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Manufacturing Technology Insights | Friday, August 25, 2023
Sacrificial coatings are not intended to prevent corrosion altogether but rather to allow the coating to become corroded rather than the underlying material of the part that would otherwise be affected by corrosion. Therefore, it is fitting for the coating to be called a "sacrificial" one.
Fremont, CA: During corrosion, a refined metal is converted into its oxide, hydroxide, or sulfide form due to the effects of the environment, causing it to deteriorate.
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In the engineering world, one of the most common and concerning forms of corrosion is the electrochemical oxidation of metals (which occurs when an oxidant such as oxygen or sulfates reacts with the metal), and iron's rusting is one of the most common examples of this.
It is important to keep in mind that following these steps will not guarantee the life of your metal parts, but it will go some way to reducing corrosion potential while helping to maintain their functionality and appearance in the long run.
Choose a corrosion-resistant metal
It is true that no metal is indestructible, but if your parts are exposed to moisture or corroding substances, then you would be wise to choose a corrosion-resistant metal.
Stainless steel is made from iron, which, when it oxidizes, produces rust, which is a corrosion-resistant material. There are, however, steels that have a high chromium content (Suspension Steel 316, for example) which are less likely to rust since the chromium forms a protective layer of chromium oxide on the surface of the part.
Due to the fact that aluminum doesn't contain iron, it doesn't rust and will last a very long time. As a result of moisture contracting on the surface of a part, a protective layer called aluminum oxide can form, which prevents corrosion from occurring on that part.
Design parts that minimize environmental damage
Corrosion resistance is influenced by a part's material, but it is also influenced by the shape and texture of a part. In order to create a successful CAD design, engineers should consider whether certain elements of the design might encourage or discourage corrosion when designing the model.
Apply an anti-corrosion coating
It is possible to protect the metal from corroding by applying a coating over the surface of the metal in order to keep air, moisture, and other corrosive substances from directly getting in contact with the metal until the coating wears off on its own. If you wish to maintain the condition of the part after a period of time, you can reapply the coating after a period of time.
Apply a sacrificial coating
In addition to applying a protective coating to the metal to make it corrosion-resistant, one can also apply a sacrificial coating to make it corrosion-resistant.
Sacrificial coatings are not intended to prevent corrosion altogether but rather to allow the coating to become corroded rather than the underlying material of the part that would otherwise be affected by corrosion. Therefore, it is fitting for the coating to be called a "sacrificial" one.
Control the environment around the parts
There are some steps that can be implemented after the part has been manufactured, but it is still possible to reduce corrosion once the part has been assembled once the post-manufacturing step has been completed.
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