

What’s the Difference Between Corrosion and Rusting?
In the world of metal finishing, products are often described as anti corrosion coatings, anti rust coatings, or both. Using this pair of descriptions for one product may seem redundant, as the terms corrosion and rust are often assumed to be direct synonyms, and used interchangeably as a result. However, there are a few differences between corrosion and rusting.
Defining the Terms
Technically speaking, corrosion is the process in which oxidation caused by chemical or electrochemical reactions causes a material to deteriorate, while rusting is the oxidation of iron that has been exposed to air and moisture. Rust is a type of corrosion, but not all corrosion is rust.
What Does it Look Like?
Rust has a very distinctive orange-brown color, and because rust is a type of corrosion, some corrosion does, too. But, not all corrosion is orange-brown. Some types of corrosion are other colors, like green or blue.
What Does it Affect?
One of the key differences between corrosion and rusting is the material affected. Corrosion can occur on a variety of surfaces, including metals, ceramics, polymers, and even wood. Rusting, however, occurs only on iron and iron alloys.
So, using the term “anti corrosion coating” indicates that a product can be used for applications involving a wide variety of materials, while using the term “anti rust coating” explicitly indicates that a product will work well for applications that involve iron or iron alloys.
Though most coatings that prevent rust will likely prevent other types of corrosion as well, it may prove useful to be aware of this distinction.
What is the Cause?
Another notable difference between corrosion and rust is cause. Corrosion can occur on particular surfaces when they are exposed to air or specific chemicals. Rusting occurs when an iron or iron alloy is exposed to both air and moisture.
In Conclusion
Overall, the differences between rust and corrosion are minimal, but they do exist. It is probably safe to assume that most of the time, anti corrosion coatings will prevent rust, and anti rust coatings will prevent other types of corrosion.
This is certainly true of our products at Secoa Metal Finishing. Our protective coatings are great for preventing many types of corrosion, rust included. If you would like to learn more about our corrosion resistant, anti rust coatings, give us a call at (706) 383-2893 or send an email to sales@secoatech.com
There are many different types of metal finishing; some of the most popular are anodizing, painting, and powder coating. Choosing the right type of coating for your application can be essential to achieving the desired results. If you have a piece of metal that needs to be coated, you may find yourself wondering, “Which is best? Anodizing, painting, or powder coating?”
Anodizing
Anodizing is an electrochemical process that can be used to form a protective coating of oxide on a metal surface. One thing that sets anodizing apart from other finishing methods is that the coating it creates is actually a part of the metal, so it cannot peel or flake. As a result, anodizing makes metal surfaces extremely durable. Anodizing is great for applications that require high levels of corrosion resistance and abrasion resistance. Anodizing also makes metal surfaces non-conductive, which can be useful in certain circumstances. In most cases, anodizing is restricted to aluminum substrates only.
Powder Coating
Powder coating is a metal finishing process that involves applying dry powder to a metal surface, and then heating the powder until it cures. There are several reasons one might choose powder coating as a metal finishing method. Though powder coated surfaces are generally not as durable as anodized surfaces, they are still extremely resistant to corrosion, abrasions, and general wear and tear; powder coating is a quick and simple process, which makes it convenient; and powder coating comes in a huge variety of colors.
Painting
Using wet paint is the most conventional metal finishing method. Though paint is much less durable than powder coating or anodizing, it does have its advantages. For example, paint can be used to coat surfaces that can’t be heated; it comes in an even more impressive array of colors than powder coating; and it is often very affordable.
The Verdict
So, which is best: anodizing, painting, or powder coating? Well, the answer is that there is no clear answer. Each of these finishing methods is best for its own specific range of applications. If you need extreme durability, you may want to look into anodizing. If you need corrosion resistance, but you also want a lot of color choices, powder coating may be your best option. If you just want a classic coating that is simple and cost-effective, painting is the way to go.
