Anodizing

Type III Hardcoat

Type III Anodize finishes, also known as hardcoat finishes, are exceptionally hard and durable, qualities which allow them to resist damage due to corrosion and abrasion. Their greater material hardness and thicker oxide layers make them well-suited for applications that require excellent engineering characteristics. Typical applications include use in cookware, military devices, and electrical equipment.

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Type III w/PTFE

Type III Anodize finishes can be enhanced with PTFE (Teflon®) to improve material release and reduce the risk of premature galling failure. The final finishes demonstrate excellent corrosion, wear, and abrasion resistance. Altogether, these qualities make them popular for use in nonstick cookware, aerospace materials, electronics, industrial machinery, and firearms.

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Vortex Anodizing

At Pioneer, we employ our proprietary VA-100 high-speed vortex anodizing machines to perform vortex anodizing operations. The use of these machines allows us to establish hardcoat finishes with greater wear resistance in shorter periods of time compared to conventional hard anodizing methods. This process is particularly suitable for anodizing ring grooves and lands on automotive pistons and small areas of components in high volumes.

The Vortex Anodizing (VA-100) Offers
Anodizing 50-times faster than batch
Tolerances of +/-.0001 can be achieved with Pioneer’s Vortex Anodizing
Ideal for just-in–time Production
Very compact footprint
Low labor & operating costs
Each piston monitored for quality control
Uniform coating throughout groove
No racking – quick change fixtures
Low Ra capabilities
Over 140 Million pistons have been processed in North America with VA-100 machine solutions

Receptive Metals
Aluminum Alloy

Anodizing Services From Pioneer Metal Finishing

At Pioneer Metal Finishing, we offer anodizing services for a variety of aluminum and steel parts and components. For more information on our finishing capabilities or assistance choosing the method best suited for your application, contact us today. Our highly knowledgeable team is ready and willing to answer and address any questions or concerns regarding your metal finishing needs.

Benefits of Anodizing

When used to enhance the protective qualities of metal parts, the anodizing process offers several benefits, such as:

• Thinner coatings. Compared to other coating methods, the anodizing process establishes thinner coats on the surface of the substrate. This quality makes it useful for use on precision machined parts, as the coating thickness does significantly affect part size.
• Higher durability. Anodized surfaces display exceptional hardness and abrasion resistance, especially when compared to paint and powder coats. Anodized material is less likely to scratch, chip, or flake, resulting in much longer service life.
• Longer lasting color. As materials that undergo the dyed anodizing process display long-lasting color that is highly resistant to UV radiation and fading, they are ideal for use in outdoor applications.
• Greater corrosion resistance. Anodized surfaces are highly corrosion resistant, making them particularly useful for applications regularly exposed to water, salt spray, and other corrosive substances.
• Smaller environmental footprint. Anodized materials are highly recyclable. Additionally, the anodizing production process uses environmentally friendly chemicals.
• Better electrical insulation properties. The anodizing process creates an electrically insulated surface that, when used with other non-conductive coatings, is useful for low-voltage electrical applications.
• Lower cost. The price of anodizing metals is on par with other coating processes, such as painting and powder coating. The enhanced durability of the anodized finish ensures a longer component lifetime, thereby reducing the cost of maintenance.