Aloha, fun & authoritative answers -- no cost, no registration, no passwords, no popups
(as an eBay Partner & Amazon Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases)

Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989

-----

Can anodization cause brittleness?

I have a situation where a steel plug of 7mm (1/4") dia. is pressed in to an anodized sleeve. This sleeve cracks open sometimes. I want to know if anodization can contribute to brittleness. The base material is Al-Si 12% (A6061BE).

G. Muralidharan
steering systems - Chennai, TamilNadu, India
2003

I have never heard of anodising making the aluminium brittle, but that is not to say it can't. 12%Si aluminium is not the easiest of alloys to anodise, but it does make a good bearing material. I would suspect the steel plug is slightly oversized, so check those before worrying about anodising. Also check the operating conditions and make sure there is no conflict in thermal expansions.

Trevor Crichton
R&D practical scientist
Chesham, Bucks, UK
2003

(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: