Surface Treatment Spec Table

Surface treatments are post-processing operations that improve corrosion resistance, wear resistance, appearance, and electrical properties of metal parts. Zinc plating and chromate are the general-purpose protection for steel parts; anodizing is specific to aluminum, providing hardness and color simultaneously. Electroless nickel deposits uniformly on complex geometries; PVD and DLC are hard, low-friction coatings used on tools, dies, and precision components. This reference lists thickness, hardness, corrosion resistance (salt-spray test hours), color, and notes for each process to help designers choose the right surface treatment at the design stage.