metal surface treatment chemicals

Acid Zinc Plating Brightener

Acid zinc plating brightener is formulated for use in chloride or sulfate zinc electrolyte systems, producing highly leveled, mirror-bright zinc deposits with excellent throwing power on complex geometries. The brightener system contains carrier, primary, and secondary brighteners to control grain refinement, leveling, and brightness simultaneously. Acid zinc plating is preferred over alkaline zinc for its higher speed, better brightness on steel and cast iron substrates, and simpler waste treatment.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Alkaline Silicate Metal Degreaser

CAS: 1344-09-8

Alkaline silicate metal degreaser is a heavy-duty cleaner formulated with sodium silicate as the primary builder, supplemented with surfactants and chelating agents to remove oils, greases, shop soils, and drawing compounds from steel, iron, and aluminum substrates. The silicate provides saponification of vegetable and animal oils, surface buffering, and corrosion inhibition for ferrous metals. It is widely used as the first-stage cleaner in phosphating and conversion coating lines.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Alkaline Soak Cleaning Compound

Alkaline soak cleaning compound is a low-foam, highly effective immersion cleaner formulated with a balanced blend of alkaline builders, sequestrants, and non-ionic surfactants for removing drawing oils, stamping lubricants, buffing compounds, and light shop soils from ferrous and non-ferrous metal parts. The low-foam formulation is ideal for agitated immersion tanks and tumbling barrel operations. It provides consistent cleaning performance over a wide range of soil loads and operating temperatures.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Aluminum Anodizing Brightener Additive

Aluminum anodizing brightener additive is incorporated into the sulfuric acid anodizing electrolyte to enhance the brightness and gloss of the anodic oxide layer, improving cosmetic appearance for architectural and consumer electronics applications. The additive controls the dissolution rate and pore formation at the oxide/electrolyte interface to produce a smoother, more reflective anodic layer. It is particularly effective on 1xxx and 6xxx series aluminum alloys for architectural extrusion and automotive trim anodizing.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Aluminum Chemical Brightening Agent

Aluminum chemical brightening agent is a phosphoric-nitric acid blend that polishes and brightens aluminum surfaces through controlled chemical dissolution, producing a smooth, reflective finish prior to anodizing. The chemical polishing (brightening) process removes surface roughness, scratches, and extrusion marks, resulting in a specular aluminum surface with reflectivity exceeding 80%. It is widely used in the production of reflective architectural trim, automotive bright trim, and consumer electronics aluminum housings.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Benzotriazole Metal Deactivator (BTA)

CAS: 95-14-7

Benzotriazole (BTA) is the most widely used metal deactivator and corrosion inhibitor for copper and copper alloy surfaces, forming a highly stable, insoluble polymeric Cu-BTA chelate film that prevents oxidation, tarnishing, and corrosive attack. BTA is effective at very low concentrations (10-100 ppm) and is used in coolants, lubricants, metal working fluids, surface treatment baths, and as a direct surface treatment agent. It also provides corrosion inhibition for silver, zinc, and other metals in multimetal systems.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Black Chromate Passivation Agent

Black chromate passivation agent produces a uniform, decorative black chromate conversion coating on electroplated zinc substrates, combining aesthetic appeal with good corrosion protection. The black film is achieved through the incorporation of silver or cobalt ions into the classic hexavalent chromate formulation. It is widely used for decorative hardware, automotive trim, and consumer electronics components requiring a black metallic appearance.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Cathodic Electrolytic Cleaner

Cathodic electrolytic cleaner uses electrical current to generate hydrogen bubbles at the cathodic metal surface, providing intense mechanical scrubbing action that removes tightly adhered oils, smuts, and passive films that are resistant to chemical cleaning alone. The alkaline electrolyte combined with cathodic hydrogen evolution ensures superior cleaning of complex geometry parts prior to electroplating. Cathodic cleaning is preferred over anodic cleaning for high-strength steels to avoid hydrogen embrittlement risk.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Cerium Nitrate Rare Earth Passivation

