Metal Finishing | Portsmouth Aviation

Metal finishing at Portsmouth Aviation has the power to enhance the performance, durability, and protection of the components we produce, enabling our process technicians to create reliable and long lasting protective coatings that can withstand challenging environments and operational demands.

Metal finishing is the application of various coatings to enhance the performance, corrosive protection and appearance of metals and aluminium alloys.

Metal finishing is a cost effective solution that protects components from corrosion and deterioration, providing maximum durability with minimal maintenance. Portsmouth Aviation boasts a vast variety of metal finishing processes for our customers. From Anodising to electroplating, industrial metal finishing is an invaluable service we provide with extremely high standards of quality.

At Portsmouth Aviation we pride ourselves in producing a high standard of Metal Finishing processes for over 60 years. This is ranging from Electroplating to Chemical Conversions and many more in between.

We have one of the largest Metal Finishing facilities on the south coast which has the capability to process a large quantity of products. We believe in having a quick turn around of work to meet our customer’s requirements. This includes a minimum of 7 working days and within this time frame we can ensure that our customers products are being efficiently processed with a high standard of care and quality.

There are three primary types of metal finishing that we can offer:

Anodising

Anodising is an electrolytic process that converts the surface of the aluminium substrate with a protective oxide layer, increasing corrosion resistance and wear resistance. It also enhances adhesion for paint primers and glues. Anodic films can be used for cosmetic effects with the ability to absorb dyes. The process changes the surface structure of aluminium alloys, making them harder and stronger. Sealing can be offered for added corrosion resistance, and wear resistance can be improved by increasing the thickness of the coating.

Electroplating

Whether its Tin, Zinc or Zinc‑Nickel these processes deposit a sacrificial layer onto to the piece part, which forms a barrier between the surface of the piece part and the corrosive environment.

The purpose of electroplating is to deposit a more reactive metal than the piece part, to form a barrier from a wet corrosive environment. For example, with Zinc Plating we deposit Zinc onto iron and mild steel because it reacts more to corrosive elements.

Theoretically the deposited coating should corrode preferentially to the piece part.

Chromate Conversion Coatings

Chromate conversion (Alocrom) is a non-electrolytic process which forms a protective iridescent coloured chromate coating on aluminium and its alloys. It works as a great adhesive pre-treatment for painted products. As an alternative to Hexavalent (CRVI) chromate conversions, we offer a Trivalent (CRIII) conversion coating such as Surtec 650V. We can also offer Iridite NCP which is chrome free, this has no hexavalent or trivalent chrome. These processes are paving the way to more environmentally friendly and REACH compliant chemicals.

Technical Information

Sulphuric Anodising

A protective coating, 8-15μm thick, known for its anti-corrosion properties and clear silver finish unless dyeing is required.

Anodising with Black Dye & Dichromate Seal

Colour dyes applied after sulphuric anodising to achieve superior visual finish.

Chromic Anodising

Utilizing chromic acid to produce films up to 5μm, resulting in grey finishes mainly used for castings.

Hard Anodising

Similar to sulphuric anodising but processed at lower temperatures for longer periods, providing increased corrosion and wear resistance. Thickness ranges from 20μm to 70μm, up to 100μm possible for specific alloys.

ALOCROM 1200

A rapid non-electrolytic dip process creating an iridescent golden chromate coating on aluminum, serving as an adhesive pre-treatment for painted products.

Nitric Acid & Dichromate Passivation

Stainless-steel passivation to remove impurities and enhance corrosion resistance.

Nitric Acid Passivation

Traditional acid used to passivate stainless steel, widely accepted in various industries, though it may remove some parent metal.

Heat Treating

Stress relief and de-embrittlement method for high tensile steels, reducing brittleness and hardness while improving tensile strength.

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)

Analysis technique to evaluate material, component, or system properties for characteristic differences, welding defects, or discontinuities without damaging the original part.

Salt Spray Testing

Accelerated corrosive attack to predict the coating’s effectiveness in protecting metals and alloys.

Zinc Plating

Electroplating method utilizing electric current to deposit zinc ions onto metal components, forming a protective layer.

Zinc Nickel

Co-electrodeposition of zinc and nickel on components, providing superior corrosion resistance compared to other electroplating processes.

SurTec 650V

SurTec 650V is a trivalent Chromium passivation treatment for Aluminium. It is hexavalent Chromium free and produces colourful and visible layers which are blue-grey to yellow iridescent. This process also offers excellent corrosion protection comparable to hexavalent passivations. SurTec 650V is REACH, RoHS and WEEE compliant.

Metal finishing is the art of transforming raw surfaces into refined masterpieces, where chemistry and craftsmanship converge to enhance durability, aesthetics and functionality, leaving a lasting impression of excellence.

Simon Escott, Managing Director

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Capabilities

Technical Services

CNC Machining

Metal Fabrication

Metal Finishing

Paint & Finishing

Qualification, Inspection & Testing

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Technical Services

Focused on design. At Portsmouth Aviation, Technical Services are an integral part of our business model. Our approach is bespoke and can be a game changer for your project. Designed to support and complement our traditional manufacturing capabilities, we have a wide range of core technical service competencies to ensure that we remain at the forefront of precision engineering industries.

CNC Machining

CNC Machining is a crucial part of Portsmouth Aviation’s in-house capabilities. Our state-of-the-art equipment and wide-ranging expertise set us apart in the industry. This has included ensuring our CNC machining equipment is of outstanding quality, maintaining our ability to provide efficacy and quality to our valued customers. Our experienced team bestows upon us a comprehensive knowledge of CNC machinery, ensuring that our customers receive the best possible final product.

Metal Fabrication

Metal fabrication and manipulation is an area of expertise that is essential to many of the projects we undertake. At Portsmouth Aviation, our specialist engineers have a multitude of experience in metal fabrication and their proficiency in welding is evident in the quality of their work.

Metal Finishing

Metal finishing at Portsmouth Aviation has the power to enhance the performance, durability, and protection of the components we produce, enabling our process technicians to create reliable and long lasting protective coatings that can withstand challenging environments and operational demands.

Paint & Finishing

Paint and finishing services at Portsmouth Aviation play a crucial role in ensuring the quality and durability of our engineering products. With meticulous attention to detail and the use of advanced coating technologies, these services ensure the longevity and optimal performance of critical components, reinforcing the company’s commitment to delivering high‑quality and reliable solutions to its customers.

Qualification, Inspection & Testing

Qualification, inspection, and testing are critical processes aimed at ensuring the reliability, performance, and compliance of engineering products or systems. These processes involve assessing and validating the design, manufacturing, and functionality of various components, materials, or entire systems. These processes help identify potential issues, weaknesses, or deficiencies early in the development or manufacturing stages, allowing for necessary improvements, adjustments, or corrective actions. Ultimately, qualification and testing contribute to delivering safe, reliable, and high‑quality engineering solutions that meet industry standards and customer needs.

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MetalFinishing Capabilities

Technical Information