Start from what the part has to do. Each need below lists the DiFruscia processes that meet it, the specifications they are usually called out to, and a link to the details. Not sure which one fits? Send the drawing to rfq@difruscia.com and we’ll recommend a finish.
| Process | Why choose it | Typical specs | Nadcap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc plating | Low-cost, sacrificial protection for steel parts and fasteners: the zinc corrodes first, so the steel stays protected even where scratched | ASTM B633 | — |
| Electroless nickel (high phosphorus) | Uniform coverage on complex shapes, chosen for maximum corrosion resistance | ASTM B733 Type V, AMS 2404 | — |
| Type II anodize | Aluminum: 336 hours salt spray (ASTM B117), in clear or color | MIL-A-8625 Type II | Yes |
| Type III hardcoat anodize | Aluminum in harsh environments: 1,000–2,000 hours salt spray, sealed | MIL-A-8625 Type III | Yes |
| Chem film (chromate conversion) | Bare or painted aluminum; Class 1A gives maximum corrosion protection | MIL-DTL-5541 Class 1A | Yes |
| Passivation | Stainless steel: removes free iron left by machining so the steel resists corrosion as intended, with no dimensional change | AMS 2700, ASTM A967 | Yes |
| Mil-spec primer and topcoat | Painted aerospace and defense hardware: corrosion-inhibiting epoxy primer under a polyurethane topcoat | MIL-PRF-23377, MIL-PRF-85285 | Yes |
| Powder coating | A durable, corrosion-resistant finish in many colors; C.A.R.C. for military equipment | Per powder manufacturer | — |
| 3M Scotchkote™ fusion-bonded epoxy | Valves, pumps, pipe and hydrants exposed to corrosive soils, chemicals and sea water | AWWA C213, C550 | — |
| Process | Why choose it | Typical specs | Nadcap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type III hardcoat anodize | Wear surfaces and sliding aluminum parts: 3.4 mg Taber loss, against 15.4 mg for Type II | MIL-A-8625 Type III | Yes |
| Type III with PTFE | Hardcoat with PTFE for abrasion resistance plus permanent lubricity | See the process page | — |
| Electroless nickel | Hard, wear-resistant and uniform; a post-plate bake raises hardness further | ASTM B733 Type V, AMS 2404 | — |
| Nickel plating | A hard corrosion and wear barrier, and a durable undercoat for other finishes | AMS-QQ-N-290 | — |
| Cerakote | Thin ceramic film for firearms and high-wear parts: 5,212 Taber cycles per mil (ASTM D4060) in the manufacturer’s tests | Per manufacturer | — |
| Process | Why choose it | Typical specs | Nadcap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chem film, Class 3 | Aluminum that must stay conductive: grounding points, electronics enclosures, EMI shielding | MIL-DTL-5541 Class 3 | Yes |
| Copper plating | High electrical conductivity, solderability, and an undercoat for other plating | MIL-C-14550, AMS 2418 | — |
| Tin plating | Solderability and low contact resistance for contacts, terminals and connectors. Some aerospace and defense programs restrict pure tin: ask us about whisker mitigation | MIL-T-10727 Type I, ASTM B545 | — |
| Process | Why choose it | Typical specs | Nadcap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type II anodize | Non-conductive aluminum surface with good dielectric properties | MIL-A-8625 Type II | Yes |
| Type III hardcoat anodize | Thicker, denser oxide with excellent dielectric properties | MIL-A-8625 Type III | Yes |
| Process | Why choose it | Typical specs | Nadcap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry-film lubricants | Bonded solid films that cut friction and prevent galling and seizing, with no oil or grease to migrate or wash away. Heat cured for maximum wear life, air cured for parts that can’t be baked | MIL-PRF-46010 (heat cured), MIL-PRF-46147 (air cured) | — |
| Type III with PTFE | Permanent lubricity and mold release on hard-anodized aluminum | See the process page | — |
| Process | Why choose it | Typical specs | Nadcap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type II anodize | Clear or dyed aluminum in a wide range of colors: see the Color Chart | MIL-A-8625 Type II, Class 2 (dyed) | Yes |
| Bright dip anodize | A chemically polished, mirror-like aluminum finish without buffing, protected by clear or colored anodize | Alloy guidance on request | Yes |
| Powder coating | A wide range of colors, gloss levels and textures, with virtually no VOCs; custom and production runs | Per powder manufacturer | — |
| Abrasive blasting | Uniform cosmetic texture, for example a glass-bead satin finish | Per coating spec or drawing | — |
| Process | Why choose it | Typical specs | Nadcap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pretreatment | Cleaning, scale removal and conversion coating before paint or powder, for adhesion and to stop corrosion creeping under the coating at chips and edges | Per paint system | — |
| Chem film | An excellent base for primer and paint on aluminum | MIL-DTL-5541 | Yes |
| Abrasive blasting | A clean surface and profile that coatings grip | Per coating spec or drawing | — |
| Process | Why choose it | Typical specs | Nadcap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat reflective coating | Reflects radiant heat so coated parts run cooler | 0095Z-SZAX-A101 | — |
| Dry-film lubricants | Lubrication across extreme temperature ranges, from sub-zero to 1,200 °F | Per application | — |
| Process | Why choose it | Typical specs | Nadcap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Precision masking | Different finishes on different areas of one part, or bare threads, bores and contact points: 3D-printed plugs and caps, UV-cure maskant, stop-off lacquers, and digital die-cut masks cut from your CAD file on a CNC cutting plotter | Per customer drawing | — |
| Laser engraving and marking | Permanent part numbers, serial numbers, barcodes and 2D codes on bare or finished parts, done in the same shop on a 20 W fiber laser | Per customer drawing | — |
Send the drawing, the material and the spec callout to rfq@difruscia.com, or use Request a Quote. DFI’s technical data sheets are available on request from Technical Specifications. Questions: 401.943.9900 or support@difruscia.com.
“Yes” under Nadcap means the process is accredited for chemical processing (Nadcap AC7108). All work runs under DFI’s AS9100D quality system: see Certifications & Approvals.
Values shown are typical results for reference only and are not specification limits. Results vary with alloy, part geometry, thickness and process parameters. Contact DFI to confirm the requirements for your application.