Welcome to Craven Surface Treatments Ltd, your premier destination for high-quality Aluminium Anodising and Non Destructive Testing solutions. With a steadfast commitment to excellence, we specialize in both hard and soft sulphuric anodising, offering a range of finishes including natural, black dyed, and grey dyed options as well as NADCAP & AS9100 accredited fluorescent dye penetrant inspection.
At Craven Surface Treatments, we pride ourselves on delivering not only impeccable results but also prompt service. Rapid turnaround is our standard, ensuring that your projects move forward without delay. With our state-of-the-art anodising equipment, electrostatic penetrant system and a dedicated team, we guarantee top-tier craftsmanship on every job.
Behind our success stands our esteemed Treatments Manager, Paul Lawson, recognized as one of the best Anodisers in the industry. This coupled with our team of three in house level 3 personnel with decades of experience in the NDT field. Their expertise and leadership drive our operations, ensuring that each piece treated or tested by us meets the highest standards of quality and durability.
Whether you're seeking precision anodising for industrial components or intricate parts or have safety critical parts in need of non destructive testing you can trust Craven Surface Treatments to deliver excellence every time.
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Craven Surface Treatments Anodising options
Sulphuric Soft Anodising
Sulphuric Soft Anodising
Sulphuric Soft Anodising
Sulphuric soft anodising, also known as Type II anodising, is a specific type of anodising process that involves immersing the metal workpiece into a sulphuric acid electrolyte solution. Unlike hard anodising, which creates a thicker and more durable oxide layer, soft anodising produces a thinner oxide layer on the surface of the metal.
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Sulphuric soft anodising, also known as Type II anodising, is a specific type of anodising process that involves immersing the metal workpiece into a sulphuric acid electrolyte solution. Unlike hard anodising, which creates a thicker and more durable oxide layer, soft anodising produces a thinner oxide layer on the surface of the metal.
The resulting oxide layer formed during soft anodising provides several benefits, including improved corrosion resistance, enhanced paint adhesion, and electrical insulation properties. Soft anodising is commonly used for decorative purposes, as it can produce a range of colours when dyeing is applied after the anodising process.
Overall, sulphuric soft anodising offers a versatile and cost-effective solution for a variety of applications where a durable and aesthetically pleasing surface finish is desired, but where the extreme hardness and wear resistance of hard anodising are not necessary.
Sulphuric Hard Anodising
Sulphuric Soft Anodising
Sulphuric Soft Anodising
Sulphuric hard anodising, also known as Type III anodising, is an electrochemical process that creates a thick and highly durable oxide layer on the surface of metal substrates, typically aluminium and its alloys. Unlike sulphuric soft anodising (Type II), which produces a relatively thin oxide layer, sulphuric hard anodising results in
Sulphuric hard anodising, also known as Type III anodising, is an electrochemical process that creates a thick and highly durable oxide layer on the surface of metal substrates, typically aluminium and its alloys. Unlike sulphuric soft anodising (Type II), which produces a relatively thin oxide layer, sulphuric hard anodising results in a significantly thicker and harder coating.
During the sulphuric hard anodising process, the metal workpiece is immersed in a sulphuric acid electrolyte solution and subjected to a controlled electrical current. This causes oxidation of the metal surface, forming a dense and abrasion-resistant layer of aluminium oxide. The thickness of the oxide layer produced during hard anodising tend to be around 50 microns, depending on the specific application requirements.
The resulting hard anodised coating provides several key benefits, including exceptional wear resistance, improved corrosion resistance, increased surface hardness, and enhanced thermal and electrical insulation properties. These properties make hard anodising ideal for applications requiring high levels of durability and performance, such as aerospace components, automotive parts, industrial machinery, and electronic devices.
In summary, sulphuric hard anodising is a specialized surface treatment process that significantly enhances the mechanical and chemical properties of metal substrates, making them more durable and resilient in harsh operating environments.
Surtec 650
Sulphuric Soft Anodising
Surtec 650
Surtec 650 is a type of conversion coating used primarily for aluminium and aluminium alloys. Conversion coatings are chemical treatments applied to metal surfaces to enhance their properties or prepare them for further processing, such as painting or adhesion of other coatings.
Surtec 650 is specifically designed to provide corrosion pro
Surtec 650 is a type of conversion coating used primarily for aluminium and aluminium alloys. Conversion coatings are chemical treatments applied to metal surfaces to enhance their properties or prepare them for further processing, such as painting or adhesion of other coatings.
