Page 9 - MFi Vol.152 ATZ Extra Issue 2019

ALUMINUM
AUTOMOBILE TECHNOLOGY
ALUMINUM
MATERIAL
Aluminum alloys used in automobiles : 3
03 Aluminum alloy surface treatment

The beautiful transmuting appearance of aluminum

Aluminum Design Sheets
Anodizing Self-coloring process
2-step coloring process
Etching
Staining
The aesthetically pleasing appearance of aluminum is one of its Surface Pre-coating Surface property
treatment
major features. The sheen of luminous aluminum alloys can be Surface design
Printing
further enhanced through electrolytic and chemical polishing, and
Plating
they are used for decorative parts, such as vehicle moldings.
Various surface treatment technologies can be used to accentuate
the aesthetic qualities of aluminum.
Interior use of aluminum design sheets

Aluminum panels with surfaces beautifully processed and treated
with hairlines and other designs are widely used for cockpit interior
decoration, such as in center console panels and door trims. Motor Fan illustrated

Anodizing
Anodizing is a process that involves turning a piece of aluminum
into an anode in an electrolytic solution to create a surface layer of
oxidized aluminum. Colored oxide layers can be produced in black,
The beautiful sheen of aluminum
red, blue, etc. sheets surely provides an incentive ALUMINUM AUTOMOBILE TECHNOLOGY
to choose them instead of resin.

Pre-coated aluminum alloy sheet

09
Surface treated aluminum sheet features great functionality.

Functions Special features Adhesive pre-coat
aluminum alloy sheet
Press forming with volatile press oil is possible,
Lubricity Polypropylene
allowing omission of the degreasing process. resin
It is highly adhesive to PP resins, allowing
Adhesiveness
non-use of adhesive materials.
Weather strip
Coated layer containing pigments with
Heat dissipation
excellent heat dissipation diffuses heat.
High-adhesive strength pre-coated aluminum alloy sheet
It has excellent conductivity so that continuity
Conductivity
is achieved on the coated layer. Aluminum alloy sheet material with a coating that is highly
adhesive to resin is used to support the weather strip.
KO treatment highly adhesive aluminum sheet

A process to give an AC electrolysis treatment to aluminum sheet
in an alkaline electrolytic solution in order to form a porous and
dendritic oxide layer. Dendritic porous
The anode oxide layer has a thickness of 2~10μm layer
ON (200~250nm)
Thickness after KO treatment: 200~250nm
(The KO treatment sheet is very thin, only 1/10 to 1/40 the
ON Barrier layer
thickness of an anode oxide layer.) (10~20nm)