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Sulfuric Acid Anodize

NEEDING INFORMATION ON SETTING UP SULFURIC ACID ANODIZING SYSTEM PER MIL SPECS, POSSIBLE. BOOKS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE.DO I USE DE-IONIZED WATER PRIOR TO BATH SOLUTION AND AFTER

THOMAS DIXON
AEROSPACE FABRICATION/PLATING MANAGER - BIRMINGHAM, AL, USA
December 19, 2008

A. Hi, Thomas. An applicable spec is ~~MIL-C-81706~~^^MIL-A-8625. An easy book is Robert Probert's "Aluminum How-To". The comprehensive book is "The Surface Treatment of Aluminum and Its Alloys". A typical process is alkaline clean, etch, desmut, anodize, seal. Deionized water is almost always a good idea.

Hopefully you realize that on many aerospace parts sulfuric acid anodizing cannot be used because of reduced fatigue strength and the danger of acid bleedout after processing. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
December 2008

A. MIL-DTL-81706 deals with conversion coating (not anodizing). The MIL spec you seek is MIL-A-8625.

We are an aerospace firm and employ sulfuric acid anodize in many of our products (more often than chromic acid even). Our parts are not structural, but are subjected to great stress while in flight.

Terry Lycans
Aerospace - Dayton, Ohio, USA
December 19, 2008

Thanks for the corrections, Terry.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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