic home brew processes (consistent with AC43.13-1b) that can be used to protect steel parts. The first is [http://www.performancecoatings.dupont.com/dpc/en/us/html/prodinfo/chromasystem/H-19299_5718S.pdf Dupont 5718s]. It is applied like etch and leaves a zinc rich layer on the steel and even does some conversion coating. 5718s can be bought from most Dupont jobbers for about $22/quart. The second is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkerize zinc parkerizing]. Zinc parkerizing requires a bath of parkerizing solution at about 190F. So this is only realistic for small steel parts. The Dupont 5718s would be used on large parts like the engine frame. Parkerizing creates a zinc phosphate conversion coat on the steel with a porous, crystal-like structure suitable for soaking up zinc chromate or oxide primer making it extremely corrosion resistant. Parkerizing does not change the dimensions of the part. Parkerizing is a common process used with guns and can be obtained from those sources. An example is [http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=1106&title=ZINC%20PHOSPHATE%20PARKERIZING here]. In reality, zinc parkerizing and Dupont 5718s are virtually the same light green, zinc phosphate compound.

Jbowman90: /* Steel Conversion Coating */

2007-12-31T14:12:55Z

Steel Conversion Coating

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:12, 31 December 2007
Line 35:		Line 35:
	Before you can put a conversion coat on steel, it must be etched like aluminum. The same steps are followed. You may notice black developing on the surface. This is the acid converting rust to iron phosphate.		Before you can put a conversion coat on steel, it must be etched like aluminum. The same steps are followed. You may notice black developing on the surface. This is the acid converting rust to iron phosphate.

	There are two basic home brew processes (consistent with ~~the~~ AC43.13-1b) that can be used to protect steel parts. The first is [http://www.performancecoatings.dupont.com/dpc/en/us/html/prodinfo/chromasystem/H-19299_5718S.pdf Dupont 5718s]. It is applied like etch and leaves a zinc rich layer on the steel and even does some conversion coating. 5718s can be bought from most Dupont jobbers for about $22/quart. The second is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkerize zinc parkerizing]. Zinc parkerizing requires a bath of parkerizing solution at about 190F. So this is only realistic for small steel parts. The Dupont 5718s would be used on large parts like the engine frame. Parkerizing creates a zinc phosphate conversion coat on the steel with a porous, crystal-like structure suitable for soaking up zinc chromate or oxide primer making it extremely corrosion resistant. Parkerizing does not change the dimensions of the part. In reality, zinc parkerizing and Dupont 5718s are virtually the same light green, zinc phosphate compound.		There are two basic home brew processes (consistent with AC43.13-1b) that can be used to protect steel parts. The first is [http://www.performancecoatings.dupont.com/dpc/en/us/html/prodinfo/chromasystem/H-19299_5718S.pdf Dupont 5718s]. It is applied like etch and leaves a zinc rich layer on the steel and even does some conversion coating. 5718s can be bought from most Dupont jobbers for about $22/quart. The second is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkerize zinc parkerizing]. Zinc parkerizing requires a bath of parkerizing solution at about 190F. So this is only realistic for small steel parts. The Dupont 5718s would be used on large parts like the engine frame. Parkerizing creates a zinc phosphate conversion coat on the steel with a porous, crystal-like structure suitable for soaking up zinc chromate or oxide primer making it extremely corrosion resistant. Parkerizing does not change the dimensions of the part. In reality, zinc parkerizing and Dupont 5718s are virtually the same light green, zinc phosphate compound.

Jbowman90 at 14:12, 31 December 2007

2007-12-31T14:12:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:12, 31 December 2007
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	== Steel Conversion Coating ==		== Steel Conversion Coating ==

			There are various steel pieces on Grummans, too. These include the engine frame, aileron counter weights, parts of the trim mechanism in the tail, several reinforcing plates on the main gear legs, and rudder control horn.

			Steel, like aluminum, should have a conversion coat for maximum corrosion protection. Many of the small parts come with a conversion coating from the factory. However, some do not and even the factory parts will wear through their coatings.

			Before you can put a conversion coat on steel, it must be etched like aluminum. The same steps are followed. You may notice black developing on the surface. This is the acid converting rust to iron phosphate.

			There are two basic home brew processes (consistent with the AC43.13-1b) that can be used to protect steel parts. The first is [http://www.performancecoatings.dupont.com/dpc/en/us/html/prodinfo/chromasystem/H-19299_5718S.pdf Dupont 5718s]. It is applied like etch and leaves a zinc rich layer on the steel and even does some conversion coating. 5718s can be bought from most Dupont jobbers for about $22/quart. The second is [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkerize zinc parkerizing]. Zinc parkerizing requires a bath of parkerizing solution at about 190F. So this is only realistic for small steel parts. The Dupont 5718s would be used on large parts like the engine frame. Parkerizing creates a zinc phosphate conversion coat on the steel with a porous, crystal-like structure suitable for soaking up zinc chromate or oxide primer making it extremely corrosion resistant. Parkerizing does not change the dimensions of the part. In reality, zinc parkerizing and Dupont 5718s are virtually the same light green, zinc phosphate compound.

Jbowman90 at 13:58, 31 December 2007

2007-12-31T13:58:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:58, 31 December 2007
Line 15:		Line 15:
	Don't try to etch everything at once. Pick a relatively small area and work that to completion. Spray or sponge on the etch, and lightly scrub with fine (green) or very fine (grey) Scotch Brite. It will take a little practice to realize when enough is enough, but the real test is when you rinse the etch off. The water should form a break-free surface if the metal is etched properly. Because acid is consumed during the etching, you will need to spray additional etch on occasionally as you scrub the surface.		Don't try to etch everything at once. Pick a relatively small area and work that to completion. Spray or sponge on the etch, and lightly scrub with fine (green) or very fine (grey) Scotch Brite. It will take a little practice to realize when enough is enough, but the real test is when you rinse the etch off. The water should form a break-free surface if the metal is etched properly. Because acid is consumed during the etching, you will need to spray additional etch on occasionally as you scrub the surface.

