What types of finishing are suitable for aerospace die cast parts?

Suitable Finishing Options for Aerospace Die Cast Parts

Overview of Aerospace Finishing Requirements

Finishing processes for aerospace die cast parts are essential for improving corrosion resistance, mechanical durability, and surface integrity under extreme environmental conditions. Aerospace components must meet strict standards such as AMS 2471, MIL-A-8625, and ISO 8083, depending on the alloy and application. These treatments also ensure compatibility with downstream operations like painting, bonding, or wear-resistant coatings.

Common Finishing Processes for Aerospace Applications

Anodizing for Aluminum Components

Anodizing is widely used for aerospace aluminum parts to increase surface hardness and corrosion resistance. Type II and Type III anodizing per MIL-A-8625 are typical:

• Type II (Sulfuric Acid Anodizing): Offers corrosion resistance and good paint adhesion.

• Type III (Hard Anodizing): Provides wear resistance and high dielectric strength for structural components.

For components requiring enhanced micro-arc durability, Arc Anodizing is ideal, especially in aerospace environments with thermal cycling.

Powder Coating for Aesthetic and Protective Layers

Powder coating is used where additional impact resistance and color coding are needed. Aerospace-grade powder coatings must pass salt spray tests per ASTM B117 for over 1000 hours and exhibit strong adhesion to meet military and commercial standards.

Painting for Functional Marking and Corrosion Resistance

Painting is commonly applied for both aesthetic finishes and functional marking. Aerospace paints may include epoxy primers and polyurethane topcoats in accordance with SAE AMS-STD-595 standards.

Sand Blasting and Tumbling for Surface Preparation

Sand blasting is often the first step in finishing aerospace die castings, especially before anodizing or painting. It removes oxides, flash, and surface impurities, improving adhesion.

Tumbling is used for deburring aerospace parts, especially smaller castings requiring tight tolerances without damaging edges.

Supporting Services for Aerospace Casting Projects

For aerospace customers seeking end-to-end support, we offer:

• Material Expertise and Casting Services

  • Aluminum Die Casting: Aerospace-grade aluminum alloys such as A356, A360, and AlSi10Mg with precision die cast capabilities.

• Tooling and Rapid Development

  • Tool and Die Making: High-precision tools for maintaining dimensional accuracy in aerospace-grade parts.

  • Rapid Prototyping: Speed up design validation for aerospace assemblies under actual flight or vibration testing.

• Comprehensive Post-Processing

  • Post Process for Die Castings: Full suite of finishing, machining, and assembly operations tailored to aerospace standards.

To streamline your procurement, our one-stop service integrates design, tooling, casting, finishing, and inspection in one workflow.