If you want to use black oxide plating (also called black oxide finishing or black oxide coating) to improve the expected useful life of industrial tools and machines, you must know the advantages and limitations of the black oxide plating process.

If you want to pursue a career in the plating industry, you must have enough knowledge about the black oxide plating process and relevant parameters affecting the quality of the black oxide finish coating. If you are in the business of black oxide plating services, updating your knowledge about new technology and equipment, through black oxide plating education and training, can give you an edge over your competitors.

To educate yourself and your employees about the black oxide plating process, you can:

1. Check manufacturers’ websites for details on the black oxide plating process and relevant terminology.
2. Search for training programs on about the black oxide plating process.
3. Read magazines and journals that provide updates on plating techniques and equipment.
4. Join associations of black oxide plating companies.

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Understand the basics of the black oxide plating process

If you are not conversant with the black oxide plating (or black plating) processes, you can learn the basics of the black oxide plating process at different online resources. Some reputable black oxide providers give details about the technology and specifications related to the black oxide process.

I recommend: SWD Inc., a metal finishing company, provides basic information about the black oxide plating process. Electrochemical Products, a manufacturer of industrial plating chemicals, provides a library of audiovisual illustrations on the black oxide plating process.

Enroll for black oxide plating education and training programs and workshops on black oxide coatings

Find certification or training programs in the field of electroplating that contain black oxide coating (or plating) processes as a part of their syllabi. You can also search the workshops which give up-to-date information on black oxide coatings.

I recommend: National Association for Surface Finishing (NASF), a surface finish industry association, offers short duration courses in the field of surface finishing processes. International Surface Finishing Academy conducts workshops and conferences on various surface finishing processes including the black oxide coating process.

Interact with experts in the field of black oxide services

Veterans in black oxide plating businesses can help you to set up or refurbish your oxide plating plant. If you want to establish yourself as a black oxide service provider, seek an expert's advice on different issues such as the design and setup of a plant, compliance and government permissions and operational details of a black oxide plating plant. Some websites also provide a platform for discussion and exchange of ideas between professionals working in the finishing industry.

I recommend: In addition to periodicals, podcasts and webinars, Metal Finishing provides an ‘Ask the Experts’ feature. You can also join the discussions of different communities at Finishing Talk, an online forum for metal finishers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  While establishing or refurbishing a black oxide plating plant, opt for companies that specialize in installation and commission work for industrial plating plants.

Black oxide plating has become a valuable resource for helping tools and machine parts last longer and operate more efficiently. Black oxide finishing can help you and your employees by reducing glare on hand tools, helping with eye fatigue. Parts treated with black oxide also run more smoothly because of the after-finish.

As a small business owner, you may opt to use black oxide kits to treat your metal tools and parts yourself. You could also enlist the help of black oxide providers to do the work for you. No matter which method you choose, there are many other advantages to black oxide coatings to keep in mind:

1. A black oxide finish provides a decorative touch.

2. Depending on the post treatment applied, black oxide coating can give parts corrosion resistance equivalent to 400 hours of salt spray exposure.

3. There are no fumes when welding parts with black oxide coatings.

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Order black oxide kits if you are able to perform the service yourself

You can handle small jobs yourself by ordering the correct black oxide kit. Choose a company offering a variety of black oxide coatings, post treatment finishes and application forms with knowledgeable representatives to help you make the right decisions about your project.

I recommend: Have a Heatbath Corporation representative contact you to learn more about their black oxide conversion coatings. John Schneider and Associates, Inc. (JSA) offers black oxide in immersion or brush/swab forms.

Decide between hot or cold black oxide plating

Cold black solutions are typically more suitable for touch-up applications. Hot molten baths, operating at high temperatures, are difficult to control and they do not consistently produce a uniform color. Choose based on whether you will be doing it yourself and what type of finish you need.

I recommend: EPI — Electrochemical Products, Inc. offers both hot and cold black oxide processes. Barrel Plating Service also offers both hot and cold black oxide processes in their plant.

Select black oxide plating businesses to make your job easier

If you have a bigger job, or if you do not have the space necessary to do it yourself, working with a provider of black oxide services can help your small business get the job done.

I recommend: Cleveland Black Oxide is the largest commercial black oxide company in the United States. They specialize in the processing of steel, stainless steel, copper, brass, bronze, die cast zinc and powdered metal parts. Metlab-Potero is a commercial heat treater providing the industry with a variety of heat treating and surface treatment, including black oxide finishing.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The cold black oxide finish process does not meet military or automotive specifications. Be sure you choose the process to meet your industry standards.

