Aluminum Finishing Technology Course

This is a two-day course covering the subject of finishing processes for aluminum.

Note: While it is not necessary to take any AESF course to be eligible to sit for the respective exam that could lead you to becoming a Master Surface Finisher (MSF), this course covers one of the optional subject areas for qualifying to obtain MSF certification.

Target audience: Line operators, managers and engineers who work in the jobshop anodizing industry or in the airline/aerospace industry

Prerequisites: Suggested that attendees have some exposure to the metal finishing industry, but need more details about the finishing of aluminum

At the conclusion of this course, attendees should:

Have knowledge of the corrosion characteristics of aluminum

Be able to specify equipment considerations for aluminum finishing

Know the cleaning/preparation processes for plating and anodizing, as well as etching/chemical milling, electropolishing/chemical polishing of aluminum

Be able to describe the three types of finishing of aluminum (hard coating, chromic acid anodizing and sulfuric acid anodizing)

Know where it’s acceptable to substitute sulfuric-boric for chromic acid anodizing; phosphoric acid anodizing

Know how to perform 2-step and integral color anodizing

Know how to electroplate aluminum parts

Be able to perform QA/QC testing of finished aluminum

Understand the recovery process for aluminum finishing wastes

Be able to pass the optional exam that leads to MSF certification