Aluminium anodising is crucial for many aspects of manufacturing. If you require any aluminium anodising services, or if you wish to purchase anodised aluminium, it is best to contact a professional. This article explains all about aluminium anodising and indicates some of the ways in which this procedure is useful.
Aluminium anodising: the basics
Anodising aluminium is a process that requires an electrical current. The aluminium part to be anodised is used as the anode in the circuit, and a current is passed through it, changing its properties. Usually this takes place in an acid solution. As this occurs, the combination of electricity and acid caused aluminium oxide to build up on the surface of the aluminium part. The higher the voltage used, the thicker the coating of aluminium oxide will be. Different types of acidic solution will also produce different effects, and these can be tweaked to suit your specific needs. Once anodised, aluminium will have numerous advantages over non anodised aluminium. For example, anodised aluminium is:
- More resistant to corrosion
- An easier surface for paint and other emulsions to adhere to.
- More resistant to wear.
- Better able to absorb certain dyes and other coatings.
Thus, anodised aluminium does not just look better – it also performs better. Once anodised, aluminium parts can be further enhanced by means of additional processes such as chromate conversion coating. Aluminium is not the only metal that can be anodised, either. Titanium, tantalum, and niobium can all be anodised. Zinc, too, can also be anodised, though this is a more rare occurrence than the anodisation of the other four metals under discussion here. In sum, however, aluminium is the metal that is most commonly anodised all over the world, due to its strength, cost effectiveness, versatility, and ability to be 100% recycled once no longer in use.
Where is anodised aluminium used?
Anodised aluminium has a wide variety of applications. Entire anodised aluminium parts can be used as the framework for buildings, as scaffolding, or as parts in a larger mechanism. In addition, manufacturers also create anodised aluminium films which can be easily impregnated with a variety of dyes or other finishes. These aluminium films can then be overlaid onto other metal parts to give the correct aesthetic effect. From architectural moulding to baseball bats, anodised aluminium is everywhere.
