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Coloring aluminum

 

Sir,

We are manufacturer of piston, I want to color aluminium in any color except silver.

Thanx.

Muhammd Idrees
- Pakistan

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And your question is?

Marc Green
anodizer - Boise, Idaho
 

Hi sir,

I want to change the original color of aluminium metal (piston) what I should do . . . what composition of chemical should be used to change the color of Al. please tell me the most inexpensive way of coloring Aluminium . . . We are a manufacturer of Pistons.....

Take Care,

Idrees Aziz
- Lahore, Pakistan

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Most inexpensive way to color aluminum:

Direct chemical coloring:

Brown to black color:
potassium permanganate ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] .......10 gm
copper nitrate ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] ...............25 gm
nitric acid(38 Be)...........4 gm
water........................1 lit
Hot immersion(80-100 C)!5 min=light brown,15 min =dark brown,30 min=black Golden yellow color: potassium permanganate......20 gm.water 1lit Hot immersion(8o C)!You can add 5 gm copper sulphate ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] for bronze color!

Red color:
potassium sulfide.......25 gm
o,3 gm potassium bichromate
alizarine................ 1 gm
water....................1 lit

Good luck! Only thoroughly degreased objects can be colored!

Goran Budija
- Zagreb;Croatia

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Hi there !
Could anyone of you tell me how to color aluminium in blue, both light and dark ? (The cheapest way, of course)
I am involved with motorcycle tuning parts.

Thanks in advance.

Oscar

oscar rivero
backyard mechanic - lagomar,canelones, uruguay
May 26, 2009

Hi, Oscar. To color aluminum for decorative outdoor application is a different thing than just trying to temporarily mark it for in-factory identification. You need to have a full polishing, cleaning, desmutting, anodizing, dyeing, and sealing process applied to these parts.

Talk to a local anodizing shop and they will explain, and maybe show you, what is involved. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
(Ted can offer longterm or instant help)
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
May 26, 2009

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