Material Treatments
The demand for safer, stronger, and more durable yet lightweight products drives the need for advanced materials and treatments. PGI has adapted to this trend by precision machining various materials, including those requiring specialized treatments to meet component specifications.
Material treatments can affect dimensions, so it’s crucial to account for any changes during the machining process to ensure the final product remains within tolerance. PGI has partnered with trusted material treatment specialists, allowing us to oversee all manufacturing aspects, resulting in higher quality products, reduced lead times, and cost savings for our customers.
Our Treatment Capabilities
Heat Treating
Heating (or chilling) metal alloys at extreme temperatures affects their mechanical properties such as hardness, strength, and ductility. Because heat treating alters the material dimensionally by growing or shrinking it, many materials cannot be machined to final dimensions before the heat treating process, and instead, require a pre- and post-heat treat machining process.
Plating
Plating improves a material’s wear and corrosion resistance. Zinc, chromium, and nickel plating are common industrial applications and are thicker than those for aesthetic applications such as tin, brass, and silver. Platings may be added with or without the use of an electrical charge, depending upon the base material and type of plating. However, electroless plating provides a more uniform deposit, even on complex shapes.
Black Oxide
Black Oxide coatings are less expensive than plating and may be applied to many ferrous metals. This treatment allows metals to maintain their conductivity and dimensional stability as well as providing mild corrosion resistance.
Anodizing
Anodizing is an electrolytic process that increases a metal’s resistance to wear and corrosion and provides better adhesion for paint primers and glues. When treated so the film is thick and porous, dyes may be incorporated. If left thin, anodizing will lessen the shiny metal surface.
Passivation
Passivation is a process performed on stainless steel which removes iron impurities from its surface. The chromium within the metal then reacts with oxygen to form an invisible, yet highly protective surface layer, adding further corrosion resistance to the material.
Electropolishing
Electropolishing removes impurities from a metal surface ion by ion via an electrochemical process. The result is a clean and bright surface, more highly refined than what is obtained through passivation. Other benefits include very fine burr removal, up to a 50% improvement in the surface microfinish, and final sizing of very close tolerance, intricate part features.
Thermal Deburring
Thermal Deburring may be necessary to remove burrs caused by the manufacturing process. It utilizes thermal energy to burn off burrs from hard to reach areas, such as intersecting holes, and/or multiple surfaces. It is also a good option for otherwise fragile parts which may be damaged by vibratory deburring.
Brazing
Brazing is a process which joins metal surfaces together using a filler metal heated well above its melting point. At this temperature, the filler can be distributed between two or more very closely fitting parts by capillary action.
Blasting
Blasting is a surface preparation method commonly used after heat treatment to remove scale and oxidation. Various blasting media can be used to achieve the desired surface finish, from aggressive cleaning to a fine, uniform appearance. This process is effective for improving aesthetics and preparing parts for subsequent operations without altering dimensional tolerances.
Design for Manufacturability
Our experienced engineers can work with you to optimize your part designs for efficient production, minimizing costs and lead times. Contact us to see if your part can be optimized for manufacturability.
Quality Documentation
Comprehensive quality documentation we provide upon request:
Let's Talk
Whether you’re curious about our capabilities, looking for career opportunities, or just want to chat about the components you need manufactured, we want to hear from you. Reach out today and let’s start the conversation.