Letter 41052

Deoxidising after Anodising and prior to Colouring [Australia] 

June 9, 2006

I am having some difficulty colouring Anodised Aluminium and suspect I should be using a Deoxidant immediately prior to Colouring. Any suggestions for a suitable Deoxidant.

David Rean
Small batch Electroplating & Anodising - Ulladulla, N.S.W. Australia

I've never heard of that, David. Rather: pretreatment, anodize, dye, seal (with rinsing in between each step).

 
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

The nitric in the deox will 'open up' the pores and allow better dye absorption in some cases, usually castings.

Bill Grayson
metal finishing - San Jose, CA, USA

Thanks, Bill. I know of dilute nitric acid being used as a rinse aid after anodizing, supposedly displacing trapped sulfuric acid. Is this "deox" solution stronger, or is it also very dilute? Thanks.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

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