Why Photometal?
For over 60 years, engineers have trusted Photometal technology for extremely durable equipment and process identification items installed in demanding operating environments.
- Proven 20+ years sunlight & weather resistance
- Abrasion resistance
- Temperature resistance up to 1,000°F (537°C)
- Corrosion & saltwater resistance
- Chemical & solvent resistance
- Meets a wide variety of commercial, government and military specifications
Photometal commercial products use the Metalphoto process
Learn more in the videos below.
Technical Specifications
MATERIAL: Anodized Aluminum Sheets
SIZES: standard stock sizes up to 20″ x 24″
THICKNESS: .005″, .012″, .020″ .032″, .063″ (inquire about custom thickness)
LANGUAGES: English, Russian, Chinese, German, Spanish, and more
FINISHES: Satin
Performance Characteristics
The following performance requirements are taken from reference documents, in which Photometal technology is used and specified, in order to demonstrate the unique durability of the product.
| Characteristic | Result |
| Abrasion Resistance | No pronounced image loss, degradation or reduced readability after 7,000 cycles on an abrading wheel. |
| Acid Corrosion | No deterioration or image degradation after 24 hours in 3% nitric acid. |
| Heat Resistance | No legibility loss or degradation when subjected to 1,000°F. |
| Salt Spray Corrosion | No deleterious effect after a 720-hr salt spray (fog) test. 2,6 “Very Good” corrosion resistance after 113 days seawater exposure. |
| Accelerated Light and Weather Resistance | No pronounced deterioration of legibility after 400-hr carbon arc weatherometer exposure. ( ≈ 20+ year outdoor life) |
| Accelerated Oxygen Aging | No discoloration or fading after 96-hr/300 psi/ 70°C oxygen bomb aging |
| Stain Resistance | No black fading when plates are exposed to tincture of iodine. |
| Cleaning Resistance | No deleterious effects when tested with alkaline cleaners (MILC- 87937 or equivalent) for aircraft surfaces. |
| Low Temperature Resistance | No deleterious effect or image fade after 1 hour at -50°F. No impairment of legibility upon exposure at -67°F. |
| Organic Solvent Resistance | No softening, staining or noticeable fade after 24-hr exposure to: JP-4 fuel, Gasoline, Mineral Spirits, Methyl Ethyl Ketone, Turpentine, Turbine & Jet Fuel, Kerosene, Xylol, Acetone, Toluol, Heptane, Trichlorethylene, MIL-H-5606 Hydraulic Fluid and MIL-L-7808 Jet Engine Oil. |
| Fungus Resistance | Visual reading of “0” per ASTM-G21. |
| Thermal Shock | No deterioration after 3 cycles between -65°C and 125°C |
| Moisture Resistance | No deterioration after 10 humidity cycles per MIL-STD-202, method 106. |
Resistant against other chemicals including:
- JP-4 fuel
- Gasoline
- Mineral spirits
- Methylethylketone
- Turpentine
- Turbine & jet fuel
- Kerosene
- Xylol
- Acetone
- Toluol
- Heptane
- Trichlorethylene
- MIL-H-5606 hydraulic fluid
- MIL-L-7808 jet engine oil