Black Oxide
Black Oxide & Metal Blackening
EPI manufactures both hot black oxide and cold black oxide metal blackening processes. Black Oxide applications include automotive, industrial, architectural, hardware, consumer, medical, machine tool, firearm, military, and electronic product lines. Check out our Black Oxide Video Series on You Tube, our Black Oxide Library, & EPI’s Black Oxide FAQs for additional information. Read our new Electrochemicals Blog that has great information about the metal finishing industry, our products including Black Oxide, and upcoming events.
Looking to upgrade, expand or add a black-oxide metal blackening line? EPI provides turnkey blackening setups to make your installation a quick, easy, and inexpensive process. Turnkey Black Oxide Equipment Line
Hot Black Oxide: Ultra-Blak 400
Ultra-Blak 400 Hot Black Oxide is a conventional hot (285 F) process which produces a true black iron magnetite finish. It is a premium grade salt mixture which will blacken a wider range of steel alloys than any other process on the market. The Ultra-Blak 400 finish meets military specification MIL-DTL-13924D Class 1 as well as Aerospace Material Specification AMS 2485H. The black oxide penetrates and protects the surfaces, while blackened parts retain their surface properties and dimensions.
- What can be blackened with Ultra-Blak Black Oxide?
Steel, Stainless Steel, Cast Iron, Copper, Brass, Cadmium, Zinc, Nickel, and Electroless Nickel
Cold Black Oxide: Insta Blak 333
Insta-Blak 333 is the preferred room temperature black oxide process for the safe and convenient in-house blackening. It produces a super deep blackness and corrosion resistance equal to hot oxide blackeners. It is an excellent non-bleed out black finish for powdered metal and cast iron. It is the number one room temperature blackening for ferrous metals.
- What can be blackened with Insta-Blak 333 Room Temperature Black Oxide?
Iron, Steel, Stainless Steel, Zinc, Cadmium, and Aluminum
Benefits of Black Oxide:
Black Oxide can be used on a wide range of equipment from small fasteners up to heavy machine table tops. Black Oxide imparts a uniform black color while improving corrosion resistance, lubricity, anti-galling properties without altering the dimensions of a metal part.
Below is a chart to help you select between our two metal blackening processes: Ultra-Blak Hot Black Oxide and Insta-Blak Room Temperature Metal Blackening.
| Black Oxide Features & Benefits | Ultra-Blak 400 Black Oxide | Insta-Blak 333 Cold Black Oxide |
|---|---|---|
| Corrosion resistance | • | • |
| Dimensional stability thickness 5-10 millionths of an inch | • | • |
| Can be painted over | • | • |
| Anti-galling properties | • | • |
| Reduces eye fatigue | • | • |
| Lubricity | • | • |
| Esthetic appeal | • | • |
| True black oxide finish Fe3O4 magnetite finish | • | |
| Color is blue-black | • | |
| Abrasion resistance & durability | • | |
| Glossy finish can be achieved | • | |
| Process time for blackening 15-30 minutes | • | |
| Best choice for a job shop with wide variety parts | • | |
| Meets military spec Mil 13924C and AMS 2485 | • | |
| Less sludge generation than other hot black oxides | • | |
| Seven step process | • | |
| Five step process | • | |
| No ventilation costs | • | |
| Does not turn steel casting or cast iron red | • | |
| Process time for blackening 1-5 minutes | • | |
| Powder metal does not bleed out white salts | • | |
| No CO2 emissions or green house gases | • | |
| Energy savings | • | |
| Capital Costs | $15,000-$25,000 | $7,000-$15,000 |
Black Oxide Equipment Applications:
- Tube Cutters and Fabricators
- Metal Stampers
- Ammunition Manufacturers
- Fastener Industry
- Tool & Die Industry
- Power Tool Manufacturer
- Automobile Industry
- Appliance Industry
- Military Components
- Exercise Equipment
- Hydraulic/Pneumatic Equipment
- Hardware Industry
- Camping and Hunting Supplies
- Electronic Hardware
- Architectural Finishes