Metallizing
Metallizing is a metal-coating process in which a metal substrate is coated with another metal by thermal-spray equipment. The metal coating is typically applied with a twin-arc wire gun or a gas-powered gun. The HVOF process has also become popular as a metallizing procedure in recent years and is especially efficient in the applications of ceramic and plastics as well as metal. Any metal that can be made into a wire can be melted and sprayed onto a substrate in the twin-arc and gas-powered thermal-spray procedures; and a wide variety of common and exotic metal substrates can be metallized. Zinc, aluminum, copper, stainless steel, magnesium and various exotic metals are all commonly used in metallizing by Superior Shot Peening. Metallizing can be on-site or in-house and can be performed in almost any weather.

Metallizing combines the advantage of a mechanically-bonded coating that will not deform the substrate with the option of choosing from several aesthetically pleasing metallic finishes. Before being bonded to the substrate, the metal is first atomized by the metal-spray equipment. The atomized droplets are then propelled towards the substrate where they flatten upon impact and begin to bond to the substrate object and to each other. This gentle, low-heat process allows for a strong mechanically-bonded coating of desired thickness to be applied to the substrate with no melting or warping of the target.

In many industries, a popular use of metallizing is the use of metallizing for cathodic protection. In this case, a metal that is more likely to loose electrons (and act as an anode) is used to coat a substrate metal that is less likely to loose electrons. When corrosion begins, the corrosion is more likely to form on the sacrificial anode (the metal coating) than the protected cathode (the substrate). This is a highly effective way of protecting a wide variety of metal equipment particularly in soils and marine environments. Some of the applications for metallizing are tension legs for offshore platforms, bridges, underwater concrete structures, and industrial plants where elevated temperatures prohibit standard coatings, such as stacks and mufflers.

Hard Banding
Hard banding is a process by which a rough, wear-resistant, band of tungsten carbide is applied to a metal part to help protect the metal from wear in a specific area. This tungsten-carbide hard banding is commonly used in the drilling tool industry on downhole tools. The band is applied by the metallizing thermal-spray process in an area on the tool that is expected to undergo high friction. As it need only be applied over a limited surface area, it is an economical way to eliminate wear and extend tool life. Superior Shot Peening is one of only a handful of companies in the nation that has the ability and expertise to provide hard banding.

For more about metallizing/hard banding, select one of the following:

Overview  |  Technical Information  |  Photographs

For more information about Metallizing/Hard Banding, or other coatings offered by Superior Shot Peening, click on one of the following:

• Powder Coatings
  
  
• Liquid Coatings
  
  
• High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF)
  
  
• Metallizing/Hard Banding
  
  
  • Overview
    
    
  • Technical Information
    
    
  • Photographs
    
    
• PVC Coating
  
  
• Fluoropolymer and Other Exotic Coatings