Anybody ever use General Magnaplate?

[neutronics]

Today at work a sales rep from General Magnaplate came by to show us their products… high-hardness surface coatings. (Official site here: http://www.magnaplate.com/) I believe what they sell is a PVD process.

I wasn’t in on the sales pitch but the salesman left behind some samples; 3” steel and aluminum disks with their coatings. It looks like a semigloss or eggshell paint.

Our head ME said he couldn’t scratch it with a paperclip. I used the awl from my Swiss Army knife and gave it a good rogering but, and I’ll be, it didn’t even have a mark to show for it. (The tip of my Swiss awl, however, does have a mark to show for it.)

On this passing experience I’m very impressed with the product. Looking for other opinions or alternatives. Our application will be to provide a corrosion-resistant coating to an aluminum heatsink.

[Cmailco]

Diamond-like Carbon (DLC) seems to be the most recent fad, and from what little bit I've read, I'm not totally sold on it. I'm guessing that's what they've left as samples.

Standard fare for a heatsink is to apply a dielectric coating to the mounting base (area of thermal conduction) and anodize for corrosion resistance. Then again, lots of companies simply mount with dielectric grease.

Another option for corrosion resistance might be Turcoat Accelagold, which carries a MIL spec rating as well. Many coating and anodizing outfits tend to carry this.

Good luck.

[chuck5121]

I have used General Magnaplate for about 8 to 10 years. I have alumanum coated to prevent rubber from sticking to it. Its similar to a teflon type coating. I use the Plant in Arlignton Texas. I have had good luck with them.