General Information on Aluminium Enclosures

BOPLA standard aluminium enclosures consist of a lid and base, fixed with captive stainless steel V2A screws. The Euromas and Bocube aluminium enclosures have a tonuge and groove system; they have a foam rubber gasket that is oil and benzene resistant and provides protection classification IP 65. For special requirements seals can be inserted. These are particularly resistant, e.g. to heat and chemicals, or will guarantee greater EMC shielding.

The standard enclosures are made of the Al Si 12 alloy and are low-corrosive. Under the effect of oxygen aluminium forms a thick, firmly adhering oxyde layer on its surface. This is highly resistant to corrosion and protects the metal beneath from further oxydation. In cases where this natural corrosion protection is not sufficient, special surface treatments can give greater protection against corrosion. These include anodizing, chromating, lacquering, or a combination of chromating and lacquering. The latter is expecially suitable if corrosion-proofing against sea water is needed. When lacquering an additional priming coat or several final coats of lacquer will give greater protection.

Standard lacquering is carriied out, independent of the colour chosen, on an electrostatic belt The lacquering is then annealed in a 45-minute process at a temperature of about 120º C. This gives a permanent, hard surface which will not rub off.

Our standard lacquer processes are:

  1. Degreasing
    All aluminium enclosures are cleaned in a closed bath of perchloroethylene to remove
    remmants
     
  2. Lacquering
    Depth of layer up to> 20 µm
    Base: polyester amino-resin
    Pigment: lead free and chromate free
    Surface: structured, free of silicon
    Colour: Standard RAL 7001 or 7035, depending on the type, special RAL colours on request
    Our standard lacquering has shown a good resistance to chemicals: petroleum, petrols drilling emulsions, cleaning fluids, weak acids and lyes, weak solvents and weathering.

If required, we can of course also use other lacquers or processes. A different surface structure or gloss can also be obtained.

On principle it must be borne in mind that the various aluminium casting processes result in different surface qualities. While die-casting gives a smooth, even surface, chill casting results in a slightly grainy surface. This affects special requirements regarding surface quality, e.g. for screenprinting, engraving etc.