Anodization is an electrolytic process that converts the surface of a treated aluminum piece to a protective oxide that protects it against wear and corrosion.
Anodized parts are becoming increasingly popular among home builders, especially in their rifle and pistol builds.
On that note, this short post will cover some of the selling points of AR15 anodized parts.
Why Anodized?
The AR15 is composed of an upper and lower receiver, both of which are made from aluminum. In addition, many other parts and furniture on AR-style rifles are also made from aluminum, commonly the handguards and grips.
As a result, anodization is a prime choice of finish for these parts, regardless of whether they are forged or machined from an extruded billet of aluminum.
The main advantage of AR15 anodized parts has to do with corrosion resistance. Since the process electrochemically converts the surface of the aluminum to a protective oxide, no corrosion or oxidation can advance on the surface.
This effectively makes anodized aluminum parts corrosion proof, though that is not the only advantage of so treating products accordingly.
Anodized aluminum parts are also considerably harder than untreated parts. The finish cannot be rubbed or buffed off, and does not chip, since the oxide layer is integral with the part. The oxide layer is also very hard, which makes it wear and abrasion resistant.
For what it’s worth, AR15 anodized parts also have a greater degree of lubricity than untreated parts, which means the surface is quite slick. This means that, should any moving parts be anodized, they would require less liquid lubrication than untreated parts. It also means they will wear at a slower rate.
It also bears noting that AR15 anodized parts are color-customizable. Brightly colored anodized finishes can be applied to aluminum parts and the finish has a nice, attractive sheen. This is also attractive to some builders since it allows users to personalize their builds.
But, despite these clear advantages, not all parts of an AR15 are made of aluminum and so not all parts can be anodized. With that said, there are alternatives.
Now for the Steel Parts
For the steel parts of the AR build, such as the bolt carrier group, barrel and muzzle device, there are other finishes that can be applied that offer similar advantages to anodization.
While steel cannot be anodized, it can be completed with a nitride finish, such as black nitride or titanium nitride.
Nitrided finishes are harder than untreated steel, and like anodization, a nitride finish cannot chip or wear off. This makes nitrided finishes offer far better protection against corrosion and wear than untreated steel.
A nitride finish also offers a sleek, attractive finish, like anodization. In the case of titanium nitride, it also offers an attractive, gold-tone finish.
There are also other finishes that can improve wear and corrosion resistance, such as nickel boron and diamond-like carbon, or DLC.
All of the finishes so mentioned offer better permanent dry lubricity, which means less liquid lubrication needs to be used on them.
There is another finish, phosphate, which improves wear and corrosion resistance, but which does not offer a good degree of lubricity, and which has a bit of tooth.
Either way, all of these finishes are options for steel parts, since steel is not anodized.
Where to Get AR15 Anodized Parts
Here for AR15 anodized parts? Get them online at MCS Gearup, where you can also get corresponding steel parts with protective finishes, so customizing your build while simultaneously protecting it against corrosion and wear.
For more information, visit their website or contact their customer service team directly at [email protected].