Surtec 650 is specifically designed to provide corrosion protection and improve paint adhesion on aluminium surfaces. It is often used as a pre-treatment before painting or powder coating aluminium components in various industries, including automotive, aerospace, and construction.
Overall, Surtec 650 conversion coating provides an effective and reliable method for improving the performance and durability of aluminium surfaces in various industrial applications, particularly where corrosion resistance and paint adhesion are critical requirements.
Masking
Chemical Brightening
Surtec 650
Masking is a crucial step in the anodising process, particularly when specific areas of the metal need to remain untreated or require different anodised finishes. This technique involves covering parts of the metal surface with a resistant material that prevents those areas from undergoing the anodising process. Effective masking ensure
Masking is a crucial step in the anodising process, particularly when specific areas of the metal need to remain untreated or require different anodised finishes. This technique involves covering parts of the metal surface with a resistant material that prevents those areas from undergoing the anodising process. Effective masking ensures that only the desired sections are exposed to the anodising solution, allowing for precise control over the final appearance and functional properties of the product. Various masking materials can be used, including tapes, plugs, and liquid masks, depending on the complexity and requirements of the project. Proper masking not only enhances the quality and uniformity of the anodised layer but also allows for intricate designs and multifunctional surfaces, making it an essential practice in industries such as aerospace, automotive, and electronics.
Glass Bead Blasting
Chemical Brightening
Chemical Brightening
Glass bead blasting is a surface finishing process that uses fine glass beads to clean, peen, or polish a surface. This method propels spherical glass beads against a surface at high pressure, creating a smooth, clean, and uniform finish without removing significant amounts of material using the following process steps.
- Surface Cleaning: G
Glass bead blasting is a surface finishing process that uses fine glass beads to clean, peen, or polish a surface. This method propels spherical glass beads against a surface at high pressure, creating a smooth, clean, and uniform finish without removing significant amounts of material using the following process steps.
- Surface Cleaning: Glass bead blasting effectively removes dirt, rust, and other contaminants from the metal surface. This ensures that the anodising process adheres uniformly, preventing defects and inconsistencies.
- Surface Preparation: The process creates a mildly textured surface that improves the adhesion of the anodised layer. This texturing is crucial for ensuring that the anodised layer is durable and resistant to peeling or flaking.
- Enhanced Aesthetic Appeal: Glass bead blasting can impart a satin or matte finish to the metal surface. This pre-treatment can enhance the visual appeal of the anodised product, giving it a more refined and professional look.
- Improved Corrosion Resistance: By creating a uniform surface, glass bead blasting helps in achieving a consistent anodised layer, which is critical for optimal corrosion resistance.
Chemical Brightening
Chemical Brightening
Chemical Brightening
Chemical brightening is a vital pre-treatment step in the anodising process, aimed at enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the metal surface by providing a highly reflective finish. This process involves immersing the metal, typically aluminium, in a specialized chemical bath that smooths out minor surface imperfections and increases the s
Chemical brightening is a vital pre-treatment step in the anodising process, aimed at enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the metal surface by providing a highly reflective finish. This process involves immersing the metal, typically aluminium, in a specialized chemical bath that smooths out minor surface imperfections and increases the surface's natural lustre. The brightening solution often contains a mixture of acids, such as phosphoric and nitric acids, which react with the metal to remove a thin layer, revealing a polished, mirror-like surface. Chemical brightening is particularly beneficial for applications where visual appearance is paramount, such as in consumer electronics, automotive trim, and architectural elements. By ensuring a uniform and glossy surface, chemical brightening enhances the final appearance of the anodised layer, resulting in products that are not only durable and corrosion-resistant but also visually striking.
fluorescent penetrant inspection
Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection (NDT)
Alongside our anodising options Craven Surface Treatments also offer fluorescent penetrant inspection to all industries including aerospace, oil & gas, motorsport, marine and more.
With our state of the art electrostatic penetrant line we can offer penetrant testing backed by our NADCAP and AS 9100 Rev D accreditations.
We can offer fluorescent penetrant in accordance with most international specifications.
Our team have experience second to non with a total of 3 level 3 personnel and 4 level 2 personnel.
All of our NDT personnel hold certification to ISO 9712 (PCN) and EN4179 / NAS410 meaning that we have the right man for every kind of job.
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