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Black Oxide Basics

Black oxide is a unique conversion coating that provides a rich black finish on various metals, achieved through a chemical reaction in an alkaline aqueous salt solution at approximately 285°F. The process involves cleaning, rinsing, black oxide application, rinsing again, and applying a supplementary coating for enhanced properties, with the hot process offering better results than the cold process. SWD Inc. specializes in black oxide services and emphasizes the importance of after-finishes for corrosion protection and appearance.

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Taner Demirel
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14 views2 pages

Black Oxide Basics

Black oxide is a unique conversion coating that provides a rich black finish on various metals, achieved through a chemical reaction in an alkaline aqueous salt solution at approximately 285°F. The process involves cleaning, rinsing, black oxide application, rinsing again, and applying a supplementary coating for enhanced properties, with the hot process offering better results than the cold process. SWD Inc. specializes in black oxide services and emphasizes the importance of after-finishes for corrosion protection and appearance.

Uploaded by

Taner Demirel
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Black Oxide Basics

Rick Delawder & Mike Delawder


SWD Inc.
910 S. Stiles Drive
Addison, IL 60101-4913 USA
www.swdinc.com

Black oxide is unlike any other finish. No other process


produces the same finish and combination of properties. It can
be used on steel, stainless steel, brass and copper to produce
a rich, black finish.

What is It?
Black oxide is a conversion coating formed by a chemical torque/tension wax to provide added lubricity and reduced
reaction produced when parts are immersed in the alkaline drive torque.
aqueous salt solution operated at approximately 285°F. The In order to determine the appropriate after-finish, you must
reaction between the iron of the ferrous alloy and the hot ox- first evaluate which after-finish to use.
ide bath produces a magnetite (Fe3O4) on the actual surface
of the part. It is possible to oxidize nonferrous metals under The following factors should be considered:
suitable conditions to form black oxides. It is also possible to • Length of protection required.
apply black oxide at room temperature, however it is not pos- • Desired finished appearance (gloss/matte).
sible to achieve all the benefits available from the “hot” oxide • Storage conditions (humidity, vapor, temperature).
process. The cold black oxide process routinely shows color • Final application.
variation from part to part and the black material frequently
rubs off in your hands. It is important to note that the cold Black Oxide advantages include the following:
process does not meet military or automotive specifications. • No dimensional changes: The as-formed dimensions do
Therefore, the remainder of this article addresses the “hot” not change (as they do when plated or painted). Black
black oxide process. oxide is a coloring of the base metal, no metal is removed
or deposited.
How is the Process Performed? • Dark black color: (No patina or rainbow effect) The
The five basic steps for the black oxide conversion coating surface of the part may be shiny or matte depending on
are clean, rinse, black oxide, rinse and supplementary coating the surface of the part and the after finish applied. For
(after-finish). If rust or scale is present on the part, additional example, a polished surface will retain its luster after
steps such as acid pickling or alkaline de-scaling may have black oxidizing.
to be added before the oxidation process. Neutralizing and/or • The finish will not chip, peel, flake, or rub off: Black ox-
further rinsing may be necessary on assemblies and parts with ide can only be removed by mechanically or chemically
blind holes to eliminate “flowering” or bleed-out. Black oxide removing the finish itself. Therefore, it’s commonly used
cannot be produced over plated parts (zinc, nickel, chromium, for internal parts that may be exposed to fluids such as
cadmium, phosphate). This plating must be stripped prior to hydraulics, propulsion, etc.
the black oxide process. • Reduces light glare (reflection): Black oxide makes an
The supplementary coating (after-finish) will dictate the excellent finished surface for moving parts such as hand
final appearance and function of the part. When a print or tools and machine parts. The reduction in reflectivity
drawing specifies “Black Oxide” without any specific after- reduces eye fatigue and is less distracting.
finish, it is interpreted as Black Oxide and Oil. It is recom- • Can be coated for additional protection: Black oxide
mended that an after-finish is always applied, as black oxide
without an after-finish has very poor corrosion protection.
However, with an oil, wax or lacquer, it is possible to achieve
excellent indoor corrosion protection (100+ hours in a humid-
ity cabinet). Black Oxides on steel are not suitable for severe
outdoor applications or corrosive environments. Black Oxides
on stainless steel and/or brass alloys will yield excellent cor-
rosion protection, primarily due to their inherent properties.
The after-finish is usually determined by the part configu-
ration and the end-use. If a “dry-to-touch” finish is needed,
it is important to specify either oil spin dry to touch, wax or
lacquer. The oil after-finish will generally be a glossy finish,
whereas the wax will be more matte. It is possible to use a

