· Type
III 'hard' anodize - This imparts a robust, military-grade finish
on the housing. It will withstand abusive handling, scratches,
and impacts - just about anything you can reasonably
throw at it and still look great.
· Nickel
Acetate Seal - which seals the aluminum pores and makes the housing
impervious to attack by salt water or other corrosive elements.
The black finish is incredibly
strong and resilient. It will endure for many years, yet look as good
as the day it shipped from Gates.
What about Heat Buildup?
Before Gates introduced the black finish
several extensive tests were performed, including ones to determine
if the finish would represent a heat buildup problem. It stands to
reason that a black housing could get hot, especially in direct sunlight.
However, what we found was quite different.
Identical housings - one black
and one silver - were placed in direct sunlight for several hours
and the internal temperature tracked every 15 minutes. After more
than three hours we found the same result every time: there was no
meaningful internal temperature difference between the black and silver
housings. Further, while the ambient temperature averaged 75-80°F
/ 24-27°C, the internal housing temperature never rose above 95°F
/ 25°C.
The reason?
Gates housings are made of aluminum, which is not only strong and
lightweight, but an excellent conductor of heat (which is why it's
used in cookware). The aluminum is able to rapidly dissipate heat
buildup, much faster than the sun can provide.
So, the bottom line is this: you
can enjoy the tough new look of a Gates housing with NO worries about
heat buildup!
