Anodizing

Anodizing for the semiconductor industry is much different than traditional anodizing. For most applications, anodizing is simply meant to provide…

Hard coat anodize is Semano’s most popular service – and for good reason. Hard coat has characteristics that are often highly desired including substantially increased hardness, better corrosion resistance, better dielectric strength, thicker coating, better wear resistance and more. Oddly enough, despite these features, hard anodize is actually a much smaller market than clear coat. One reason for this is processing hard coat anodize is much more technically challenging than clear coat.

Clear coat anodize is a very common type of anodize that, as the name suggests, is typically clear. Clear coat anodize is most commonly used for cosmetic or architectural applications where corrosion resistance and “look” is of primary concern. Clear anodize has large pores which is why it typically appears to be transparent as you can essentially see through the anodize. Given its large pore structure, clear anodize is typically the best candidate to accept dye. Dyed clear coat will look much truer to the dye than hard coat anodize for that very reason. 

A common engineering question is whether to use a type 2 or type 3 spec for anodizing. In this short article, we will discuss some common considerations that will hopefully guide you to the best approach.

When looking for a California anodizer, there are a variety of factors that go into making your decision. The first factor any machine shop or OEM will want to verify is that the California anodizer offers the services that you require. Do you need a 3 mil anodize coating? Perhaps you need black or gold dye. You’ll want to verify that the anodizing company, in fact, offers these services. 

We often get asked if we are approved for LAM and AMAT anodizing. Since we primarily support the semiconductor market, we are approved not only for anodizing for LAM research and AMAT (Applied Materials), but for Chemical Cleaning, Selective Nickel Plating, Teflon, Bead Blasting, Black Dye, and Masking. It’s our multiple processes available in one location that really sets us apart. We are the one stop shop for most metal finishing needs.

This is the first video in our new weekly video blog from President of Semano, Frank Largusa. In this video Frank will give a brief overview of Semano including our processes and strengths. Below is a transcript from the video.

In this article, we’ll list some of the properties of anodized aluminum and their respective uses in different industries.