CAS: 10108-73-3

Cerium nitrate rare earth passivation agent utilizes cerium(III) ions to form a cerium oxide/hydroxide barrier layer on aluminum alloy, magnesium alloy, and zinc substrates, providing excellent corrosion inhibition through a cathodic blocking mechanism. This rare earth-based treatment is completely free of chromium, heavy metals, and hazardous substances, making it ideal for aerospace and defense applications transitioning from chromate. The cerium passivation layer also exhibits self-healing properties due to the release of Ce3+ ions at active corrosion sites.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Chromic Acid Passivation Agent

CAS: 7738-94-5

Chromic acid passivation agent based on hexavalent chromium produces a highly protective, self-healing chromate conversion coating on zinc, aluminum, cadmium, and magnesium substrates. The chromate film provides outstanding corrosion resistance, excellent adhesion for subsequent coatings, and a characteristic yellow iridescent appearance. Due to regulatory restrictions (RoHS, REACH), its use is increasingly limited to aerospace and defense applications requiring maximum corrosion performance.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Citric Acid Stainless Steel Passivation

CAS: 77-92-9

Citric acid passivation agent provides a safe, environmentally friendly alternative to nitric acid for passivating stainless steel components, removing free iron contamination and establishing a dense chromium oxide passive layer. The citric acid chelates iron ions from the surface without attacking the base alloy, resulting in a pristine, corrosion-resistant passive film compliant with ASTM A967 and AMS 2700 standards. It is preferred in food processing, pharmaceutical, and semiconductor industries where nitric acid fumes and waste streams are undesirable.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Cold Room Temperature Steel Blackening Agent

Cold room temperature steel blackening agent produces a black conversion coating on steel at ambient temperature (15-35°C) without the high-temperature caustic bath required for hot black oxide, using a selenium dioxide or copper selenide-based chemistry. The cold black finish is ideal for field application, large structures, and temperature-sensitive assemblies where hot processing is impractical. The resulting coating provides a decorative black appearance and, when sealed with oil or lacquer, offers acceptable corrosion protection for indoor applications.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Copper Sulfate Acid Copper Plating Additive

CAS: 7758-98-7

Copper sulfate acid copper plating additive is used in high-speed acid copper sulfate baths to produce bright, highly leveled copper deposits with exceptional throwing power for PCB via-filling and decorative copper plating applications. The additive system contains brightener, carrier, and leveler components that work synergistically to produce mirror-bright copper with uniform thickness distribution across complex geometries. Acid copper plating is the standard for PCB through-hole and via metallization, decorative undercoating, and engineering copper deposits.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Eco Cadmium-Free Zinc Alloy Plating

Eco cadmium-free zinc alloy plating system provides high-performance corrosion protection equivalent to cadmium plating without the environmental and health hazards associated with cadmium. Based on zinc-iron, zinc-cobalt, or zinc-tin alloy chemistry, these systems deliver excellent corrosion resistance, lubricity, and paint adhesion for aerospace, defense, and military fastener applications requiring cadmium replacement. The coatings meet MIL-PRF-27675 and MIL-DTL-45204 cadmium replacement specifications.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Electroless Copper PCB Formaldehyde Reducer

CAS: 50-00-0

Formaldehyde-based electroless copper reducer is the classical reducing agent for electroless copper deposition on printed circuit boards, providing reliable, adherent copper metallization of through-holes and blind vias in PCB fabrication. Formaldehyde reduces cupric ions to metallic copper on catalyzed (palladium-activated) surfaces through an autocatalytic reaction at alkaline pH. The process delivers conformal, void-free copper deposits essential for reliable PCB electrical interconnection before electrolytic copper thickening.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Electroless Nickel Bath Stabilizer

Electroless nickel bath stabilizer is a critical additive that prevents spontaneous decomposition of the hypophosphite-based electroless nickel bath by suppressing nickel particle nucleation in solution, extending bath life and reducing costly bath dumps. The stabilizer acts through selective adsorption on active sites in solution, controlling the autocatalytic deposition process without significantly affecting deposition rate or deposit properties. Proper stabilizer control is essential for achieving phosphorus content uniformity, deposit brightness, and consistent hardness in electroless nickel coatings.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Hard Anodizing Glycolic Acid Additive

