Surface Engineering Services Specifications

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Capabilities

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	Abrasive Blasting		Blasting, sandblasting, or abrasive blast cleaning uses power spraying or a tumble chamber to remove all of a metal's visible rust, mill scale, paint and contaminants. It leaves the metal uniformly white or gray in appearance. Sandblasting provides a roughened surface with undercuts that improves the adherence of subsequently applied thermal spray or organic coatings.
	Abrasive Flow Machining (AFM)		Abrasive flow machining (AFM) passes a mixture of abrasive grain and a high-viscosity carrier media through a part’s inner diameter (ID) or internal openings. AFM processes are used to debur, polish and generate controlled-radius geometry in components. Orbital AFM is used for external finishing and geometry control. Micro-AFM is used to radius, debur and improve the surface finishes of orifices in nozzles, fuel injectors, spray tips or other parts with very small or micro-sized holes.
	Anodizing		Anodizing is a process for finishing aluminum alloys that employs electrolytic oxidation of the aluminum surface to produce a protective oxide coating. The anodic coating consists of hydrated aluminum oxide. It is considered resistant to corrosion and abrasion. Conventional coatings are 0.1 to 1.0 mils thick and are mostly transparent, but may be colored.  Anodizing preserves the natural luster and texture of the metal itself. An anodized coating is hard, durable, will never peel and, under normal conditions, will never wear through. This category includes hard coat anodizing.
	Burnishing		Burnishing processes include ball and roller burnishing where a hard tool is pressed and moved against a surface smoothing and refining surface finish, imparting cold work, and inducing compressive residual stresses into the part. Low and controlled plasticity burnishing are specialized variations where the amount of plastic deformation is monitored and controlled achieve desirable surface properties.
	Case Hardening		Case hardening consists of the formation and hardening of a compositionally modified surface layer within the material.  Cases are formed by adding carbon, nitrogen, chrome, boron or other elements to the steel or metal surface region through diffusion, implantation or other reactions. Case forming or hardening processes are referred to as carburizing, nitriding, ferritic nitriding, carbonitriding, nitrocarburizing, boronizing and carbon restoration.
	Chemically Accelerated / Isotropic (ISF)		Supplier has chemically accelerated or isotropic superfinishing machines. ISF machines are designed to utilize chemicals to accelerate the material removal or finishing process.  Isotropic superfinishing and electrochemical grinding are examples of chemically accelerated processes.
	Corona Treatment		Corona treatments enhance bonding between a surface and polymer coatings or adhesives.
	Electropolishing / Electrolytic Finishing		Electropolishing or electrolytic finishing is often called a reverse plating process. Electrochemical in nature, electropolishing uses a combination of rectified current and a blended chemical electrolyte bath to remove flaws from the surface of a metal part. The resulting surface is clean and bright. Electrolytic or electrochemical machining (ECM) processes use a contoured electrode in combination with an electrolytic process to control material removal, deburring, geometry and radius generation.
	Honing / Superfinishing		Honing and superfinishing are precision finishing process that generate very flat, smooth or low Ra surface finishes. Honing and superfinishing can maintain much greater control over geometry or flatness compared to handheld buffers, offhand polishers and tumblers or mass finishing machines.
	Ion Implantation		Ion implantation directs a highly accelerated beam of charged atoms (ions) at a surface resulting in the capture of some of these atoms in the surface of the substrate or wafer.  In microelectronics, ion implantation is used to implant dopants such as silicon with boron (B), phosphorus (P), arsenic (As) or antimony (Sb).  A subsequent annealing treatment or thermal cycle is required to drive the implanted ions into the surface.  Ion implantation can also be used to form wear resistant layers.
	Laser Peening		Laser peening uses an inertial tamping layer, an ablative paint or tape layer and laser pulses to peen a surface with high pressure plasma microblasts.  The laser pulse is fired at the layered surface ablating or vaporizing the paint or tape and producing a plasma microblast with pressures up to one million pounds per square inch. The water tamping layer contains and helps focus the blast inward toward the surface.  The microblast sends shock waves through the part. The residual compressive stress produces can be four times deeper than conventional shot peening. A programmed pattern of laser pulses are used to accurately peen a surface.
	Mass Finishing (Tumbling / Vibratory)		Mass finishing processes are used for the bulk processing of parts. Tumbler, disc, drum or vibratory finishing equipment is used with abrasive media and compounds. The movement of the media and compounds against the parts imparts the desired surface finish.
	Mirror Finishing		Companies can provide surfaces with a mirror finish.
	Passivation		Passivation removes "free iron" contamination left behind on the surface of stainless steel during machining and fabricating. These contaminants may drive premature corrosion and ultimately result in deterioration of the component if not removed. The passivation process also facilitates the formation of a thin, transparent oxide film that protects the stainless steel from corrosion.
	Pickling / Chemical Etching		Companies perform processes that use etchants, acids, or acid pickles to etch or chemically remove a layer of surface material or sharp edges.
	Polishing		Buffing, polishing and other belting processes are smoothing operations that change a metal's surface appearance. These operations can be for aesthetic and/or functional purposes.
	Sanitizing / Sterilization		Sanitizing or sterilization services destroy or kill bacteria, viruses, mold spores or other microorganisms on the surface of a part or medical device and/or within a container, vial or part.  UV light, biocides, sanitizers, specialized gases and/or heat & pressure (steam or autoclaves) are used to sanitize or sterilize surfaces.
	Shot Peening		Shot peening blasts smooth, glass beads or metal shot at a surface to impart compressive, residual surface stress and remove residual, tensile surface stress. Shot peening improves fatigue strength or performance under a high number of load cycles. Shafts and other components that are exposed to a high number of load cycles often require parts or materials with higher fatigue strength.
	Surface / Induction Hardening		Suppliers have induction heating equipment for surface or localized heat treatment processes.
	Texturing		Texturing is the controlled patterning of a surface to produce a specific roughness and structure on a surface. Texturing can be useful in enhancing retention of lubricants, sealants and coatings.
	Other		Other unlisted or unspecified forms of surface treatment.
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Materials

