The 5 Major Process Steps of Anodized Aluminum Profiles

The 5 major process steps of anodized aluminum profiles,from the cleaning, to anodizing, to coloring, to sealing, and dry.

The anodizing of aluminum profile can improve the corrosion resistance, surface hardness and wear resistance of aluminum alloy products. It also has a better decorative effect than aluminum profiel after finish this surface treatment.

Let's take a look at the 5 major process flows of anodized aluminum profiles with Yinsheung CNC!

I. Cleaning

Clean the oil, dust and other impurities on the surface of the aluminum profile to ensure the surface is clean, which ensure the quality of the anodizing effect.

II. Pickling

Soak the aluminum profile in an acidic solution for pickling treatment to remove the oxide scale and some oxide on the surface of the aluminum profile to improve the anodizing finish effect.

Short aluminum profile anodized processing

III. Anodizing

1. The preparation of anodizing tank :

Put the aluminum profile in the anodizing tank. Make sure the surface of the aluminum profile is in good contact with the treatment tank electrode.

2. Electrolyte preparation:

Use some appropriate electrolyte, such as sulfuric acid, aluminum sulfate, etc. Adjust the parameters of temperature and concentration as needed.

3. Electrolytic reaction:

To form an oxide film on the surface of the aluminum profile by applying a DC power supply when an electrolytic reaction is carried out in the anodizing tank.

4. Electrolytic time control:

The anodizing time is controlled according to the requirements, ranging from tens of minutes to several hours generally.

5. Oxide film thickness control:

The thickness of the oxide film is controlled to meet different needs by adjusting parameters of electrolytic time and current density.

For example, when increasing the time of anodizing can increase the thickness of the oxide layer And shortening the time of anodizing will obtain a shallower oxide layer.

Besides, selecting a suitable current density can accelerate the growth rate of the film within a certain range and shorten the anodizing time. But the formation rate of the anodized film will decrease instead when it exceeds a certain value.

IV. Coloring

The coloring of the anodized film can be divided into electrolytic coloring and chemical coloring.

1. Electrolytic coloring:

After the anodizing, the aluminum profiles are subjected to secondary electrolysis in an electrolytic solution containing metal salts. The heavy metal ions enter the pores of the oxide film which are reduced and deposited at the bottom of the pores under the action of the electric field, which make the oxide film produces bronze, brown, gray, red, cyan, blue and other tones.

2. Chemical coloring:

After the anodizing, the aluminum profiles are entered an organic or inorganic dye solution. And the dye penetrates into the pores of the oxide film causing chemical or physical coloring.

 To ensure the surface of the aluminium profile is thoroughly dried.

V Sealing

1. Sealing treatment:

Put the anodized colored aluminum profiles into the sealing liquid to seal the micropores in the anodized layer. It is to improve the corrosion resistance and sealing performance of the aluminum profiles.

2. Cleaning and drying:

Wash the sealed aluminum profiles with clean water to remove the residual sealing agent and dye. To ensure the surface is thoroughly dried.