Annealing:

Heat treatment that softens metal, improving ductility and reducing internal stresses.

Anodizing:

Electrochemical process that increases the thickness of the natural oxide layer on the surface of metals such as aluminum, improving corrosion resistance and aesthetics.

Black Oxide (Bluing):

Chemical treatment that gives metal a dark, uniform finish, enhancing corrosion resistance and appearance.

Chroming:

Electrolytic deposition of chromium onto a metal to increase hardness, corrosion resistance, and enhance aesthetics.

Clean Test o Cleanliness Test:

See Cleanliness Test.

Cleaning:

Process involving the removal of dust, dirt, and unwanted materials from surfaces, objects, and environments.

Cleanliness Test:

Method for verifying the cleanliness of metallic components after washing, ensuring surfaces are free of contaminants.

• Gravimetric Test: Weighing a filter before and after filtration of wash liquid to determine the amount of solid residues removed.
• Particulate Contamination Test (ISO 16232 / VDA 19): Identifies and classifies residual particles on a component.
• UV Fluorescence Test: Detects organic contaminants such as oils and greases remaining on metal surfaces under UV light.
• Water Drop Test (Wettability Test): Assesses metal surface tension by observing water droplet behavior, revealing invisible contaminants.
• XRF Test (X-Ray Fluorescence): Analyzes the chemical composition of contaminants to identify residues of oxides, coatings, or lubricants.

Custom Cleaning:

Tailored cleaning process for complex metal components, based on specific analysis of material, contaminants, and critical geometries. Integrates technical standards (ISO, ASTM) or customer specifications. Optimizes interaction with subsequent treatments and prevents re-contamination or damage. Essential in medical and aerospace applications to ensure adhesion, biocompatibility, and corrosion resistance.

Deburring:

Operation that removes imperfections or burrs from mechanical parts created during casting or forming, preparing them for further surface treatments.

Electroplating:

Electrochemical process that deposits a thin metal layer (such as zinc, nickel, or chromium) on another metal to protect against corrosion or for decorative purposes.

Electropolishing:

Electrochemical process that removes micro-irregularities from metal surfaces, producing a smooth, bright finish.

Grinding:

Finishing process applied to raw metal parts to achieve specific surface roughness using abrasive belts of varying grit.

Lapping:

Precision finishing process used to improve flatness, roughness, and achieve micrometer-level dimensional tolerances.

Mechanical Deburring:

Process that physically removes burrs using abrasive tools or specific machinery, improving safety and component quality.

Metal Cleaning:

Process that removes residues from prior machining or treatments, leaving components free of contaminants and ready for further finishing such as chroming or painting.

• Spray Cleaning: Application of cleaning solutions through nozzles that spray liquid onto the part’s surface.
• Immersion Cleaning: Parts are immersed in tanks containing cleaning solutions, ensuring direct contact with the agent.
• Ultrasonic Cleaning: Use of high-frequency sound waves in a cleaning liquid to create imploding microbubbles that effectively remove contaminants, even from hard-to-reach areas.
• Solvent Cleaning: Use of chemical solvents to dissolve and remove oils and greases from metal surfaces.

Mirror Polishing::

Finishing process that produces extremely bright, mirror-like surfaces, often used for aesthetic enhancement.

Nickel Plating:

Process of coating a metal with nickel to improve corrosion resistance and aesthetics.

Passivation:

Chemical treatment that makes the metal surface less reactive by forming a protective oxide layer, increasing corrosion resistance.

Phosphating:

Chemical treatment that creates a phosphate layer on metal surfaces, improving paint adhesion and corrosion resistance.

Pickling:

Chemical treatment used to remove oxides or impurities from metal surfaces using acid solutions.

Plasma Cleaning:

Advanced cleaning technique using low-temperature plasma to remove organic and inorganic contaminants from metal or sensitive surfaces. Works through ablation and chemical-physical reactions, effective even on complex geometries. Increases surface energy, improves coating adhesion, and removes oxides that interfere with welding or electrical properties.

Powder Coating:

Application of powder paint to a metal surface, followed by oven curing to create a hard, resistant coating.

Quenching:

Heat treatment involving heating and rapid cooling of metal to increase hardness and mechanical strength.

Sandblasting:

Surface cleaning and preparation technique using high-velocity abrasive jets to remove oxides, paints, or impurities.

Sanitization:

Combination of cleaning and/or disinfection processes to ensure hygienic conditions by improving the microclimate of environments.

Satin Finishing:

Process that gives metal a matte, uniform appearance while masking defects such as scratches or marks, typically achieved with rotating brushes.

Shot Blasting:

Technique that uses small metallic or ceramic balls projected at high speed against the surface to improve mechanical properties and finish.

Shot Peening:

Cold mechanical process where the metal surface is bombarded with microspheres to introduce residual compressive stresses, increasing fatigue, wear, and corrosion resistance.

Spot Cleaning:

Localized treatment to remove non-uniform surface defects (stains, oxides, hydroxides, organic or inorganic residues). Uses chemical, electrochemical, or mechanical methods calibrated to the defect and material. Restores functional and aesthetic properties, prevents localized corrosion, and prepares the surface for further treatments.

Stain Removal (Despotting):

Process used to remove stubborn stains, oxide residues, inks, or other impurities from metal surfaces, usually with detergents or chemical solutions.

Standard Cleaning:

Preliminary cleaning of metal surfaces using chemical detergents and physical means (e.g., ultrasonics, spraying, immersion) to remove organic and inorganic contaminants (oils, dust, chips). Improves wettability and adhesion, preventing defects in subsequent processes (painting, anodizing, welding).

Surface Tension Test:

Diagnostic test to measure surface energy, used to assess wettability, adhesion, and cleaning quality. Uses calibrated inks to verify suitability for subsequent processes (painting, bonding, welding). Indicates residual contamination levels and corrosion susceptibility.

Technical Cleaning:

High-precision industrial cleaning process for removing micro-contaminants (PM₁₀, PM₂.₅, fibers, salts, invisible films) from metallic and non-metallic surfaces. Essential in critical sectors (automotive, aerospace, electronics), ensuring functional reliability and compliance with standards such as VDA 19 and ISO 16232. Controlled through certified tests (gravimetric, UV, XRF, particle analysis).

Technical Cleaning / Decontamination:

Advanced cleaning process designed to remove micro- and nano-level contaminants from metal components, meeting strict industrial requirements for surface purity.

Thermal Deburring:

Method that uses a controlled gas explosion in a pressurized chamber to simultaneously eliminate burrs, even in complex areas.

Tumbling:

Mechanical finishing process in which metal parts are placed in a rotating drum with abrasive media to remove burrs and obtain a smooth surface.

Zinc Plating:

Application of a zinc layer to iron or steel surfaces to protect against corrosion.