Anodizing Aluminum the journey of a less-than-perfect

aluminum sample

Grace Woods and Ryan Abbott SRJC ENGR45 SPRING 2014

Conductors of the Experiment • Grace Woods – Mechanical Engineering major • Ryan Abbott – Mechanical Engineering major

How Anodizing Works

• Stripping (remove current oxide layer) • Replacing (thicker oxide layer) • Sealing (closes pores)

List of Materials

• Aluminum · two sheets · sample wire

• Sulfuric Acid, H2SO4 (20% conc.) • Deionized water • RIT Dye (Purple) • Glass Beakers

· two 600mL · one 1000mL

• Ethanol and Sand paper (cleaning)

• DC Voltage Source · 15V/2A · Banana/Alligator Clips

• Hot plates (2) • Safety Equipment

· Goggles · Apron · Rubber gloves · Common Sense

• Wooden Ruler

Procedure Cathode – Before Sanding & Rinsing with Ethanol

Cathode – After Sanding & Rinsing with Ethanol

Set up

Dye Bath

Sealing

Final Product

Sources of Error

• Current vs. Spacing • Time/Temperature • Dye Bath (too rich)

Resources • Aluminum Anodizers Council

www.anodizing.org/Anodizing/what_is_anodizing.html • Frank J. Hoose Anodizing Aluminum bloghttp://www.mini-

lathe.com/Anodizing/anodizing_aluminum.htm • How to Anodize Aluminum (Caswell Inc.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr-zd6StOOw • AACOA website http://www.aacoa.com/anodizing/process.htm • How to anodize aluminum (Bill Gilmour) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI-oiBKAyOY • Understanding and Specifying Anodizing: What a Manufacturer Needs to

Know (2Dye4 Inc.) http://www.2dye4inc.com/understandingano/anoindex.html