Hard Coating (sometimes called hard coat anodizing or hard anodizing) is a sulfuric acid anodizing process, with the electrolyte concentration, temperature, and electric current parameters altered to produce the hardened surface. Hard coating offers a variety of beneficial properties:

• Thickness
• Corrosion Resistance
• Hardness and Wear Resistance
• Electrical Resistance
• Temperature Resistance
• Low Friction Coefficient after Lubrication

Like other forms of anodizing (such as Type I Chromic Acid Anodizing or Type II Sulfuric Acid Anodizing), Hardcoat Anodizing (also known as Type III) is produced by immersing the aluminum components into an electrolyte solution. Because the acid bath used for hardcoating is maintained at a cool temperature, there is no risk of thermal or physical distortion of the aluminum parts. KEYWORDS for this process: hard coat anodizing, hardcoat anodizing, hard anodizing, coaters, hardcoaters, pvd, physical vapor deposition