Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • Subscribe!
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings

MICROLOK® AO from Birchwood Casey

By Design World Staff | July 21, 2011

Share

When manufacturers asked for an environmentally friendly process to replace cold blackening on iron and steel components, Birchwood Casey answered with the MICROLOK® AO process.

The patented MICROLOK® AO coating is a non-toxic aluminum oxide conversion coating that is 0.000060 inches (1.5 microns) thick, silver/black in color, and tightly adherent to the metal surface. When compared with room temperature blackening, the MICROLOK AO coating exhibits better corrosion resistance and operates at half the cost, without undesirable pollution hazards.

MICROLOK® AO

Applications include: tooling and machine components; automotive parts including tie-rods, ball joints, clutch and brake components; and large components such as oilfield drilling equipment. MICROLOCK AO is an ideal choice for any component with its attractive, non-dimensional silver-black finish, corrosion protection and anti-galling properties.

The MICROLOK AO process is safe and easy to operate and avoids the use of EPA regulated chemicals (cold blackening uses toxic copper & selenium – both tightly regulated). The MICROLOK AO process rinse waters are generally sewerable as non-hazardous discharge and require no waste treatment at all. Applying the finish requires only five steps and 18 minutes:

1. CLEAN the metal surface: SAFE SCRUB: 120-140°F: 8 minutes.
2. RINSE in clean water.
3. APPLY MICROLOK AO finish: 120-140°F: 8 minutes.
4. RINSE in clean water.
5. SEAL in DRI TOUCHÒ AMBER Rust Preventive: 1 minute.

Additional benefits include: anti-galling protection to aid in assembly and startup; temperature stability up to 1400°F; safe 120-140° F operation with no boiling or splattering; no scale or sludge buildup in tanks; and simple bath maintenance requiring only pH monitoring.

Finishers with existing lines note: Most cold blackening lines can be easily converted to the MICROLOK AO process. There are no technical or costly conversion challenges when switching over from an existing cold process to the new MICROLOK AO process. Also, new tank lines for MICROLOK AO are available in any size from Birchwood Casey at modest cost, ranging from small-scale manually operated lines to large volume CNC operated systems.

Birchwood Casey
www.birchwoodcasey.com

::Design World::


Filed Under: Automation components, Materials • advanced

 

Tell Us What You Think!

Related Articles Read More >

Self-lubricating and wear-resistant: igus bar stock for food, continuous operation and high media resistance
Minnesota Rubber and Plastics announces plans for new Innovation Center
The importance of resin selection
EXE014 - Image 1
Composite materials help place Italian race team in pole position

DESIGN GUIDE LIBRARY

“motion

Enews Sign Up

Motion Control Classroom

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Industrial disc pack couplings
  • Pushing performance: Adding functionality to terminal blocks
  • Get to Know Würth Industrial Division
  • Renishaw next-generation FORTiS™ enclosed linear encoders offer enhanced metrology and reliability for machine tools
  • WAGO’s smartDESIGNER Online Provides Seamless Progression for Projects
  • Epoxy Certified for UL 1203 Standard

Design World Podcasts

July 26, 2022
Tech Tuesdays: Sorbothane marks 40 years of shock and vibration innovation
See More >
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • Advertising
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Engineering White Papers
  • LEAP AWARDS

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
    • Fluid power
  • Learn
    • Ebooks / Tech Tips
    • Engineering Week
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • MC² Motion Control Classrooms
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • LEAP AWARDS
  • Leadership
    • 2022 Voting
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guide Library
  • Resources
    • Subscribe!
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Women in Engineering
  • Supplier Listings