Decorative hard anodizing?
Decorative hard anodizing?
(OP)
I've been in the aerospace field for many years and have worked extensively with both decorative anodized finishes and hard anodized working finishes BUT I am now working in a commercial environment and have a problem that I don't have an answer too in regard to anodizing. Is it possible to obtain a a decorative (in this case, translucent medium blue) finish with the hard anodize process? It would be the ideal answer answer to my current quest but I have yet to find a local process house that can give me a good answer to this question. Anyone? Thanks!
RE: Decorative hard anodizing?
For more info, start here:
http://www.finishing.com/2600-2799/2621.shtml
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Decorative hard anodizing?
The Aluminum Anodizers Council's 'Anodizing Reference Guide' gives the natural colors expected for various alloys. http://www.anodizing.org/reference_guide.html
Kaiser Aluminum developed a number of 'Kalcolor' alloys which developed natural colors (amber/gold, bronze, black)when anodized. Alco had a similar Duranodic process which depended more on organic acid additives to the anodizing electrolyte to develop color. Don't know whether still available. h
Most frequently, hard anodizing is dyed black or a darker blue or red. Some colors used in anodizing (the same dyes are used for both hard & conventional anodize): http://www.usspecialty.com/