Hardness of electrophoretic lattice frame of metal logo-A

The hardness of the ‘Engraved Round Metal Logo’ is a complex issue that involves a number of factors (such as the electrophoretic coating process, the way the frame is handled, the metal substrate, and so on), and it is not possible to give a fixed value directly. The following are the key influencing factors and analyses:

First.influence of electrophoretic coating on hardness

Metal logo coating type and thickness

The hardness of an electrophoretic coating is directly influenced by the formulation and thickness. For example, epoxy resin-based electrophoretic coatings are usually hard , while acrylic resin-based coatings may be soft . The thicker the coating, the surface hardness may vary depending on the degree of curing, but too thick a coating is prone to internal stresses, which in turn reduces the actual scratch resistance.

Curing process

Curing temperature and time play a important role in hardness. For example, the curing of an epoxy coating at 180°C for 30 minutes is more harder than one cured at 160°C for 20 minutes. If curing is inadequate, the coating may be sticky or scratched easily .

Second.enhancement of hardness by lattice treatment of metal logo

Role of the lacquer layer

A lacquer (such as acrylic varnish) acts as a transparent protective layer and enhances the surface hardness by 1-2 pencil hardness levels. For example, when the electrophoretic coating itself is 3H, it may reach 4H-5H after lattice treatment.

Synergy between lattice frame and electrophoresis layer

If the chemical compatibility between lattice frame and electrophoretic coating is poor, it may lead to insufficient adhesion between layers, limited hardness enhancement or even cracking. Compatibility needs to be verified by adhesion test (scratching method).

Third.influence of metal substrate

Metal logo substrate material

Stainless steel substrates (304, 316) have a significantly higher hardness than aluminium alloys After electrophoretic lattice treatment, the surface hardness of stainless steel will increase to HV200-250, whereas aluminium alloys only reach HV100-150.

Surface Pretreatment

Sandblasting can increase the surface roughness of the substrate, improve the adhesion of the electrophoretic coating, and indirectly enhance the hardness performance. For example, the hardness of electrophoretic coating on aluminium alloy treated with 120 mesh sand is 10%-15% higher than that on smooth surface.