{"id":13135,"date":"2022-07-29T17:03:50","date_gmt":"2022-07-29T15:03:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/?p=13135"},"modified":"2026-10-15T00:29:48","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T22:29:48","slug":"which-surface-treatment-process-to-choose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/en\/which-surface-treatment-process-to-choose\/","title":{"rendered":"Surface treatment: which process should you choose?"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Temps de lecture\u00a0: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to finishing parts, <strong>surface treatment <\/strong>is a key process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, with the large number of technologies available, it is not always easy to make the right choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this article, you will discover 7 <strong>surface treatment <\/strong>processes and the results you can expect from them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This way, you can choose the process you need with confidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Lapping: recommended process for refinement or precision correction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lapping is a <strong>surface treatment<\/strong> process carried out using loose abrasives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The action of the abrasive grains produces a smooth surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You should choose the lapping process if you want:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a surface treatment that delivers an extremely precise finish, particularly in terms of dimensions<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>to refine the surface of parts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>to correct minor shape defects in parts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>to obtain a tight fit between the contact surfaces of parts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Polishing: surface treatment <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1017\" height=\"679\" src=\"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1-3.jpg\" alt=\"A part before and after polishing through mass finishing\" class=\"wp-image-9032\" style=\"width:414px;height:276px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1-3.jpg 1017w, https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/1-3-768x513.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1017px) 100vw, 1017px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The polishing process perfects the surface finish<strong> <\/strong> of parts by producing a bright polished or mirror polished surface. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also makes it possible to: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>reduce roughness<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>lower the Ra of surfaces<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>improve the surface condition required in applications that call for a lower coefficient of friction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Polishing is therefore a <strong>surface treatment<\/strong> process that considerably improves the appearance and level of finish of a part.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Mechano-chemical polishing: surface smoothing <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mechano-chemical polishing is a high-precision <strong>surface treatment<\/strong> process that relies on the combined action of chemical and mechanical forces to smooth surfaces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the one hand, chemical agents allow the process to modify the chemical properties of the substrate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the other hand, powerful abrasive particles provide a mechanical treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Depending on the nature of the part to be treated, the mechanical action applies pressure while the chemical action removes material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mechano-chemical polishing is often used in applications where geometric precision and surface quality are requirements of paramount importance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is commonly used in applications where a very low Ra must be achieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Centrifugal polishing: recommended process for fast action<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/en\/tribofinishing-machines\/rotary-bottom-centrifugal-machine\/\">Centrifugal polishing<\/a> acts quickly while removing surface defects from parts, producing a finish that can go as far as a mirror polish and eliminating any roughness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The resulting centrifugal force increases the weight of the abrasive media which, in contact with the parts, leads to more aggressive polishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This force is specific to centrifugal force machines, which are designed with a motor capable of generating high G forces, 5 to 25 times greater than normal gravity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Centrifugal force polishing is 10 times faster than polishing with a conventional vibratory machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Mass finishing: the ideal process for deburring and burnishing <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/en\/what-is-mass-finishing\/\">Mass finishing<\/a> is the most widely used surface treatment process for applications such as deburring, edge radiusing, ball burnishing and polishing small parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>How does it work?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As shown in the photo, special abrasive media are selected and placed in the machine&#8217;s processing tub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These abrasive media follow the circular motion of the machine so that they are constantly in contact with the parts, resulting in more or less material removal depending on the desired finish.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/3-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Abrasive media on the belt of the dual machine\" class=\"wp-image-9034\" style=\"width:578px;height:325px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/3-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/3-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/3.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Drag finishing: the ideal process for the surface treatment of complex parts <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/fr.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Tribofinition\">Drag finishing<\/a> is a variant of mass finishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main difference is that drag finishing is suited to complex parts with particular specifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its applications range from high-gloss polishing to degreasing and descaling of metal parts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>How does it work?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The parts to be treated are brought into mechanical contact with the abrasive media while being fixed on special fixtures, which are designed to prevent the parts from knocking against each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Grinding: recommended process for the surface treatment of hard materials<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grinding is a machining process that uses an aggressive abrasive medium to remove surface roughness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is a perfect process for finishing parts made from hard materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>In summary, there are many surface treatment processes offering more or less different surface finishes depending on the results you are looking for. <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>If you need more information or advice on choosing the right process, do not hesitate to contact us.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Temps de lecture\u00a0: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>When it comes to finishing parts, surface treatment is a key process. However, with the large number of technologies available, it is not always easy to make the right choice. In this article, you will discover 7 surface treatment processes and the results you can expect from them. This way, you can choose the process [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":9063,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[180],"tags":[259,266,275,160,271,267,161],"class_list":["post-13135","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-surface-treatment","tag-centrifugal","tag-grinding","tag-lapping","tag-mass-finishing","tag-mechano-chemical-polishing","tag-polishing","tag-surface-treatment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13135","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13135"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13135\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9063"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13135"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13135"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.finishtech.fr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13135"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}