Black oxide plating (or black oxide coating or blackening) can increase the useful life of your industrial tools and machinery, as it improves corrosion resistance of the base surface. The black oxide plating process also provides better dimensional stability and appearance to the component surface than other plating processes. Understanding black oxide plating key terms will help you make smarter choices. This guide covers some of the common terms that you will hear about from plating service providers, including surface preparation, conversion coatings and Mohs scale.

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Surface preparation

For efficient adhesion of coating to the component material, you will need to clean the component surface before applying any coating. There are several techniques of surface preparation, such as sand blasting, shot blasting and abrasive blasting.

I recommend: Mec Shot, a manufacturer of blasting machines, discusses different surface-preparation techniques.

Conversion coating

Conversion coating is an inorganic pre-treatment for a metal component that improves adhesion and corrosion resistance of the metal surface.

I recommend: Anoplate Corporation, a metal-finishing service provider, offers information about conversion-coating methods.

Black oxide plating

Black oxide plating is a conversion coating that is formed by a chemical reaction with iron in the metal to form an integral protective surface. You can apply black oxide coating to various metals and alloys, including steel, copper and brass.

I recommend: You can refer to the basics of the black plating process at SWD, a black oxide plating service provider.

Hot black oxide plating

Generally, plating service providers perform the black oxide process at high temperature and hence, the process is known as hot black oxide plating.

I recommend: To learn more about the hot black oxide plating process, visit Finishing, a resource for the finishing industry.

Cold black oxide plating

As the name indicates, cold black oxide plating (or room temperature black oxide plating) does not require heating of the metal components. This process is applicable for batch production and touch-up work for larger parts. However, this process does not always meet standard specifications.

I recommend: You can learn about the cold black oxide plating process at Cleveland Black Oxide, a metal-finishing company.

Mohs scale

Mostly, metal-finishing service providers specify the surface hardness of black oxide coating by using the Mohs scale. You will need to specify the surface hardness for your components as per the application requirements.

I recommend: You can read through the basics of the Mohs scale at wiseGEEK, an information resource.

MIL spec plating

Metal-finishing service providers specify their metal-plating capabilities in terms of different specifications. The U.S. Army Research Laboratory develops and publishes specifications known as MIL spec (or military specifications).

I recommend: Aerospace Defense Coatings of Georgia, a metal coating service provider for the aviation industry, explains the MIL specs of the black oxide plating process and its scope.

Black Oxide plating is used in several industries to coat metals. The process is used for a few specific types of applications including coating firearms, tools or other metals to make them more rust resistant. Plating metal with black oxide is sometimes used as a purely decorative measure. Furniture and other items are given a black oxide finish to leave a decorative appearance.

Each black oxide use has a different application process. The two main process are hot plating and cold plating. Both have specific uses with different results. When learning about the possible black oxide plating applications and uses, remember that:

1. The hot black oxide process is used to protect metals from corrosion.

2. Use black oxide coating for tight situations.

3. Create decorative pieces with black plating.

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Use hot black oxide to protect metals from corrosion

Most military and automotive standards require hot black oxide plating in the process to protect metals that come in contact with constant heat, dirt, abrasion and other harsh conditions. The black oxide, when applied in a high temperature process, creates a barrier that protects the equipment.

I recommend: SWD Inc. is a metal finishing facility that specializes in black oxide coatings along with other options. They provide a thorough explanation of the hot oxide process and what it accomplishes. AeroSpace Defense Coatings of Georgia explains the capabilities of black oxide.

Look to black oxide coatings for metals in tight areas

Black oxide plating is often used on fasteners, castings and other tooling that rubs or must fit snuggly without wear and tear. It is also used as a means of coating nuts and bolts or other fasteners that must remain true to their size. The coating will not change the shape and size of the metal at all.

I recommend: Barrel Plating Services explains how black oxide coatings work with different types of metals and what the benefits of the application are. Seminole Metal Finishing also explains the entire black oxide process, its applications and uses.

Utilize black oxide finishing for decorative purposes

A cold or hot process black oxide can be used for decorative uses. The cold process is probably the most economical of the two process but it won't prevent corrosion like the hot process. The cold process black oxide plating is used strictly for appearances on things like tool handles or screws the consumer wants to see with a shiny black finish.

I recommend: United Plating explains how the application is used to give a uniform black coating to tools and other metals. Caswell Electroplating offers a small kit to use for black oxide cold coating tools and other metals. The website also includes an explanation of the process, applications and uses.