How many surface treatment processes are you familiar with or have you encountered? Don't worry if you haven't, we'll share 21 today – a truly engaging experience! Animated GIFs will help you understand, and you'll learn something new after watching.
Micro-arc Oxidation: Micro-arc oxidation, also known as micro-plasma oxidation, uses a combination of electrolyte and appropriate electrical parameters to grow a ceramic film primarily composed of a base metal oxide on the surface of aluminum, magnesium, titanium, their alloys under instantaneous high temperature and pressure generated by arc discharge.

 

Metal Brushing: Metal brushing is a surface treatment method that uses grinding to create lines on workpiece surface, achieving a decorative effect.

 

Cloisonné Enameling: Cloisonné enamelling involves filling the entire body with colored enamel, then firing it in a blast furnace at approximately 800℃. Enamel, initially a granular solid, melts into a liquid. After cooling, it solidifies into a vibrant enamel on body. Since enamel is lower than copper wire at this point, another layer of enamel is applied, followed by firing. This process is typically repeated four or five times until design is level with cloisonné wire.

 

Shot Peening: Shot peening is a cold working process that uses shot to bombard surface of a workpiece and implant residual compressive stress, thereby improving workpiece's fatigue strength.

 

Sandblasting: Sandblasting is a process that uses impact of a high-speed abrasive stream to clean and roughen surface of a substrate. Powered by compressed air, it forms a high-speed jet that propels abrasive materials (copper ore sand, quartz sand, corundum, iron sand, Hainan sand) at high speed onto the surface of workpiece, altering its appearance or shape.

 

Etching: Etching is a technique that removes material using chemical reactions or physical impact. Often referred to as photochemical etching, it involves removing protective film from area to be etched after exposure and development. During etching, material comes into contact with a chemical solution, dissolving and corroding it to create raised or hollowed-out effects.

 

IMD: IMD, or In-Mold Decoration, also known as paint-free technology, is an internationally popular surface decoration technology. It involves a hardened transparent film on the surface, a printed pattern layer in the middle, and an injection-molded layer on the back. Ink in between makes product more resistant to abrasion, prevents surface scratches, and maintains vibrant colors for a long time.

 

OMD: OMD (Out-of-Mold Decoration) is a decorative technology that integrates visual, tactile, and functional elements. It's an extension of IMD, combining printing, texture structure, and metallization properties into a 3D surface decoration technology.

 

Laser Engraving: Laser engraving, also known as laser marking or laser engraving, is a surface treatment process using optical principles. It uses a laser beam to engrave permanent marks on the surface of a material or inside a transparent material.

 

Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM): Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) is a special processing method that uses electro-erosion effect generated by pulsed discharge between two electrodes immersed in a working fluid to remove conductive materials. It is also called electrical discharge machining or electro-erosion machining, abbreviated as EDM. Tool electrodes are often made of electro-erosion resistant materials with good conductivity, high melting points, and easy processing, such as copper, graphite, copper-tungsten alloys, and molybdenum. During processing, there is wear on tool electrodes, but it is less than amount of metal removed from workpiece, and may even be close to zero wear.

 

Laser Texturing: Laser texturing uses a high-energy-density laser to react with surface of steel to form snake-skin, etched, pear-shaped, or other textured patterns.

 

Pad Printing: Pad printing is a special printing method that uses a steel (or copper, thermoplastic) gravure plate and a curved pad printing head made of silicone rubber. Ink from gravure plate is transferred to surface of pad printing head, and then pressed onto desired surface to print text, images, etc.

 

Screen Printing: Screen printing involves stretching silk, synthetic fiber, or metal mesh onto a frame and creating screen printing plate using manual etching or photochemical methods. Modern screen printing technology uses photosensitive materials to create screen printing plate through photographic methods (making mesh openings in image areas open while blocking openings in non-image areas). During printing, a squeegee forces ink through mesh openings in image areas onto substrate, creating an image identical to original.

 

Direct Thermal Printing: Direct thermal printing refers to a method where a heat-sensitive agent is coated onto paper to create thermal recording paper. Under heat, thermal recording paper causes a physical or chemical change in substances (developer), resulting in an image.

 

Heat Transfer Printing: Principle of heat transfer printing is to print a digital image onto special transfer paper using a printer with special transfer ink. Then, a special transfer machine uses high temperature and pressure to precisely transfer image onto surface of product, completing printing process.

 

Offset Printing: In offset printing, because image and non-image areas are on same plane, during printing, to distinguish between image and non-image areas of printing plate, principle of oil-water separation is used. First, water supply device of printing plate component supplies water to non-image areas of printing plate, thus protecting non-image areas from ink wetting. Then, inking device of printing unit supplies ink to printing plate. Because non-image areas of printing plate are protected by water, ink can only be supplied to image areas. Finally, ink on printing plate is transferred to printing emulsion, then pressure between rubber roller and impression cylinder is used to transfer ink from emulsion to substrate, completing one printing cycle. Therefore, offset printing is an indirect printing method.

 

Curved Surface Printing: Curved surface printing involves first placing ink into an intaglio plate engraved with text or patterns, then transferring text or patterns onto curved surface, and finally using curved surface to transfer text or patterns to surface of finished product. Ink is then cured through heat treatment or ultraviolet light irradiation.

 

Hot Stamping: Hot stamping, commonly known as "gold foil stamping," refers to applying colored foil or other materials to inside cover, inside back cover, and spine of a hardcover book, or using heat pressing to emboss various raised or recessed titles or patterns.

 

Water Transfer Printing: Water transfer printing is a printing method that uses water pressure to hydrolyze polymer in transfer paper or plastic film with colored patterns. Process includes making water transfer printing paper, soaking paper, transferring pattern, drying, and finishing product.

 

Flat Screen Printing: In flat screen printing, printing mold is a polyester or nylon screen (pattern) with a perforated pattern, fixed on a square frame. Patterned areas of patterned screen allow ink to pass through, while unpatterned areas have mesh sealed with a polymer film layer. During printing, patterned screen is pressed tightly against fabric, ink is applied to =screen, a squeegee is used to repeatedly scrape and press, allowing ink to pass through pattern and reach fabric surface.

 

Calendering: Calendering, also known as pressing, is the final step in heavy leather finishing. It utilizes the plasticity of fibers under mixed heating conditions to flatten fabric surface or create parallel, fine diagonal lines to enhance fabric's luster. After material is fed in, it is heated and melted, then formed into a sheet or film, cooled, and rolled up. The most commonly used calendering material is polyvinyl chloride (PVC).