Burnishing – we can burnish parts for you too!

Find out here when you should burnish components and what the advantages and disadvantages of burnishing are!

Burnishing creates a very thin protective layer on the component. However, no other chemicals are used for this purpose. Only oxygen is stored in the burnished layer of the component. This creates an oxide layer, or more precisely, a layer of iron oxyduloxide.

Here is a more detailed description of the burnishing process

Burnishing is a multi-step process. First of all, the surface of the component must be clean and free of grease, otherwise it cannot be guaranteed that the burnishing will be uniform. The actual burnishing is done using a bath process. There are two or even three bath processes, depending on the desired thickness of the layer. A layer of less than one micrometer is created during the bath process. Additional baths increase the thickness of the layer. The components are immersed in the burnishing bath in racks, sieves or drums. After approximately 5–30 minutes, the parts turn a deep black color and are removed from the bath. The baths have a low temperature of less than 150°C to avoid thermal stress. Finally, the components are rinsed, and oil or a similar treatment is applied to protect against corrosion.

Which materials can be burnished?

Because burnishing changes the surface of the material, not every material group can be burnished. The following materials can be burnished:

  • Unalloyed steels
  • Low-alloy steels
  • Cast iron
  • Hardened steels

What are the effects and benefits of burnishing?

Mechanical stress caused by bending and pressure has no effect on the burnishing. Furthermore, paints, lubricants and solvents cannot damage the burnishing. Burnished components can be stored and installed indoors without any restrictions. Additional protective measures must be taken when burnished components are used in outdoor areas. Burnishing also protects against corrosion, and oils or waxes can provide additional protection. The burnished layer is also resistant up to a temperature of 300°C and has an attractive black coloring.

If you have any further questions, please contact one of our experts. We’ll be happy to answer your questions!