An Introduction To Anodising

By Author: Salvatore Andrea
Total Articles: 6261

Anodising is something that you probably are not familiar with unless you work in the industry yourself but chances are that you will come across an item which has been subjected to the procedure at some point. It is employed by a broad range of companies so products which have been anodised can be found in all manner of places. Therefore if you are hitherto unfamiliar with anodising then here is a brief guide to this highly sought after process:
Put simply, anodising is when an item is dipped in acid in order to give it a different aesthetic appearance or qualities. Sulphuric acid is the typical substance used and this etches into the surface, giving a metal a ‘cloudy’ appearance. Products which go through anodising are pre-treated so that things like grease and dirt are cleared. Anodising makes things corrosion resistant, so it is typically used on things like bicycle and car parts made from the likes of aluminium which have to stand up to the elements.
Anodising can be done in a number of colours and finishes. It is possible to get various shades of red, black, blue and lime green as well as more exotic things like gun metal grey, gold, silver and bronze. Bright, satin and matt finishes are available so you can be sure that your component will have the desired appearance.
Hard anodising is one special form of the process which is done to achieve a greater surface protection and abrasion resistance. In other words it forms a more robust seal than standard sulphuric anodising. Components which have undergone hard anodising typically have a natural dark grey appearance, although certain colours may be applied. These do, however, tend to be darker in appearance than their normal counterparts.
Who can I enlist to undertake my anodising?
If you are in need of a specialist anodising firm then you need to track down someone who has an excellent reputation. One such firm which is known for its high standard of service can be found at Customcolour.co.uk. The company also specialises in hard anodising as well as a comprehensive range of colours and finishes.