News

News & Articles

Insights on metallurgy and surface-treatment processes

Mar 15, 2026 • 4 min read

Cr3+ vs Cr6+ — what every manufacturer should know

Why industry is moving from hexavalent (Cr6+) to trivalent (Cr3+) chromium passivation — the compliance rules, corrosion performance, and what it means for small fasteners and your supply chain.

Feb 8, 2026 • 5 min read

Heat Treatment 101: choosing the right process

Hardening, tempering, annealing, normalizing — what each heat-treatment process actually does, and how to choose the right one for your steel grade and application.

Jan 12, 2026 • 3 min read

Salt Spray Test: read the results in 5 minutes

How to read a salt-spray (ASTM B117) report — hours to white rust and red rust, what the numbers really mean, and how they relate to real-world corrosion protection.

Knowledge Center

Metal Finishing & Metallurgy Knowledge

Deep-dive articles on hardening, metal coloring, corrosion protection and metallurgy basics — written from 30+ years of shop-floor experience.

Hardening

9 min read

Heat Treatment & Hardening Explained

What heat treatment is, why steel can be hardened, and how the quench-and-temper process works — written for screws, nuts and bolts.

News & Articles

Cr3+ vs Cr6+ — what every manufacturer should know

Heat Treatment 101: choosing the right process

Salt Spray Test: read the results in 5 minutes

Metal Finishing & Metallurgy Knowledge

Heat Treatment & Hardening Explained

Case Hardening: Carburizing, Nitriding & Carbonitriding

Metal Hardness HRC, HV, HB — Meaning & How to Measure

How Cr3+ Zinc Plating Protects Against Rust

Metal Coloring: Black Oxide, Zinc Colors and Anodizing

Phosphate Coating: Zinc vs Manganese

Salt Spray Test (ASTM B117) — How to Read It

Fastener Steel Grades: S45C, SCM435, SUS304

Hydrogen Embrittlement and Baking

Choosing the Right Finish for Screws, Nuts and Bolts

How Hard Can SCM440, SCM435 and S45C Get? Choosing a Steel Grade

Why Parts Warp After Hardening—and How to Prevent It

What Is Induction Hardening, and When to Use It

Annealing vs Normalizing vs Tempering: What Is the Difference?

Decarburization: The Invisible Loss of Surface Carbon in Hardening

Zinc Plating Colour Chart: White, Blue, Yellow, Rainbow, Black, Green

How Long Does Zinc Plating Last? Salt-Spray Hours, Explained

Best Rust Protection for Screws and Bolts: Zinc vs Phosphate vs Black Oxide

RoHS and Cr6-Free: Why Exports Need Trivalent Zinc Plating

Black Oxide vs Phosphate (Black): What Is the Difference?

Manganese vs Zinc Phosphate: Differences and When to Use Each

Phosphate Primer Before Paint: Why Paint Adheres Better

Measuring Coating Thickness: How It Is Done and Why It Matters

Case Depth: Measuring and Controlling the Hardened Surface Layer

How to Read a Metal Test Certificate

What Microstructure (Metallography) Analysis Can Tell You

Bulk Plating for Small Parts: Minimum Order, Lead Time, Nationwide Shipping

Preparing Parts Before Plating: A Guide for Fastener Makers (OEM)

Automotive Metal Finishing: The Standards and Finishes OEMs Expect

ISO 9001 in a Plating Shop: How It Affects Quality

News & Articles

Cr3+ vs Cr6+ — what every manufacturer should know

Heat Treatment 101: choosing the right process

Salt Spray Test: read the results in 5 minutes

Metal Finishing & Metallurgy Knowledge

Heat Treatment & Hardening Explained

Case Hardening: Carburizing, Nitriding & Carbonitriding

Metal Hardness HRC, HV, HB — Meaning & How to Measure

How Cr3+ Zinc Plating Protects Against Rust

Metal Coloring: Black Oxide, Zinc Colors and Anodizing

Phosphate Coating: Zinc vs Manganese

Salt Spray Test (ASTM B117) — How to Read It

Fastener Steel Grades: S45C, SCM435, SUS304

Hydrogen Embrittlement and Baking

Choosing the Right Finish for Screws, Nuts and Bolts

How Hard Can SCM440, SCM435 and S45C Get? Choosing a Steel Grade

Why Parts Warp After Hardening—and How to Prevent It

What Is Induction Hardening, and When to Use It

Annealing vs Normalizing vs Tempering: What Is the Difference?

Decarburization: The Invisible Loss of Surface Carbon in Hardening

Zinc Plating Colour Chart: White, Blue, Yellow, Rainbow, Black, Green

How Long Does Zinc Plating Last? Salt-Spray Hours, Explained

Best Rust Protection for Screws and Bolts: Zinc vs Phosphate vs Black Oxide

RoHS and Cr6-Free: Why Exports Need Trivalent Zinc Plating

Black Oxide vs Phosphate (Black): What Is the Difference?

Manganese vs Zinc Phosphate: Differences and When to Use Each

Phosphate Primer Before Paint: Why Paint Adheres Better

Measuring Coating Thickness: How It Is Done and Why It Matters

Case Depth: Measuring and Controlling the Hardened Surface Layer

How to Read a Metal Test Certificate

What Microstructure (Metallography) Analysis Can Tell You

Bulk Plating for Small Parts: Minimum Order, Lead Time, Nationwide Shipping

Preparing Parts Before Plating: A Guide for Fastener Makers (OEM)

Automotive Metal Finishing: The Standards and Finishes OEMs Expect

ISO 9001 in a Plating Shop: How It Affects Quality