6/20/2023 0 Comments Aluminum chargeIf an aluminum machined part goes straight to anodizing, some machine marks or scratches will likely remain on the finished part’s surface.įor this reason, if you require a completely uniform surface finish, it can be beneficial to use polishing, bead blasting or another mechanical finishing process beforehand. Therefore, it doesn’t have the same effect as bead blasting or polishing. The reason for these design considerations is that they help to prevent overheating (and even burning) of the workpiece due to a high concentration of electric current. Part designs should also not integrate any burrs. With the anodizing process, an important design tip is to ensure that all edges and corners of the workpiece have radii of at least 0.5 mm. You can also take the extra layer into account in the design stage. If tight tolerances are critical, consider the option for Type I or Type II anodizing. This is because it can (albeit marginally) affect part tolerances. If you know you want to apply the anodizing process to your aluminum component, be aware that the process does add some thickness to the part. Below are a few important tips that you can use in the process. However, some tips will help smoothen the process especially if you are a beginner. ![]() Learning how to anodize aluminum parts might not be complex. This includes clear anodized aluminum, black anodized aluminum, blue, gold, grey, red, etc. Anodizing can also apply a color finish to metal parts and there are practically infinite colors to choose from. Īnother reason that many customers choose to anodize their aluminum products is aesthetics. This means that parts may have lower electrical conductivity than before. Īlso, the outer anodized layer of a part has insulating properties. This means that it can’t peel or chip like paint coatings. Further, because the process is electrochemical, the barrier layer created using anodizing becomes a part of the component. ![]() This includes increasing corrosion, scratch, and weather resistance. įirst, the finishing process significantly improves material properties on the part’s surface. Here, we’ll dive into the benefits of using the anodizing process on aluminum parts. For example, it can undergo wear and tear, due to oxygen exposure. Although it does not rust, it is still susceptible to other conditions. There are three commonly used types of anodizing process and each type of process results in a different set of functional and aesthetic properties.Īluminum is a broadly used material because of its beneficial properties. To know how to anodize aluminum, there is a need to know the types of aluminum used in the anodizing process. Different Types of Anodizing Aluminum Process Therefore, it can’t be beneficially anodized. The iron oxide (rust) formed does not form a tight, tenacious, corrosion-resistant coating on steel. The reason is due to the formation of iron oxide (rust) on the steel. Other questions related to the available materials for the anodizing process include whether it is possible to anodize steel or stainless steel. In fact, anodized metals also include magnesium and titanium. However, it does not mean that aluminum is the only option. Materials for Anodizing Processīased on its principle, anodizing is only available for conductive materials like metals. This barrier layer is more resistant and durable than the underlying aluminum. This step answers the question “what does anodized mean.”Ĭonsequently, it results in the creation of an anodic oxide barrier layer on the part’s surface. The resulting electrochemical reaction creates pores on the surface of the aluminum component, which enable the aluminum substrate to bond with the negatively charged O 2 ions in the solution to create aluminum oxide. ![]() This creates a positive electric charge in the aluminum and a negative charge in the solution’s electrolyte plates. Step 2: Then placement of the material into a bath of electrolytic solution occurs and there is the application of a direct electric current.This is important for the removal of impurities that can hinder the process. Step 1: First, cleaning of the aluminum part occurs before undergoing anodization.Below are the general steps used in the anodizing process. Steps of Anodizing AluminumĪnodizing again might look complex, however, the steps are straightforward. Therefore, anodization is a popular choice across many industries. The process, which may seem complex due to the various electrochemical reactions taking place, is quite simple and cost-effective. Whether it has been CNC machined or made using sheet metal fabrication. Almost any aluminum part can be anodized. Before knowing how to anodize aluminum, the first thing to know is how anodizing works.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |