SAF implements XRF to improve aluminum finishing process

Atlanta-based SAF, a metals distributor, fabricator, and finisher, has announced it has improved its ability to confirm the quality of coatings it applies to aluminum with the addition of a new tool.

The company is now incorporating X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy technology into its polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) finishing process. This enables SAF to provide verification to customers that its coatings meet key industry standards for performance and durability set by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA).

“In the anodized aluminum industry, there is a saying that your finish is only as good as the aluminum you are anodizing. With PVDF paints, your painted finish is only as good as the pretreatment,” said John McClatchey, vice president of sales and marketing. “A real-time XRF measurement provides a more scientific way of measuring the weight of the chromatic film coating on aluminum.”

The XRF analyzer works by emitting X-rays and collecting fluorescence radiation from the metal. The test determines whether the metal meets AAMA 2605. With this analyzer, the results are available in seconds as opposed to traditional laboratory testing, which can take days.