锁具的材料及表面处理

One, Materials

When people choose locks, they often worry about the durability of the lock and whether it will rust or oxidize quickly. This issue is related to the material used and the surface treatment.

From a durability perspective, the best material should be stainless steel, especially for surface materials, which become shinier with use. It has good strength, strong corrosion resistance, and maintains its color. However, there are different types of stainless steel, mainly divided into ferritic and austenitic. Ferritic stainless steel has magnetic properties and is commonly known as "stainless iron." Over time, under poor environmental conditions, it can still rust. Only austenitic stainless steel won't rust. A simple way to identify them is by using a magnet to test.

Copper is one of the most widely used materials for locks. It has excellent mechanical properties, good corrosion resistance, and processing performance. Its lustrous appearance makes it particularly popular, especially copper-forged handles and other decorative lock components, which have a smooth surface, good density, no pores or sand holes. They are both sturdy and rust-resistant, and can be plated with 24K gold or sand gold finishes, making them look luxurious and elegant, adding color to home decor.

Zinc alloy material has much lower strength and rust resistance compared to other materials. However, its advantage lies in its ease of forming complex patterns, especially through pressure casting. Many of the more intricate patterned locks on the market are likely made of zinc alloy. Consumers need to carefully distinguish them.

Steel has good strength but is prone to rusting. It is generally used as internal structural material for locks rather than external decorative parts.

Aluminum or aluminum alloys are soft and lightweight with relatively low material strength, but they are easy to form.

Two, Surface Treatment

Surface treatment refers to covering or forming a protective layer on part surfaces using methods such as metal electro-deposition (commonly known as electroplating), coating (spraying), chemical oxidation (coloring), or other processing methods. This layer primarily serves a protective function against corrosion while also enhancing aesthetics and product durability. It is a critical factor directly measuring product quality. Common methods to evaluate surface treatments include measuring the thickness of the coating, checking adhesion, conducting salt spray and humidity tests, and inspecting the appearance. For coatings, methods like testing adhesion, hardness, humidity, and appearance are used.

Introduction to China's New Door Lock Standards

China's new door lock standards were released in June 2000 and implemented in October 2000. The original national standards for door locks included four standards: GB8385-97 "Exterior Door Locks," GB8386-87 "Pin Tumbler Core Locks," GB8387 "Leaf Core Locks," and GB8388-87 "Ball Locks," which were converted into QB/T3837-1999, QB/T3838-1999, QB/T3839-1999, and QB/T3840-1999 respectively in March 1999. These were released in 1988. However, with the continuous development of the market economy, significant changes occurred in door lock products. Product varieties became increasingly diverse, and quality improved significantly. The existing national standards and professional standards could no longer meet the new requirements for door lock quality and technology. Especially as China was about to join the WTO, globalization of the economy was inevitable. The grade and quality of China's door lock products needed to improve. To align with international standards and reduce the gap with developed countries, eliminate trade barriers, increase export earnings, and promote the development of the lock industry, participating in international competition, the original door lock standards had to be revised. The National Light Industry Bureau and the National Daily Hardware Standardization Center issued notices to revise the original four door lock standards. The pin tumbler lock (SG205-80) and the exterior double tongue lock (GB8385-87) were merged, and the addition of double latch locks made them the new standard for exterior door locks. The current light industrial standards QB now refer to these revised new standards.

The revision principle was to only raise standards, not lower them, fundamentally changing the backward situation of low product grades, low prices, and poor technical levels in China. A serious study and differentiated approach were adopted, combining with China's actual conditions for revision. During the process, foreign advanced standards such as American ANSI, British BS, and Japanese JIS were adopted to varying degrees as references. At the same time, according to national laws and regulations and the practical needs of products, grading regulations were made during the revision process, dividing exterior door locks and ball locks into Class A and Class B. This basically clarified the differences between high-end villas, apartments, and commodity housing.

The new standards' requirements are higher than the original ones. The main indicators of Class A exterior door locks reach the level of Grade B in British BS5872, while Class B exceeds the original Chinese standards but is slightly lower than Grade B in British BS5872 (note: in the British BS standard, Grade B is higher than Grade A). The main indicators of Class A ball locks are close to the second-grade lock level in American ANSI/BAMA.A156.2-1996, and the main indicators of Class B are close to the third-grade lock level in ANSI/BA, A.A156.2-1996, surpassing the original Chinese standards significantly. Therefore, China's newly revised door lock standards QB/T2473-2000, QB/T2475-2000, QB/T2474-2000, and QB/T2476-2000 are all higher than the original standards.

Lock Knowledge Column Four

Considerations Before Purchase

Consumers should consider the following aspects before purchasing locks.

1. The location and importance of use.

Consider using it on front doors, hall doors, rooms, bathrooms, or passages to select products suitable for the required functions.

2. The environment, conditions, and specific requirements of use.

Consider the quality of the usage environment, such as dryness/humidity, door structure, thickness, left-hand or right-hand opening, inward or outward opening, to prevent buying the wrong product.

3. Consideration of coordination with the decoration environment.

Based on personal preferences, when purchasing, consider the coordination and consistency with the room's decor.

4. Consider the status of family members.

Consider whether there are elderly, children, or disabled persons in the household and choose products that are convenient for their use.

5. Consider economic affordability.

Combine family economic conditions; those with ample funds can purchase high-end products, while those with limited budgets can choose lower-grade products. Regardless of the choice, consider whether the manufacturer is reputable and stable in quality. It is recommended to choose products from well-known enterprises to avoid financial loss and unnecessary troubles in daily life.

6. Consider the credibility and service level of the dealer.

Prevent some dealers from recommending counterfeit or substandard goods due to their own interests.

How to Choose When Buying

When purchasing lock products, pay attention to the following:

1. Choose products from enterprises with high reputation, stable quality, and good after-sales service.

2. First check if the product packaging labels and marks are complete (including product execution standards, grades, enterprise name, address, production date) and if the packaging is secure. Ensure the instructions match the product content, beware of exaggerated claims that do not match reality.

3. Observe the overall quality of the product appearance, including whether all components such as the lock head, lock body, lock tongue, handle, and cover plate are complete, whether the electroplated or painted surfaces have vibrant and uniform colors, and whether there are signs of rust, oxidation, or damage.

4. Check the reliability and flexibility of the product's functionality. Try at least two products for comparison. When purchasing double-sided lock heads, each key must be tested on both inner and outer lock heads. Also, check the insurance mechanism, trying each lock at least three times.

5. Then check the key tooth pattern. For five-tooth keys, each type should have at least three different tooth patterns, and the first and fifth teeth should avoid being the deepest to facilitate key insertion and prevent breakage.