Black Oxide FAQs:
1) What is Black Oxide?
Black Oxide is a blend of caustic, oxidizers, additives that is used
to black oxide ferrous metals. There are two types of metal blackening:
hot black oxide and room temperature blackening. Our products are Ultra-Blak
for hot black oxide and Insta-Blak for room temperature blackening.
Hot black oxide is a conventional hot (285 F°) process which produces
a true black oxide iron magnetite, Fe3O4, finish. It is a premium grade
salt mixture which will blacken a wider range of steel alloys than any
other process on the market.
Room temperature blackening is the preferred metal blackening process
for safe and convenient in-house blackening. It is important to note
this is not a true black oxide process; however, it may be referred
to as room temperature black oxide. It produces a super deep blackness
and corrosion resistance equal to hot oxide blackeners. It is an excellent
non-bleed out black finish for powdered metal and cast iron. Room temperature
blackening process is an autocatalytic reaction of a black selenium-copper
compound that deposits on ferrous parts through an immersion process.
2)
What Makes EPI’s Black Oxide and Metal Blackening Processes Better?
EPI’s Insta-Blak process does not produce a smutty rub off like
other room temperature products. Ultra-Blak is a premium grade black
oxide. They are easy-to-use with a wide window of operation.
3) What Are the Advantages of Black
Oxide and Metal Blackening?
Ultra-Blak - Hot Black Oxide
• Produces true black oxide finish Fe3O4 magnetite finish
• Abrasion resistance
• Corrosion protection
• Meets military spec Mil 13924C and AMS 2485
• Blackens faster than other hot black oxides
• Less sludge generation than other hot black oxides, meaning
lower gas bills
Insta-Blak - Room Temp/Cold Black Oxide
• Capital costs less $7,000- $15,000
for turnkey operations
• Energy savings
• No CO2 emissions
or green house gases
• Process time for blackening 1-5 minutes
• Powder metal does not bleed out white salts like hot black
oxide
• Cast Iron and Steel Castings do not turn red
•
No ventilation costs
• Provides Corrosion resistance
•
Dimensional stability thickness 5-10 millionths of an inch
•
Can be painted over
• Anti-galling properties
• Esthetic
appeal
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Part 1 of 2-Part Series on Hot Black Oxide Process
