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Socomore Socosurf Surface Treatment Process

Aluminium alloys make up at least 20% of new aircraft such as A350 and B787, and almost 70% of legacy aircraft such as A320 or B737. To make sure aluminium components are fit to face the rigours of flight, various surface treatments need to be applied. 

Within the European Union and United Kingdom, REACH has restricted various historic products and processes, as they are deemed unsafe for operators and the environment. Safer chemicals are gradually replacing substances such as borate, hydrogen fluoride (or fluoric acid) and hexavalent chrome (sometimes referred to as Chrome VI, Cr(VI) or chromate), and leading to changes in the processes and products used. 

In keeping with this shift in technology, Socomore have developed a range of aluminium surface treatments that meet the requirements of major OEMs as well as the restrictions put on the industry by the European Commission and other parties.  

There are three main phases in the aluminium surface treatment process. 

Inside a factory

Cleaning and Degreasing

The initial step of alkaline degreasing is used to clean the part and remove oil, dirt, grease and ink from the surface. 

Sococlean A3432 is free from borate and silicate, hexavalent chrome and VOC’s and can be used to degrease aluminium, titanium or stainless steel alloys. This product can be applied through immersion or spraying, and the properties can be maintained by additive top ups or boosted by adding the ink remover additive Sococlean IR. 

Barrel and bottle of Socomore products

Deoxidizing or Desmutting 

Once the part is clean, the metal needs to be prepared for treatment. This can be done either by deoxidizing the part, or through a sodic etching and desmutting process. These processes remove a thin layer of aluminium oxide from the surface. 

Socosurf A1858 and Socosurf A1806 are fluoride and hexavalent chrome free products suitable for deoxidizing, desmutting and etching aluminium prior to treatment. A1858 is the acid concentrated part for setting up the bath while A1806 is the part essential to give all its characteristics to the treatment bath. 

The properties of the batch can be adjusted by the addition of additives including Socomul TA and Socosurf A1850. 

Treatment – Conversion or Anodization 

Different treatments can be applied to the metal depending on the desired properties of the part. Two of the more popular processes used in aerospace are chemical conversion and anodization. Both of these processes improve the corrosion resistance properties and paint adhesion of the metal, while chemical conversion can also improve electrical conductivity. 

Socosurf TCS and Socosurf PACS are trivalent chrome and zirconium based chemicals, and therefore safer to use than the now restricted hexavalent chrome. TCS is used to convert the metal, creating a protective layer on the surface while PACS is used to enrich the layer. TCS and PACS can be used both for chemical conversion or as post anodization sealing. 

Additional additives are available to assist in these processes. Click here for the full listing. 

Socomore Socosurf A1858 Deoxidizer
Socomore Socosurf A1858 Deoxidizer
Silmid P/N: 
VAR0001952
No stock - lead time 0 days
From £85.11 excl VAT
View Details
Socomore Socosurf A1806 Deoxidizer
Socomore Socosurf A1806 Deoxidizer
Silmid P/N: 
VAR0001950
No stock - lead time 0 days
From £245.77 excl VAT
View Details
Socomore Socomul TA Additive
Socomore Socomul TA Additive
Silmid P/N: 
VAR0001949
No stock - lead time 0 days
From £18.93 excl VAT
View Details
Socomore Socosurf A1850 Acid Additive
Socomore Socosurf A1850 Acid Additive
Silmid P/N: 
VAR0001951
No stock - lead time 0 days
From £62.11 excl VAT
View Details

Approvals

A number of key aerospace OEMs have approved the Socomore processes and components mentioned above. 

Sococlean A3432 

Airbus, Fokker and Safran. 

Socosurf A1858/A1806 

Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Dassault Aviation, Leonardo Aircraft, Leonardo Helicopters, Pilatus Aircraft, Safran, Safran Helicopters and Thales Alenia Space. 

Socosurf TCS/PACS 

Bombardier, Collins Ratier, Collins Aerospace, Dassault Aviation, Leonardo Aircraft, Leonardo Helicopters and Liebherr Aerospace. 

*approvals correct as of November 2021