	Materials
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	Aluminum		Aluminum is a bluish, silver-white, malleable, ductile, light trivalent metallic element with good electrical and thermal conductivity, high reflectivity, and resistance to oxidation.
	Carbide		Carbides include silicon carbide, tungsten carbide and titanium carbide as well as other compounds of a metal (Ti, W, Cr, Zr) or metalloid (B, Si) and carbon. Carbides have excellent wear resistance and high hot hardness.
	Ceramic		Ceramic materials are made of nonmetallic minerals such as clay that have been permanently hardened by firing at a high temperature. Most ceramics are heat and chemical resistant.
	Composites		Composite materials typically consist of a matrix and a dispersed, fibrous or continuous second phase. The second phase may reinforce (strengthen or stiffen), alter electrical or magnetic properties or enhance wear or erosion resistance.
	Copper / Copper Alloys		Copper is a common reddish metallic element that is ductile, malleable, and one of the best conductors of heat and electricity. Copper alloys are specified for applications where superior corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity and good bearing surface qualities are desired. Copper-based alloys are easily plated, brazed, soldered and machined.
	Glass		Glass is a hard, brittle material consisting of a mixture of silicates. It is usually transparent or translucent. Glass is considered to be a cooled liquid rather than a true solid.
	Iron / Cast Iron		Iron is a heavy, malleable, ductile, magnetic, silver-white metallic element.  The term "cast iron" refers not to a single material, but to a family of materials whose major constituent is iron, with important trace amounts of carbon and silicon. Cast irons are natural composite materials whose properties are determined by their microstructures, the stable and metastable phases formed during solidification or subsequent heat treatment. The major microstructural constituents of cast irons are the chemical and morphological forms taken by carbon, and the continuous metal matrix in which the carbon and/or carbide are dispersed.
	Metal		Metals and alloys include steel, copper, and stainless steel as well as more exotic alloys such as titanium, zirconium, niobium, or palladium.
	Natural / Biological		Natural or biological materials include bone, tissue, and plant or plant derived materials
	Nickel / Nickel Alloys		Nickel and nickel alloys include proprietary products such as Monel®, Kovar®, Invar®, Inconel®, Incoloy®, and Hastelloy®. Monel, Inconel and Incoloy are registered trademarks of Special Metals Corporation.  Kovar and Invar are registered trademarks of Carpenter Technology. Hastelloy is a registered trademark of Haynes International.
	Precious Metals		Precious metals are relatively scarce, highly corrosion resistant, valuable metals found in periods 5 and 6 of the periodic table. They include ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, silver, osmium, iridium, platinum, and gold.
	Plastic / Polymer		Plastics and polymers are organic, synthetic, or processed materials that are mostly thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers of high molecular weight that can be made into objects, films, or filaments.
	Stainless Steel		Stainless steel is chemical resistant, corrosion resistant, and can have relatively high pressure ratings.
	Steel / Steel Alloys		Steel is a commercial iron that contains carbon in any amount up to about 1.7 percent as an essential alloying constituent. It is malleable under suitable conditions and is distinguished from cast iron by its malleability and lower carbon content.
	Titanium		Titanium is a hard, lustrous, silvery element that is relatively abundant in the Earth's crust. It is known for its lightness, strength, and corrosion resistance.  For this reason, titanium is used widely in the aerospace industry and the medical fields (e.g., replacement joints).  When alloyed with other metals, especially steel, it adds strength and oxidation resistance.
	Specialty / Other		Other, specialty, proprietary or unlisted material types.
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Industry Expertise