Hard anodizing glycolic acid additive is incorporated into low-temperature sulfuric acid hard anodizing electrolytes to improve coating uniformity, reduce burning tendency, and achieve consistent hard anodize thickness of 25-100 μm on complex geometry aluminum parts. The organic acid additive chelates aluminum ions, reduces oxide re-dissolution, and improves current distribution at high current density operation typical of hard anodizing. It is essential for high-quality hard anodize on 2xxx and 7xxx series aluminum alloys used in aerospace and defense components.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Hard Chrome Plating Additive

Hard chrome plating additive is formulated to optimize the chromic acid bath for deposition of dense, low-porosity, crack-free hard chrome coatings with maximum hardness and wear resistance. The additive controls nucleation, crystal growth, and internal stress in the chrome deposit to minimize micro-cracking and achieve coating hardness of 800-1100 HV. It is used in industrial hard chrome applications for hydraulic cylinders, piston rods, molds, printing rolls, and precision engineering components.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Hexamine Acid Pickling Inhibitor

CAS: 100-97-0

Hexamine (hexamethylenetetramine) acid pickling inhibitor is widely used in hydrochloric and sulfuric acid pickling baths to protect the base metal from over-etching while allowing efficient removal of rust, mill scale, and oxides. Hexamine adsorbs onto the iron surface from the acid solution, forming a protective barrier that significantly slows acid dissolution of the base metal without impeding scale removal. It is the most economical and widely used pickling inhibitor for steel wire, strip, and structural steel acid pickling.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Hot Oxide Steel Blackening Agent

Hot oxide steel blackening agent is a highly alkaline mixture of sodium hydroxide and sodium nitrite/nitrate used at 130-145°C to form a controlled black magnetite (Fe3O4) oxide layer on steel surfaces, providing a decorative black finish with mild corrosion protection. The black oxide coating is the standard surface finish for tools, firearms, industrial machine parts, and decorative metalwork requiring a matte black appearance. The thin oxide layer maintains part dimensions and is often sealed with oil for enhanced corrosion resistance.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Hydrochloric Acid Rust Removal Cleaner

CAS: 7647-01-0

Hydrochloric acid rust removal cleaner is highly effective for rapid dissolution of rust, iron oxide scale, and calcium carbonate deposits from steel, cast iron, and galvanized surfaces. Formulated with corrosion inhibitors to protect base metal while aggressively removing scale, industrial HCl cleaning solutions are used in pickling operations, boiler maintenance, heat exchanger cleaning, and construction material preparation. Proper inhibitor addition prevents over-etching and hydrogen embrittlement of high-strength steel.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Iron Phosphate Coating Solution

CAS: 10045-86-0

Iron phosphate coating solution provides a lightweight amorphous iron phosphate conversion layer on steel, aluminum, and galvanized substrates in a single-stage or multi-stage process. It simultaneously cleans and coats metal surfaces, making it ideal for high-volume, cost-sensitive production lines. The thin amorphous layer significantly improves paint adhesion and provides moderate corrosion protection.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Lanolin-Based Penetrating Rust Inhibitor

Lanolin-based penetrating rust inhibitor is a waxy, water-displacing compound that penetrates into rust, crevices, and overlapping joints to provide long-term corrosion protection on steel and iron surfaces. The lanolin forms a tenacious, self-healing film that is highly resistant to salt spray, humidity, and mild chemicals. It is widely used as a temporary or long-term rust preventive for stored parts, agricultural equipment, marine hardware, and structural steel exposed to harsh environments.

metal surface treatment chemicals

Magnesium Alloy Conversion Coating

Magnesium alloy conversion coating agent produces a protective conversion layer on magnesium and magnesium alloy substrates, addressing the inherently poor corrosion resistance of magnesium through chemical surface modification. The chromate-free formulation based on permanganate, phosphate, or rare earth chemistry provides a corrosion-resistant base layer that improves paint adhesion and reduces galvanic corrosion when magnesium is coupled with dissimilar metals. It is essential for automotive, aerospace, and electronics magnesium die casting applications.