To coat or treat metal surfaces with a protective chemical finish, especially to prevent rust and improve paint adhesion.
From 'Bonderite,' a trademark for a chemical conversion coating system developed in the early 20th century, plus the verb suffix -ize. The word became genericized for the process of metal surface treatment.
Bonderizing revolutionized manufacturing by creating an invisible molecular barrier on steel—this single process enabled modern cars, aircraft, and bridges to resist rust that would've destroyed them, fundamentally extending the lifespan of metal structures.
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