Integrated Polishing System Symptoms
- A coated surface changes color, gloss, uniformity or apparent thickness after polishing.
Troubleshooting
Plated surface changed color or gloss
A coated surface changes color, gloss, uniformity or apparent thickness after polishing.
Likely causes
- Coating too thin
- Poor adhesion
- Uneven coating
- Damaged coating
- Chemically or mechanically unsuitable coating
Checks
- Check coating history
- Inspect thickness and adhesion if possible
- Compare a small test area with the original surface
- Stop polishing if coating changes
Recommended fixes
- Do not continue polishing the coated item without owner approval
- Use small-area or separate-sample tests before full processing
- Treat existing coatings as higher-risk surfaces
- Refer to the plated surface warning
Prevention
- Treat existing coatings as higher-risk surfaces.
- Confirm coating type, thickness and adhesion before mechanical polishing whenever possible.
- Test first on an inconspicuous area or separate sample.
- Use minimal compound, controlled pressure and short observation intervals.
Warning for plated or coated surfaces
Coated surfaces may include electroplating, flash plating, PVD/CVD coatings, lacquers and other decorative or protective layers. Mechanical polishing may thin, remove, discolor, detach or otherwise damage such coatings. Do not polish coated surfaces unless the coating type, thickness and repair strategy are understood and tested.