Surface Finish

Black oxide or blackening is a conversion coating for ferrous materials and stainless steel. It is used to add mild corrosion resistance, for appearance and to minimize light reflection. To achieve maximal corrosion resistance the black oxide is impregnated with oil. One of its advantages over other coatings is its minimal buildup.

Cadmium electroplating offers advantages such as excellent corrosion resistance even at relatively low thickness and in salt atmospheres. Cadmium plating is used in military specs. However, it is being phased out due to its toxicity.

Nickel electroplating is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of nickel onto a metal object. The nickel layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, wear resistance, or used to build up worn or undersized parts for salvage purposes.

Oil is dry to touch and helps prevent short term rust only.

Passivation is the process of treating or coating a metal in order to reduce the chemical reactivity of its surface. In stainless steel, passivation means removing the free iron from the surface of the metal using an acid solution to prevent rust.

Zinc electroplating involves the deposition of a thin coating of zinc metal onto the surface of another metal object, known as a substrate. The zinc coating creates a physical barrier that prevents rust from reaching the underlying metal surface. Zinc is chosen because of its innate ability to fight corrosion.