Are medals' surface treatments wear-resistant and scratch-resistant?
Publish Time: 2025-12-15
Medals, as tangible carriers of honor, achievement, and commemoration, are valuable not only for the meaning they embody but also for their durable appearance. A meticulously designed medal that develops scratches, paint chips, or worn plating shortly after being awarded not only diminishes its visual appeal but may also undermine the solemnity and prestige it symbolizes. Therefore, the superior wear-resistant and scratch-resistant properties of medal surface treatments directly affect their long-term display and collectible value.
Modern medals often use zinc alloy, bronze, or iron substrates, employing processes such as electroplating, baking paint, UV printing, or transparent protective coatings to give them rich colors and metallic luster. However, if these exquisite surfaces lack sufficient mechanical strength, they are easily scratched or peel off during daily wear, transportation, storage, and even frequent finger contact. Especially in large-scale events, corporate awards, or school ceremonies, medals often undergo multiple transfers, hanging displays, or long-term exhibitions, making the requirements for wear resistance even more stringent.
High-quality surface treatment processes were developed to address this challenge. Taking electroplating as an example, gold, nickel, or copper plating is not simply a matter of covering the metal; rather, it involves multi-layer deposition and a dense crystalline structure to form a hard and continuous metallic film. Some advanced processes also apply a micron-level transparent protective varnish (such as a polyester or acrylic coating) after electroplating, like an "invisible armor" for the medals. This preserves the metal's natural luster and feel while effectively isolating it from external friction and oxidation. This composite protective system ensures that medals maintain a pristine surface even after being bumped by keys, rubbed by webbing, or cleaned.
For medals with colored designs, UV printing or baking varnish processes also prioritize durability. High-quality inks, after UV curing, have tightly cross-linked molecules, significantly increasing hardness; coupled with a high-transparency, wear-resistant clear varnish topcoat, this not only prevents color fading but also resists physical scratches from daily use. Even delicate text edges or complex logo details remain sharp and clear for a long time, without becoming blurred or distorted over time.
Furthermore, the treatment of edges and corners is particularly crucial. These areas are most susceptible to stress, and insufficient polishing or coating coverage often becomes the starting point for wear. Professional manufacturers perform meticulous deburring and chamfering polishing on mediums after molding to ensure all contact surfaces are smooth and rounded. They also optimize the fixture position and liquid flow direction during spraying or electroplating to ensure uniform film thickness at corners and eliminate weak points.
From a user's perspective, wear and scratch resistance is not only a technical indicator but also a continuation of the emotional experience. An athlete hopes to still proudly display the team emblem on their gold medal ten years later; a graduate expects their school badge to still shine brightly over time; a company hopes its annual medal of excellence will become a lasting inspiration on employees' desks. All of this relies on the surface treatment's silent resistance to time and use.
Furthermore, the application of environmentally friendly wear-resistant coatings reflects modern manufacturing's commitment to sustainability—extending product lifespan while reducing resource waste caused by premature aging.
In conclusion, the wear and scratch resistance of mediums is not accidental but the result of the combined effects of material selection, process control, and meticulous polishing. It ensures that honors are not erased by time, and allows every gaze to relive that original aspiration and glory—within a small space, it steadfastly safeguards meaning.