78 Fastener Technology International/October 2022


EMPHASIS: Coating & Plating
finishes with supplementary treatments (after-finishes) satisfactory appearance. The black oxide coating shall
improve the appearance, abrasion resistance, and cor- cover the basis metal completely and shall be a uniform
rosion resistance of the part to which they are applied. shade of black. The part shall show no evidence of pitting,
The normal after-finishes are Oil, Wax, and Lacquer. The intergranular attack, or etching. Please note: Black oxide
part configuration and the end-use will help to determine does not exhibit a smoothing effect like plating or paint-
which after-finish to specify. ing. Pre-existing scratches, tool marks, pits, scribe lines,
• Improved lubrication characteristics: Black oxidized parts and other surface defects will be visible after finishing
have improved lubricity and anti-galling characteristics (although they will be black).
due to the after-finish (oil or wax) resulting in smoother • Smut Test - Smut is a black or dark-colored, powdery
running, mating parts. residue, which comes off on the hand when rubbed. such
• Color change resistant to temperature: Black oxide fin- tests shall be performed prior to the application of the
ishes can be exposed to a temperature of 900°F. (482°C) after-finish.
before the color begins to change. • Relative Humidity Test - Testing per ASTM D 2247,
• No hydrogen embrittlement: The black oxide process Standard Practice for Testing Water Resistance of Coat-
does not require an acid activation nor is it an electro- ings in 100% Relative Humidity.
process; therefore, hydrogen embrittlement is not a
factor. If the parts are scaled or rusty and an acid pickle
is required, any hydrogen that may have evolved will
quickly dissipate in the black oxide tank (running temp.
285°F). Any remaining hydrogen will naturally dissipate
within 48 hours after processing.
• No white corrosion: The finished part does not have a
white-corrosion state as some electro-plated parts exhibit
over time. This makes black oxide an excellent finish for
parts used internally on electronic components. These
small white corrosive flecks may be conductive and cause
an electrical short or interference.
• Weldable: Welding black oxided parts does not produce
noxious fumes nor hamper the ease with which a part
can be welded as may be encountered by welding plated
or painted parts.
SWD Inc. is the largest Black Oxide shop in the continental
United States. We have specialized in Black Oxide for over
40 years. Other names for Black Oxide are Black Penetrate,
Black Magic, Black N and Gun Bluing. To learn more, visit
the SWD Inc. website. www.swdinc.com FTI

Company Profile:
SWD Inc. is dedicated to being the premier solutions
provider for your post-production needs. The com-
pany provides its customers with Black Oxide on
Steel & Stainless Steel, Passivation, Zinc & Mang.
Phosphate, Dip Spin Coatings, Fastener Sorting
and Packaging. The SWD team will provide defect-
free products and services that satisfy the require-
ments of its customers on
Common specifications include the following:
time and every time.
• MIL-DTL-13924
• GM 4347M (General Motors) Each SWD team member
• AMS 2485 actively pursues constant
• TSH7603G (Toyota) improvement in order to
• PS.50033 (FCA) do their job right the first
time.
Test procedures include the following: www.swdinc.com
• Visual Test - The black oxide coating shall exhibit a

October 2022/Fastener Technology International 79

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