Definition
A chemical surface treatment in which steel or iron parts are coated with a thin layer of zinc or iron phosphate to inhibit corrosion and provide a base that helps paint adhere to the metal.
Plain English
A factory process that puts a thin protective coating on steel parts so they don't rust and so paint sticks to them better.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance, sheet-metal repair, corrosion-control work, and descriptions of how steel parts were prepared before painting.
Derivation
Named after the Bonderite process, a phosphate-coating method developed by the Parker Rust-Proof Company in the 1930s. The trade name became a generic verb for this type of treatment, much like 'xeroxing' came to mean photocopying.
Why Pilots Care
Properly treated parts last longer in harsh environments and reduce the risk of hidden corrosion that could compromise structural integrity.
Intuition Check
Bonderizing does not mean gluing two parts together. It means treating the surface of metal so a protective coating can hold better.
Example Sentence 1
The steel engine mount is bonderized before priming so the paint will bond properly and the metal won't rust underneath.
Example Sentence 2
Bonderizing the control cable fittings helped prevent rust in the humid coastal hangar.