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Black Oxide Coating Service (Blackening / Chemical Burnishing)

Omnifab  > Black Oxide Coating Service

Enhance the Durability and Aesthetics of Your Mechanical Components

At Omnifab, we are proud to offer businesses in Quebec, Ontario, the Maritimes, and the Northeastern United States, a professional and compliant black oxide coating service.

Thanks to our modern equipment and expertise in chemical surface treatments, we can guarantee the best results in hot blackening, as well as the fastest turnaround times.

MIL-DTL-13924D CLASS 1 compliant service

24-hour delivery time available

Treatment with top-quality products

The Omnifab Chemical Blackening: A Surface Treatment with Many Positive Effects

Sometimes referred to as “chemical burnishing,” “black oxide treatment,” or simply “black oxide,” chemical blackening is a process that leads to the formation of a black iron oxide layer (from 0.2 to 3 microns thick (10^-3 mm)) on the surface of the metal parts treated with it. It should not be confused with mechanical burnishing, which refers to a polishing technique.

The use of chemical blackening to treat mechanical components is motivated by its main effects:

  • It gives parts a beautiful appearance, coating them in a deep black that can have either a glossy or matte finish;
  • It provides good protection against corrosion, especially when the black oxide coating is subsequently impregnated with oil or wax;
  • It can contribute to improved lubrication of the part.

So, don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re looking to leverage blackening for parts manufactured by us, or to upgrade existing components for better appearance and durability.

Chemical blackening delivers excellent results on ferrous materials. Therefore, we can treat with black oxide most parts made of:

  • Standard steel
  • Low alloy steels

Black oxide is widely used across the industry. Here are some examples of components for which a black oxide coating is often beneficial:

  • Machined parts or weldment parts;
  • Hydraulic components; –
  • Hand tools;
  • Gears;
  • Springs;
  • Screws, bolts, nuts, etc.

To guarantee your satisfaction, we use only top-quality products and conduct a thorough examination of the parts we treat with black oxide.

We can perform oxalic acid tests directly in our factory. We can also have “Salt Spray” tests conducted by an external resource.

Additionally, our black oxide treatment complies with the MIL-DTL-13924D CLASS 1 standard.

Looking for a black oxide supplier?
Contact us now!

Some Advantages of Chemical Blackening

Chemical blackening offer several advantages when compared to other metal surface treatments available:

  • It does not affect the hardness level of the parts;
  • It does not alter the dimensions of the treated parts since its buildup is minimal;
  • Parts treated with black oxide can be welded without generating toxic fumes;

The Steps of Hot Blackening

Generally, we follow these steps to perform chemical blackening of a part:

  1. Cleaning using alkaline degreasing solutions;
  2. Rinsing with clear water;
  3. A second rinse with clear water;
  4. Blackening by immersion in the blackening solution;
  5. A third rinse with clear water;
  6. Sealing by immersion in a finishing bath;
  7. Air drying;
  8. Quality control (oxalic acid test available).

Some Notable Projects Highlighting Our Expertise in Black Oxide Coating

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Contact Our Black Oxide Department

Whether you’re looking to assign us a blackening project or simply want to learn more about this service, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

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