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	Aerospace		Aerospace manufacturing is a high technology industry that produces "aircraft, guided missiles, space vehicles, aircraft engines, propulsion units, and related parts," according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Web site. Most of the industry is geared toward governmental work. For each original equipment manufacturer (OEM), the US government has assigned a CAGE code. These codes help to identify each manufacturer, repair facilities, and other critical after market vendors in the aerospace industry.
	Agricultural / Forestry		Companies and organizations that produce, grow, raise, harvest, process, store, market, and/or sell food and other crops and livestock.
	Appliances		Companies that produce commercial appliances.
	Automotive		The automotive industry is the industry involved in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of motor vehicles.
	Biotechnology		Biotechnology is any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use
	Building and Construction		In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure.
	Chemicals / Materials		Companies that manufacture and/or distribute chemicals, including basic, intermediate, and specialty chemicals; petrochemicals; plastic resins and materials used in synthetic fibers; agrochemicals; and paints and coatings.
	Computer		Companies that design and manufacture personal and large-scale computers, peripheral devices, data storage systems, networking equipment, point-of-sale (POS) devices, automated teller machines (ATMs), and other computer-based systems.
	Consumer		Companies that design, manufacture, and/or market apparel, cleaning products, hand and power tools, home furniture, housewares, linens, and consumer electronics and appliances.
	Education		The education industry produces products and services that both complement and supplement basic education services.
	Electrical / Electronics		Companies that design, manufacture, and/or distribute electronic devices and equipment including semiconductors; semiconductor materials and production machinery; test, measurement, and inspection equipment; scientific and technical instruments; and electrical and electronic components such as connectors and display devices. Also includes contract electronics manufacturers.
	Environment		Companies that provide waste collection, waste treatment and disposal, recycling, remediation, environmental engineering, and environmental consulting services, and/or provide purification and filtration technology and equipment, industrial air filters, and pollution control systems.
	Food and Beverage		Companies that process, manufacture, distribute, market, and/or sell foodstuffs for human consumption. Companies that produce, market, and bottle alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, carbonated drinks, juices, energy/sports drinks, water, coffee, and tea.
	General Industrial		Companies that manufacture and/or distribute goods for industrial use, including construction equipment, heavy machinery, paper, and packaging.
	Government		Government agencies or government-related establishments (non-military).
	Marine		The marine industry is the industry involved in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of commercial ships and pleasure boats.
	Medical		Companies that develop, manufacture, market, and/or distribute health-related products or provide health care services, such as hospitals, nursing homes, HMOs, medical product suppliers, medical equipment and medical device makers, and medical laboratories.
	Metals and Mining		Companies that explore for, develop, mine, extract, quarry, and/or process valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, usually (but not always) from an ore body, vein or (coal) seam.
	Military / Law Enforcement		Companies that manufacture and/or distribute defense products and/or provide defense services.
	Packaging		Manufacturers of packaging equipment and supplies.
	Petroleum / Oil & Gas		The petroleum industry includes the global processes of exploration, extraction, refining, transporting (often by oil tankers and pipelines), and marketing petroleum products.
	Pharmaceutical		Companies that research, develop, produce, and sell chemical or biological substances for medical or veterinary use, including prescription, generic and OTC drugs; vitamins and nutritional supplements; drug delivery systems and diagnostic substances; and related products, equipment, and services, including distribution and wholesale.
	Pulp and Paper		The pulp and paper industry plays a large role in the production of pulp and its derived paper products in a great number of countries.
	Rail / Mass Transit		Companies that manufacture and/or distribute locomotives, and provide services to the railroad industry.
	Telecommunications		Companies that design, manufacture, market, and distribute equipment for long-distance, local, and corporate telecommunications networks. Companies that provide voice, data, and video communications services.
	Transportation Services		Companies that provide transportation of passengers and freight, arrange for transportation of freight, and manage transportation infrastructure.
	Utilities		Companies that provide energy products, including crude oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum; utility services, including the generation of electricity, the transmission and distribution of electricity, natural gas, and water; and/or the marketing and trading of energy commodities.
	Other		Other unlisted industry type.
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Regional Preference

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	North America		Companies are located in the United States, Canada or Mexico.
	United States Only		Companies are located in the United States.
	Northeast US Only		Companies are located in the Northeast United States, namely Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
	Southern US Only		Companies are located in the Southern United States, namely Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington D.C., and West Virginia.
	Southwest US Only		Companies are located in the Southwest United States, namely Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.
	Northwest US Only		Companies are located in the Northwest United States, namely Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming.
	Midwest US Only		Companies are located in the Midwest United States, namely Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
	Canada Only		Companies are located in Canada.
	South / Central America Only		Companies have facilities in South American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, or Chile; or in Central American countries such as Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, etc.
	Europe Only		Companies are located in Europe, namely Germany, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom, etc.
	South Asia Only		Companies are located in South Asia, namely India, Pakistan, Nepal, etc.
	Near East Only		Companies are located in the Near East, namely Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, etc.
	East Asia / Pacific Only		Companies are located in East Asia, namely China, Japan, Taiwan, etc.
	Other		Other unlisted country or region.
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