	Because etching exposes fresh aluminum with lots of microscopic surface area, it is best to immediately follow up with the next conditioning process.		Because etching exposes fresh aluminum with lots of microscopic surface area that is easily oxidized, it is best to immediately follow up with the next conditioning process.

	== Aluminum Conversion Coating ==		== Aluminum Conversion Coating ==

			All aluminum parts should be conversion coated for corrosion protection and good paint adhesion.

			The traditional conversion coat for aluminum is Alodine. Alodine is really just chromic acid. In powder form, it is an oxidizer and needs to be handled and stored carefully. Chromic acid uses the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexavalent_chromium hexavalent form of chromium], which is known to be carcinogenic.

			For this reason, safer trivalent forms have been developed. One such product is [http://www.luster-on.com/Metal_Finishing/Chromates/Luster-On_Aluminescent_flyer/luster-on_aluminescent_flyer.htm Aluminescent]. This supposedly a drop-in replacement for Alodine and meets the same milspec. However, it is quite finicky. pH must be kept within a certain range using potassium hydroxide and sulfuric acid (both are nasty) and a supply of pH indicating strips, the temperature must be above 70F, and it is difficult to tell if the conversion coat has been formed since it is a clear, although iridescent, coating. The color of the iridescence depends on the alloy of aluminum. While this may be Ok in a controlled production environment, this simply is too much for a shop environment. For these reasons, many users that have tried Aluminescent have switched back to Alodine.

			Alodine comes in either a liquid or powder form. For an entire airplane, buy the powder. You can mix it as strong as you like. Alodine can be sprayed, brushed, or sponged onto large surfaces. The surface must remain wet for several minutes or until a light to dark golden brown develops. Alodine should not be allowed to dry on the surface because of the salts it contains. If this happens, the surface should be re-wet with Alodine. Smaller pieces that can be immersed into a plastic tub of Alodine often take less time. After the conversion process is complete, the part needs to be thoroughly rinsed with water. It is often recommend that the parts be primed within 3 days of the conversion coating. However, the reason for this is uncertain.

			== Steel Conversion Coating ==

Jbowman90 at 13:41, 31 December 2007

2007-12-31T13:41:43Z

New page

== Introduction ==

Before primer and paint will adhere properly to a metal surface, it must be etched. Etching is a process that removes oxidation and microscopically roughens the surface. The accepted practice is to use a phosphoric acid etch. However, many commercial process use an alkaline etch on aluminum then follow up with an acid etch to de-smut the surface. The risk of using an alkaline etch is that the alkaline salts will be left behind causing corrosion sites to develop. In any case, the goal is to remove oxidation and roughen the surface.

Another conditioning step is often done on aircraft aluminum. This step is a chromate conversion coating often called Alodine, although this is a trade name. The conversion coating helps protect the aluminum from corrosion in the field, and it also helps with paint adhesion.

== Etching ==

Acid etching is a fairly simple process. For aircraft aluminum, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphoric_acid phosphoric acid] is the normal chemical used. Phosphoric acid is fairly safe in the concentrations used for etching, although if any gets on your skin it will burn and should be rinsed off. By the way, phosphoric acid is what give Coke and Pepsi their acidic taste or bite.

You can purchase acid etch from various sources including Aircraft Spruce (Alumiprep), welding supply stores, and Home Depot and Lowes (a Jasco product that looks green). However, it is recommended to avoid the stuff from Jasco. It will work, but it does not list any surfactants in the ingredients list. Alumiprep and the stuff from welding supply stores contain surfactants, usually [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethylene_glycol ethylene glycol] and phosphates (typical ingredient in laundry detergent, at least it was typical). The surfactants are important to emulsify any remaining oil, dirt, and metal removed during etching process.

Although you can buy acid etch off-the-shelf, for doing an entire airplane you may need larger quantities. Local chemical supply stores will often sell you what you need - 75% phosphoric acid and ethylene glycol. Sometimes the minimum quantity is 5 gallons, which may be in excess of $300. Sell the left over (a lot) to your local aircraft mechanics. Alumiprep and other off-the-shelf etching compounds will also contain [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroflouric_acid hydroflouric acid]. While this will also act to etch aluminum, its probable main use is to act as a brightener. Because this acid is not as safe as phosphoric acid, if making your own brew it is not recommended you purchase this. The phosphoric acid and ethylene glycol will do just fine. Mix one part acid, one part glycol, and one part distilled water for a 30% etch solution. Add 2.3 parts water to 1 part 30% solution for a 10% solution. Alumiprep ships at 30%, and sometimes you may want 30% for the really tough stuff. 10% is sufficient for most work.

Don't try to etch everything at once. Pick a relatively small area and work that to completion. Spray or sponge on the etch, and lightly scrub with fine (green) or very fine (grey) Scotch Brite. It will take a little practice to realize when enough is enough, but the real test is when you rinse the etch off. The water should form a break-free surface if the metal is etched properly. Because acid is consumed during the etching, you will need to spray additional etch on occasionally as you scrub the surface.

Because etching exposes fresh aluminum with lots of microscopic surface area, it is best to immediately follow up with the next conditioning process.

== Aluminum Conversion Coating ==