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Oxidizing aluminum without electricity?

Does anybody know of any chemicals or solutions which can oxidize aluminum WITHOUT using electricity (i.e. anodizing)?

L Robertson
- Buffalo, New York
2000

Could you just heat it in air or oxygen? What thickness are you expecting?

Mandar Sunthankar
- Fort Collins, Colorado
2000

Aluminium oxidizes very quickly, but its oxidized form makes a new coating that protects it from further oxidation. Rubbing mercury on the aluminum should allow more of it to oxidize.

Kevin Jiang
- Taiwan
2002

In the October 2004 issue of Popular Science they have an article on the oxidization of Aluminum. You may find this to help you immensely.

TIM KOTT
- Iowa
2004

I have been using a mixture of KOH + H₂O (Potassium hydroxide and water) to oxidize aluminum to create hydrogen gas for experiments for some time. Sodium hydroxide can be used as a replacement for the KOH, but the KOH is more cost effective.

Both chemicals are highly corrosive. Beware!
Good Luck
RK

Roger King
- Atlanta, Georgia
August 1, 2008

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