How does aluminum anodizing work?

How does aluminum anodizing work?

What is anodized alumina?

    Anodizing is a common method for treating non-ferrous materials. This includes aluminum, titanium and magnesium.

    It involves an electrochemical process that converts the outer surface of a metal component into a durable, highly corrosion-resistant and scratch-resistant layer. The process is also highly decorative. In application, it provides a glossy surface that comes in a variety of colors.

    Before you know how to anodize aluminum, the first thing you need to know is how anodizing works. Almost any aluminum component can be anodized. Whether it's CNC machining or sheet metal machining. The process may seem complicated due to the various electrochemical reactions that take place, but it is actually simple and inexpensive. Therefore, anodizing is a popular choice in many industries.

Steps for anodizing aluminum.

    Reanodizing may seem complicated, however, the steps are simple. The following are the general steps used in the anodizing process.

Step 1: First, the aluminum portion is cleaned prior to anodizing. This is important to remove impurities that may hinder the process.

Step 2: The material is then placed in an electrolytic solution and a DC current is applied. This creates a positive charge in the aluminum and a negative charge in the electrolyte plate of the solution. The resulting electrochemical reaction creates pores on the surface of the aluminum component, which allows the aluminum substrate to combine with negatively charged O2 ions in the solution to produce alumina. This step answers the question "What does anodizing mean?"

    As a result, it results in an anodized barrier layer on the surface of the part. This barrier layer is more resistant to corrosion and durable than the aluminum underneath.

Anodizing process materials

    According to its principle, anodizing works only with conductive materials, such as metals. That doesn't mean aluminum is the only option, however. In fact, anodized metals also include magnesium and titanium.

    Other issues related to materials available for anodizing processes include whether it is possible to anodize steel or stainless steel. However, this is unlikely. The cause is the formation of iron oxide (rust) on the steel. The resulting iron oxide (rust) cannot form a tight, tough, corrosion-resistant coating on the steel. Therefore, it cannot be anodized effectively.