Surface finishes

• The two roles of surface finishes: aesthetics and prevention of decay and corrosion
• Metal surface finishes including: plastic coating, enamelling, oil finishing black steel , paint and primer
• Methods of preventing corrosion in metals: galvanising / plating, anodising aluminium and cathodic or sacrificial protection of steel
• Surface treatments of timber: sealants and primers. Finishes for aesthetic or functional reasons: varnish, wood, stains, oils and polishes.
• Preservative paints and oils to reduce decay
• Self-finishing thermosetting and thermoforming plastics.
• Textured finishes for plastics

What are the two the roles of surface finishes?

There are two reasons why one might apply surface finishes to a product: Aesthetics, paint adds colour and appeal to boring materials, whilst a stain brings out the colour in timbre; and secondly, surface finishes help prevent decay and corrosion of the material. e.g. anodising aluminium prevents further oxidisation of the metal.

Finishes to metals

Hot-dipping / Galvanising

Anodising aluminium

Finishes to timbre

Finishes to plastics