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-----:AMS2487 & AMS2488 Type II Anodizing Of Titanium Q&A
Quickstart:
If titanium components are immersed in a conductive solution, and made the anode in an electrical circuit, the titanium on the surface is converted to titanium oxide. The coating can be a hard, functional, wear resistant coating per specifications AMS 2487 or 2488 Type II ... or it can be a thin highly-decorative coating in various colors. We have numerous discussion threads on each of these two general types of anodizing of titanium.
Readers are warned that although AMS 2487 & 2488 address the requirements and testing procedures, they do NOT provide sufficient info to guide a new user in implementing the process! And while this site prides itself on offering free technical help with finishing, this particular process is not yet generic but involves trade secrets and proprietary formulas.
You are welcome to undertake the process, don't make the mistake of thinking that you'll read how to do it anywhere. You will need to expend development efforts or retain a consultant to advise you.
⇩ Similar, related, Q&As -- oldest first ⇩
Q. I am setting up a titanium anodizing line to meet AMS 2488 type II requirements. What is the correct chemical solution and operating parameters for the anodizing tanks (chemicals, concentration, pH value, temperature, voltage, amperage, timing etc). I have a stainless steel tank (316) of about W 2.5 inches x L 30 inches x H 21 inches in size with a chiller with heat exchanger made of titanium and a rectifier of 250A/100V.
What happens if I am performing anodizing on titanium parts? What material is most suitable for the racks as also for the cathode), the electrolyte is of pH 13 or more). Someone told me lead to use titanium rack and lead plate as cathode. What is your opinion?
Pang Choon, TANSingapore
1999
A. Hello, Tan. I believe AMS 2488 specifies the rack material as titanium or titanium alloys. But unfortunately, just because there is an AMS spec for something doesn't necessarily mean the process isn't trade secret :-(
You might want to check into that before setting up the line, and make sure you don't require information that you can't get! Good luck. Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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Q. In fact, this is precisely what I had encountered. I had tried to get help and information from some of existing sources doing titanium anodizing but was not successful.
Unfortunately, I need this process and indeed I had already setup the physical line and tanks.
Do you know of any related information or any specialty suppliers that I could contact?
I had read the brochure from a company in the states called "TIODIZE" process which seems like titanium anodizing but do not know how to get contact with them.
Pang Choon, TAN [returning]Singapore
A. I obviously can't speak for the company you named, but twice in the last year I inquired of them if their process was licensable and was told that it's strictly for their own in-house use. But find them on the web and inquire yourself; maybe they will have greater interest in the offshore opportunity you can offer them than the domestic ones I brought -- plus intentions change.
While I said you should check into the trade secret situation, I was only saying that you should check into it; I wasn't implying that it is impossible to conduct AMS 2488 without violating a patent or trade secrets -- I don't believe that is the case at all. There are consultants you can retain who will give you the knowledge to do AMS2488; I'm not one of them. Good luck!
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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Q. Need information on the Watervliet Process, chemical composition & other operating parameters.
Jim Chan- Granger, Indiana
2000
A. Hi Jim. Watervliet Arsenal is a major army installation so they have probably done more than one investigation of titanium anodizing, and I don't know exactly what "the Watervliet Process" means to you or others, but they did do this pretty exhaustive study of titanium anodizing ⇨
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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Brushable Masking Material for Titanium Anodizing-AMS2488 type 2
Q. Is there a material that will mask titanium parts from anodizing when processed per AMS 2488, type 2? As this is a high (13+) pH electrolyte, tapes and standard brushable stop-off type lacquer material do not hold up on the process.
Bill Grossett- Arcadia, California USA
2001
A. Nail polish, yes nail polish. Prior to dipping you must let it harden then after anodising remove it with acetone ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] Flammable! .
Darren Chard- Toronto, Ontario
Hi Darren. We appreciate your help, and it's certainly worth a try! But while nail polish is a good masking material for decorative titanium anodizing in mild acid or mild alkaline solutions, I'm not really confident that it will survive the AMS 2488 process. I'd like to hear more.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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Q. How thick is this anodizing on the AMS 2488 surface?
Rodney SalmQuality Control / Aerospace - SLC. Utah USA
August 27, 2008
A. Hi Rodney. Titanium is consumed in forming the titanium oxide coating, and AMS 2488 says that for Type II there shall be no measurable dimensional change when measured with a micrometer that resolves to 0.0001". But it doesn't talk about the thickness of the anodized layer.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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Q. Hello;
Does AMS 2488 standard include the chemical solution that should be used to get a type II product? Or is it just about something else?
Yours,
- Turkey
October 30, 2008
A. Hi, Anil. It says "alkaline" and specifies "pH 13 or higher". You really need to have the spec in your hands if you are considering offering the process. It may contain provisos that for various reasons you can't meet even if you process in accord with it.
But what we were trying to explain in the intro is that the spec tells you some results you must achieve, but it doesn't tell you all the things you need to know to successfully alkaline anodize titanium.
Good luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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Q. NEED THE COMPOSITION OF SOLUTION TO ANODIZE TITANIUM TO MEET AMS 2488D
BERT SHERWOODCONSULTANT - LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
April 6, 2009
A. We have developed both: alkaline and acid-based methods for anodizing titanium (titanium type II anodizing). Both methods develop strong titanium oxide layer for anti "cold-welding" and for corrosion protection. However, based on testing we think that acid-based titanium oxide is thicker and better for corrosion protection.
adv.
