Unlock the Full Potential of Metal Surfaces with Lohtragon®

Surface Perfection through Customized Chemistry

Aluminium’s popularity across industries - from aerospace and automotive to electronics and packaging - is rooted in its low weight, corrosion resistance, and versatile surface properties. But to ensure consistent coating, bonding, coloring, or corrosion resistance, the aluminium surface must be pre-treated and modified using precise chemical methods.

Lohtragon^® products support aluminium surface treatment with customized metal salts, if desired developed in close collaboration with your technical teams.
We do not only sell pre-packaged solutions - we help you create them.

Key Metal Salts for Aluminium Surface Treatment

Lohtragon^® O20 – Ferric Ammonium Oxalate 

An excellent candidate for controlled oxidation and surface preparation, this Iron(III)-based salt supports:

• Oxidative coloring of aluminium in bronze or yellow tones
• Activation or passivation prior to coating or bonding
• Mild surface etching without aggressive acids

By combining ferric ions with oxalate complexation, Lohtragon^® O20 enables redox-active surface interactions that are both functional and visually effective.

Lohtragon^® V04 / V28 – Ferrous & Ferric Sulfates

Used in acid etching and pickling formulations, these salts help remove surface oxides and deposits left by alkaline degreasing steps - crucial for thin coatings (<140 μm) as found in aerospace or automotive aluminium components.

Use Cases:

• Acid etching baths replacing nitric/chromic acids
• Pre-treatment of aluminium sheets and car bodies
• Surface prep for bonding, painting, or anodizing

Lohtragon^® Complexing Agents – Citrates, Tartrates, Oxalates

Complexing agents such as:

• Tripotassium Citrate (Lohtragon^® B40)
• Dipotassium Tartrate (Lohtragon^® B60)
• Dipotassium Oxalate (Lohtragon^® O16)

…are ideal for buffering, pH control, and controlled interaction with aluminium surfaces - ensuring uniform, reproducible results in multi-metal systems or when minimizing attack on specific aluminium alloys.

Custom Formulation Development - Not Off-the-Shelf Products

At Lohtragon^®, we do not only offer standardized aluminium surface treatment products. Instead, we provide:

• Access to a broad metal salt portfolio
• In-house expertise in surface chemistry and redox systems
• Application lab support for test formulation and simulation
• Adaptation to your process: immersion, spray, roll-coat, or electrochemical
• Regulatory support

Our goal is to design application-specific additive systems that meet your technical, regulatory, and sustainability requirements.

Sustainable Surface Chemistry – Without Compromise

As regulatory pressures phase out toxic and environmentally harmful components such as chromates or nitrates, Lohtragon^® helps you develop greener alternatives using:

• REACH-compliant, low-toxicity salts
• Biodegradable and chromate-free systems
• Low-metal contamination options for high-purity surface demands
• High consistency and traceability for aerospace or electronics standards

Application Areas for Aluminium Surface Treatment

Our metal salt-based developments apply to a broad range of aluminium treatments, including:

• Architectural panels with decorative oxidation
• Aerospace and automotive body parts requiring uniform coatings
• Anodizing pre-treatments
• Electronic housings needing passivation
• Adhesion enhancement for paints, foils, or composites
• Battery housing components for EV systems

Each use case requires specific chemistry, bath design, and compatibility checks - your expertise supported by our team of Lohtragon^® metal salt specialists.

Let’s Discuss Your Aluminium Surface Treatment Solution

Do you need an optimized, sustainable pickling system? Looking to replace critical ingredients? Or want to explore the use of iron salts for functional oxidation?
Get in touch with our Lohtragon^® experts to discuss your needs.

Customized Solutions

Lohtragon® is committed to delivering customized solutions through its Joint Lohtragon® Product Developments. These solutions are not only performance-oriented but also take into account environmental, safety, and sustainability concerns.

In Summary

Optimizing the surface properties of metals is more than a finishing touch; it is a necessity for maximizing performance, durability, and aesthetics. Lohtragon® provides a specialized range of metal salts for pickling, etching, and electroplating, promising not just improved performance but also a safer and more sustainable process. Transform your metals today with Lohtragon®. The surface is just the beginning.