| |
 |
|
|
|
Technical
Information
|
|
(Click here
to go back to Technical Info)
Affinity for plastics
Elsewhere, anodising as a preparation for various paint
systems is well-established. But the ability of anodised
aluminium to bond strongly to plastic is now allowing
engineers to produce complex, light-weight components
with the metal seamlessley integrated into the design.
Everything
from complicated plastic roof mouldings with aluminium
shouldering the burden of wear and rigidity, to relatively
simple plastic air-intakes that rely on the metal for
cosmetic high definition appearance, make use of aluminium.
The intimate relationship possible between the two materials
has also been responsible for much of the growth in
replacing brass and steel components with plastic mouldings
containing anodised aluminium thread forms, bearing
surfaces etc: fuel pumps for example. Advances in resin
technology have helped make the most of the metal in
this respect.
Such combined mouldings are becoming increasingly common-place
in the automotive industry where aluminium can be anodised
to provide corrosion resistance, colour matching and
bondability in the same operation. But many other areas
of manufacturing are still underusing these aluminium/anodising
advantages. |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