Contact us for more information.
Anna Berkovich
(ed. update July, 2025: sorry, Anna has retired)
Q. Is there any update about Tianodize process. Even this week we had an enquiry for this process and we have no clue about this process. What is this all about? Is the substrate Titanium and needs to be coated with other oxides like MMO or other substrates which needs Ti coatings?
Thanks
- Singapore
June 19, 2009
A. Hi, Ramesh.
AMS 2488 alkaline anodizing of titanium builds a corrosion resistant, wear resistant, and gall resistant oxide surface on titanium -- so it is a process done on titanium substrates. The coating is titanium oxide, not MMO (mixed metal oxides). The best-known provider of that treatment is probably Tiodize, but other companies like Titanium Finishing Co. also specialize in it, and a small number of general plating jobshops offer it as well.
If this did not answer your question, please clarify what you want. Thanks!
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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Q. We would like to expand our knowledge in these processes...specially when it is applied to titanium parts. Usually I find information on aluminum base processes. I'm looking for a Color and Type II Titanium Anodizing Seminar.
Mercedes Torres- Humacao, Puerto Rico
January 7, 2013
A. The titanium type II hard anodizing according to AMS 2488D is discussed frequently on finishing forums. Many companies who sell production lines, claim that multiple parts can be easily anodized in a single load. However in reality it becomes difficult to prove. After selling the equipment, the supplier withdraw from any help to the customers under the reasons like "you use the racking that is not delivered by us", or something similar. The reason is: multiple parts anodizing in simple sodium hydroxide solution is extremely difficult.
The companies who do in-house processing keep the additives and special regimes strict secret.
adv.
Not anymore: watch the YouTube video of simplicity of the titanium anodizing process, that can be installed in any small shop. Russamer Lab has developed the proprietary anodizing technology, fool-proof. Moreover it is no need to use sandblasting to remove unwanted "fur" coat after anodizing.
Contact us for more information and samples.
Anna Berkovich
(ed. update July, 2025: sorry, Anna has retired)
Q. Good afternoon,
I was wondering if someone can point me in the right direction for type 2 Ti anodization. I've read that it requires an alkaline solution for the anodizing tank, but I'm not sure if my distilled water and lye solution would be sufficient (since it is over pH 8). Also, I wanted to know the voltage and current specifications since I know that Type 1Type 3 requires different voltages to achieve the different colors.
- Miami, Florida, USA
August 7, 2013
A. Hi Emma. Type 1 is a special high temperature type; I'm pretty sure you're thinking of Type 3, which is a thin translucent oxide coating which gains its color from the same diffraction process you see in carnival glass, or when a drop of oil falls into a puddle of water. The coating is a fraction of a wavelength thick and favors a particular color depending on its thickness. By varying the voltage you can control that thickness. Many hobbyists practice it, and there are few secrets. search the site for "decorative anodizing of titanium".
But type 2 is functional anodizing for wear and anti-gall purposes, rather than decorative value -- and how to do it remains a trade secret. Your options are:
1. to farm the work out to shops who operate the process and know how to do it,
2. to license the technology from firms like Russamer, or retain a consultant who knows how to do it,
3. to start from AMS 2488 and perfect your own process.
Getting someone to reveal their trade secrets on the internet isn't available. Sorry.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
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Need project assistance? $100/hr.
Q. Does anybody know what is the maximum area approved for touch up a titanium part that has titanium conversion coating per ams2488, Type 2?
Mariana TomaPurchasing Mgr - Placentia, California
August 26, 2021
by Zhentao Yu
on Amazon or eBay
or AbeBooks
(affil link)
A. AMS 2488 does not appear to have rework criteria. You may want to consider measuring the part before and after rework using a micrometer to ensure that the Type II coating is still there.
Lawrence LauManufacturing Engineer - Monroe, Washington
A. Mariana,
In the medical industry, you may want to look at the agreements you have with your customers, because a lot of medical companies don't allow you to rework type 2 anodizing since it is very difficult to remove and if you don't remove all of it you can get a blister on the type 2 which can get into the blood stream and cause a stroke, so be very careful.
Mark Battles
Plymouth, Minnesota
Current density & Voltage for Type 2 anodizing of titanium
[editor appended this entry to this thread which already addresses it in lieu of spawning a duplicative thread]
Q. Seeking specific info regarding current density required for Type 2 anodizing of titanium (AMS 2487 / AMS 2488) and resulting voltage when using a sodium hydroxide anodizing electrolyte.
- Indianapolis, Indiana
April 3, 2023
RFQ: Hello,
I work in the Aerospace repair industry and our shop currently has a full plating shop (Chrome, Cadmium, Nickel, etc) and looking to add AMS 2488 Type 2 Titanium Anodizing capabilities.
Can someone recommend a consultant or company that has expertise in this process?
Thank you!
- Miami, Florida
October 19, 2023
Ed. note: This RFQ is outdated, but technical replies are welcome, and readers are encouraged to post their own RFQs. But no public commercial suggestions please ( huh? why?).
A. Hi RR,
Adv: Russamer Lab [a finishing.com supporting advertiser], can offer you that service;
others who offer it can reply to you in private. Good luck!
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
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