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U.S. Specialty Color Corporation Specialty Grey NLN

U.S. Specialty Color Corporation Specialty Gray NLN is a single component, water soluble dye, used to color anodized aluminum gray.

Functions: Dye

Chemical Family: Aluminum Compounds

End Uses: Anodized Aluminum

Features: Water Soluble

Enhanced TDS

Enhanced TDS

Knowde-enriched technical product data sheet

Identification & Functionality

Chemical Family
Industrial Additives Functions

Features & Benefits

Industrial Additives Features

Applications & Uses

Markets
Industrial Additives End Use
Application Instructions

Dye time: Depending on the shade desired, dye times could range from 2-5 minutes, but can only be determined by sampling in plant production.

Preferred sealing:

  • Specialty Sealant MTL
  • Specialty Sealant
Conditions For Using Specialty Grey NLN
  • Tank: Stainless steel or other acid resistant materials such as neoprene, polyethylene and polypropylene that can withstand a constant operating temperature of 140°F.
  • Water quality: Deionized
  • pH adjustments: Raise with sodium hydroxide. Lower with acetic acid. The pH should be checked once per shift with a calibrated meter and maintained within recommended range.
  • Bath agitation: Mild agitation must be used for high uniformity of color. For light shades of gray, moving the parts around in the dyebath immediately upon immersion for one minute, improves color uniformity.
  • Rinsing: It is important to remove all acid residues clinging to the work and acid retention in the oxide pore itself. Rinse work load thoroughly after anodizing. A minimum of two rinses is recommended, with the second rinse at over-flow. To increase rinsing effectiveness, add vigorous air agitation in all rinse tanks. This also improves your rinsing of surfaces on complicated shaped parts.
Light Fastness
  • Rating: 6 (1=poor, 8=excellent)
  • This color is not recommended for outdoor applications or other situations where it is subjected to intense UV radiation.
Preparation Of A New Dyebath
  • A cleaned tank is filled with deionized water to about 75% of final volume and raised to dyeing temperature.
  • The required amount of dye is weighed out and dissolved in hot deionized water (160-180°F) in a separate container until a slurry is formed. This is your stock solution.
  • With agitation turned on in tank, pour stock solution into tank.
  • Top off the tank to final working solution volume with more hot deionized water and agitate for 15 minutes.
  • Using a calibrated pH meter, check the pH and adjust if necessary.
  • The dyebath is brought to dyeing temperature, 140°F ±5°F.
Conversion Factor
  • Converting grams per liter (g/l) to ounces per gallon (oz/gal)
  • g/l x 0.134 = oz/gal
Dyebath Concentration Determination

Dyebath concentration can only be determined by spectrophotometric analysis. Full instructions are available upon request.

Properties

Color
Application Technique
ValueUnitsTest Method / Conditions
Concentration0.5 - 2g/l-
Oxide film thickness0.20 - 0.40mils-
pH5 - 6--
Temperature135 - 145°F-

Regulatory & Compliance

Compliance
  • RoHS compliant
  • REACH compliant

Storage & Handling

Storage
  • Store in original container in a cool dry location.
  • Close package tightly after removal of dye.
  • In humid environments, dye powder may clump-up.