When searching for a metal paint for industrial applications, the term can refer to very different types of solutions. The objective is not always simply to create an aesthetic finish or permanent surface protection: in metallurgical processes, the applied product may be required to protect the metal from high temperatures, limit oxidation and decarburization, isolate specific areas during heat treatment, reduce friction, promote release or enable component marking. For this reason, it is more accurate to refer to paints, coatings and functional coatings for metals, selecting the technology according to the material, process and required result.
ATP Europe offers different product families developed for specific industrial applications. Protective coatings, Stop-Off coatings, forging lubricants, extrusion glasses, boron nitride coatings and marking paints meet different requirements and must be selected according to the actual process conditions.
Metal paint and functional coatings: what is the difference?
In everyday language, the term metal paint is often used to describe any product applied to the surface of a metal component. In an industrial context, however, this definition can be too broad. A coating applied before forging, for example, may perform a very different function from a paint used for marking. Similarly, a Stop-Off product used during carburizing does not serve the same purpose as a lubricant designed for hot extrusion.
It is therefore useful to begin with the function required from the coating: protection, insulation, lubrication, non-stick performance, masking or identification. Only then can the most suitable formulation be selected. To explore functions and selection criteria in more general terms, see our guide to industrial paints for metals. If, on the other hand, you want to understand the stages and methods used to apply a coating, you can find more information on the page dedicated to metal painting.
Types of metal paints and ATP solutions
ATP Europe solutions can be divided into different families according to the function they perform within the production process. This classification helps explain why the choice of an industrial metal paint cannot be based solely on the material being coated.
1. Protective coatings for metals
Oxy-Shield protective coatings for metals are applied before high-temperature processes to create a barrier on the material surface. During operations such as forging, rolling, hot extrusion and annealing, exposure to temperature and the process atmosphere can promote phenomena such as oxidation and decarburization. Oxy-Shield coatings are developed to limit these phenomena, helping to reduce scale formation and subsequent finishing operations. The range includes formulations for different materials, including steels, titanium alloys, nickel alloys, zirconium, molybdenum and other alloys used in high-temperature processing. In this case, the coating should not be considered simply as a protective paint for the finished component: it is applied as part of the metal processing cycle and performs its function during heat treatment or hot working.
2. Stop-Off surface coatings
Metseal Stop-Off coatings are water-based formulations developed to control surface hardening in selected areas of metal components subjected to specific thermochemical treatments. Their function is to create a barrier on areas that need to be excluded from the treatment. Application can therefore be limited to selected surfaces, leaving the remaining areas exposed. Metseal solutions are intended for processes such as gas carburizing, gas nitriding and ion or plasma nitriding. Here too, simply referring to the product as a “metal paint” does not fully describe its function: a Stop-Off coating is used as a selective masking system integrated into the heat treatment process.
3. Water-based forging lubricants
The OxyLub range includes water-based lubricants containing glass powder, developed to protect, insulate and lubricate metals during forging and other hot-working operations. These products are applied before heating and perform a function directly related to the manufacturing process: they help manage the interaction between the metal and the surfaces involved, providing the required lubrication conditions. They are therefore not paints in the traditional sense of the term, but functional lubricating coatings. The choice of formulation depends on the material being processed, the temperature and the type of operation performed. To explore the relationship between product, friction and processing in more detail, see our page dedicated to metal lubrication.
4. Borosilicate glass for extrusion
Borosilicate glass for extrusion is another technical solution that can be applied to metals, but it should not strictly be classified as a paint. In hot extrusion processes, glass is used as a lubricant between the material and the surfaces involved in the operation. At process temperatures, it helps reduce friction and facilitates the flow of metal through the die. This technology is used in the extrusion of different materials and alloys, with formulations selected according to process temperatures and operating characteristics. To better understand the process, you can also explore metal extrusion and aluminum extrusion dies.
5. Boron nitride coatings
Boron nitride coatings are a family of coatings intended for different industrial applications where lubrication, release properties and high-temperature performance are required. Boron nitride is used in processes such as casting, forming, pressing and other operations where interaction between metal and contact surfaces needs to be controlled. Depending on the formulation, these coatings can be used on dies, equipment and components involved in the manufacturing process.
6. Metal marking: paints and stencils
Metal marking is instead an area in which the term “paint” retains a more direct meaning. Metal Mark products are developed to enable component identification and traceability throughout the different stages of the production cycle, even when parts are subjected to demanding operating conditions. The choice of marking paint must take into account the material to be identified, the temperature reached and the subsequent processes the component will undergo. Effective industrial marking must retain the required characteristics throughout the stages for which it has been designed.
How to choose the right coating for metals
The different ATP product families demonstrate that there is no single metal paint suitable for every application. Before selecting a product, the actual process conditions must be analysed. The first factor to consider is the material. Steels, titanium alloys, nickel alloys, aluminium, zirconium, molybdenum and other metals may require different formulations, particularly when processed at high temperatures. The second factor is the manufacturing process. Protecting a component during annealing is different from lubricating it during forging or isolating a surface during carburizing. Similarly, a product intended for marking must meet different requirements from a non-stick coating.
The process temperature, exposure time, atmosphere, component geometry and function required from the coating must also be considered. In summary, before selecting a product it is useful to define:
- the metal or alloy to be treated;
- the production process in which the product will be used;
- the operating temperatures;
- the function required from the coating;
- the application methods compatible with the process.
The technique used to apply the product is therefore one of the factors involved in the selection process, but it is not the same as the function of the coating itself. To learn more about brush application, spraying, dipping, flow coating and other systems, see our guide to industrial painting types and application methods.
ATP Europe solutions for different materials and processes
The ATP Europe range is developed to meet specific requirements in industrial metal processing. Some formulations are designed for protection at high temperatures, while others are intended for heat treatment masking, lubrication, release or marking. Applications cover a wide range of industrial sectors, including forging, heat treatment, foundries and casting, the processing of titanium alloys and the aerospace industry.
The selection process should therefore not begin with the simple concept of “paint”, but with the industrial problem that needs to be solved. Correctly identifying the material, temperature and manufacturing operation makes it possible to select the most appropriate ATP product family and, subsequently, the specific formulation.
Find the most suitable ATP solution for your application
Selecting a metal paint, protective coating or functional coating requires an assessment of the actual conditions in which the product will operate. The same manufacturing process can involve different requirements depending on the alloy, temperatures and required result. ATP Europe supports companies in identifying the most suitable solutions for different metallurgical processes, with specific formulations and the possibility of evaluating applications according to production requirements.
If you need to identify the coating, lubricant or marking solution best suited to your process, contact ATP Europe and tell us about the material, manufacturing process and operating conditions of your application.