If you are seeking out metal finishing services, make sure to do your research and choose the process best suited for your application. If you are in need of powder coating or anodizing in Georgia, contact Secoa Metal Finishing at (706) 383-2893 or sales@secoatech.com. We provide high quality metal finishing services to those in Georgia, and beyond!
Metal finishing is a process that can provide a wide range of benefits, ranging from corrosion resistance to general durability. Different types of metal coating have different features that make them well suited for different applications. At Secoa Metal Finishing, we offer metal coatings with applications in a vast array of industries.
The Aerospace Industry
Friction and corrosion are big concerns in the aerospace industry. It is important for a lot of the equipment used in this sector to have a low friction coefficient, and to be corrosion resistant.
At Secoa Metal Finishing, we serve the aerospace industry with a variety of metal coatings that help address these concerns. For example, we offer a wide range of fluoropolymers that are excellent for reducing friction, and our Nylon 11 coating is extremely corrosion resistant.
The Food Processing Industry
Non-stick properties are extremely useful in the food processing industry. Fluoropolymer coatings have non-stick properties, and can be applied to cookware and bakeware to make cleanup easy, prevent corrosion, and reduce the potential of food contamination between cleaning cycles.
In addition to improving the non-stick properties of food processing equipment, fluoropolymer coatings provide a high level of heat resistance that is very useful for baking and cooking applications.
The Medical Industry
Metal finishing is often used in the medical industry to make medical instruments cleaner, safer, and more effective. Metal coatings can enhance a metal’s antibacterial properties, and make it easier to sterilize, which is important in a medical setting where cleanliness could mean a patient’s survival.
Metal coatings can also inhibit electrical conductivity. This is important because using medical instruments that are highly conductive could increase burn risk during a procedure.
At Secoa Metal Finishing, we carry Rislan Nylon 11, various fluoropolymers, and other types of coating that are commonly used in the medical industry.
Metal finishing services are extremely beneficial in all kinds of industries. Whether an application requires corrosion resistance, heat resistance, low electrical conductivity, or non-stick properties, applying the right metal coating is a smart and viable solution.
If you are in need of metal finishing in Georgia, give us a call at (706) 383-2893 or send an email to sales@secoatech.com. We look forward to helping you find the perfect metal finishing solution for your application.
Steel is a remarkably strong material, and as a result, it is commonly used for a wide variety of industrial applications. However, it is also susceptible to things like corrosion. As such, it is important to apply protective coatings to structures and equipment made of steel. Two of the most common metal finishing methods for preventing damage to steel components are powder coating and galvanizing.
Powder coating is extremely popular in the metal finishing industry. The powder coating process involves applying a dry, electrostatically charged coating to a surface, and then curing it until a protective layer is formed. There are many benefits using powder coating on steel components. Powder coating is extremely durable, and can protect a surface from chipping, abrasions, corrosion, and chemical damage, among other things. It is also available in a wide array of colors and textures.
Galvanizing is a metal finishing process that involves dipping steel in molten zinc, which creates a metallurgic bond between the two materials. Galvanizing results in a layer of zinc that protects the steel from the elements and prevents it from succumbing to corrosion. Galvanized steel can last for 50-100 years, and requires very little maintenance, which makes it cost effective in the long-term.
So, which method is better for finishing steel? Powder coating or galvanizing? The truth is, neither of these metal finishing methods is inherently superior to the other. While powder coating is the best choice for some applications, galvanizing is better for others.
For example, because powder coating offers so many more color options than galvanizing, it is a better choice for applications where aesthetics are important. Meanwhile, galvanizing makes steel more temperature resistant than powder coating, and so is better for applications that involve extreme heat or extreme cold.
If you have a steel component that needs a protective coating, do your research to find out which method best suits your application before committing to one or the other.
If you have questions about metal finishing, feel free to contact Secoa Metal Finishing by calling (706) 383-2893 or sending an email to sales@secoatech.com. We offer high-quality metal finishing services in Georgia and the surrounding area.