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A metals question - RF Cafe Forums
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FL Techie |
Post subject: A metals question
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 11:27 am
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Captain |
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Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:51 pm Posts: 19 |
This is a little off-topic, but what the hey. I’m considering using 6160T-6 aluminum
for machined components for a rugged mobile application housing. My concern is long-term
wear. I understand heat-treating is an option. I am not too familiar with non-ferrous
heat-treating. What wear properties can I expect to achieve through heat-treating?
What about preferred finish for prolonged outdoor exposure (maybe 3 months at a time
for data collection)? Epoxy paint, irriditing, plating? Thanks guys.
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joe |
Post subject: aluminum housing
Posted: Mon Dec 12, 2005 4:34 pm
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I assume you mean 6061-T6 which is a designation for a heat treated aluminum. The tensile
strength is increased after heat treatment. I don't have any information on wear. Is
there significant wear expected in your application?
All of the ideas you proposed
are accepable for most environments. You can plate electoless nickel over zinc if you
need a conductive finish. Iridite is also an acceptable finish with a little less conductivity
that plating. Epoxy paint will withstand harsher environments. I would use the epoxy
paint if the item will be exposed to salt water either on a ship or near the ocean. Plating
and iridite tend to show a lot of pitting in a short time under these conditions. Both
are fine for exposure to moisture and normal outdoor conditions.
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FL Techie |
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 12:06 am
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Captain |
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Joined: Tue Jan 06, 2004 1:51 pm Posts: 19 |
Thanks Joe.
Yeah, I mainly am looking to see if anyone knows whether the heat
treating offers any real advantage for wear like human and animal handling. The application
is a traffic collector that detects the presence of an object in the nearby area, and
will be securely attached to a tree, bench, fence post, etc. I like aluminum because
it's cheap to make, but do want it to be pretty much inpenetrable without special tools,
and not easily damaged by being hit with a bicycle, or chewed on by an animal (or stupid
human). I'm thinking epoxy paint in a light brown color woul dbe good for stealth and
still hold up to weather.
Thanks again.
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Posted 11/12/2012
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