Anodizing
For finishes on aluminum surfaces, Gleco Plating offers two different types of anodizing: Type II Anodizing and Type III Anodizing.
Type II Anodizing
Our Type II Anodizing services are available in AMS2471 and Mil-A-8625 specs. They consist of depositing an aluminum part into a sulfuric acid bath at around 70 degrees Fahrenheit to build an oxide coating with a thickness of between .00010” and .0005” on its surface.
Type II anodizing offers an economical solution to those seeking corrosion protection to guard parts against environmental exposure and increase longevity. Anodized parts can be dyed in a variety of colors to help improve part aesthetics.
Type III Anodizing
Our Type III Anodizing services are available in AMS 2468, AMS 2469, and Mil-A-8625 specs. Compared to Type II anodizing, this process can be performed at a lower temperature and produce a thicker coating of between 0.001 and 0.002 inches.
Type III anodizing offers greater thermal, wear, and abrasion resistance for parts that are subjected to more significant impacts. As with Type II Anodizing, these anodized parts can be done in both native and dyed formats.
Anodizing Options
The above-referenced anodizing processes can be applied in a number of variations depending on the base material, finishing process, and sealing preference:
Base aluminum alloys that can be anodized include:
- 1,000 series
- 2,000 series
- 3,000 series
- 5,000 series
- 6,000 series
- 7,000 series
- Sand cast
- Die-cast
The aluminum alloys above can be finished in the following colors:
- Undyed (clear)
- Black
- Blue
- Brown
- Green
- Red
- Purple
- Yellow/gold
After the aluminum is anodized, it can be sealed using:
- Hot deionized water
- Nickel acetate
- Impregnated Teflon
- Sodium dichromate
Type II and III Anodizing
Type II and III Anodizing offers several benefits:
- Outstanding wear, corrosion, and abrasion resistance
- Improved aesthetics
- Dielectric non-conductive properties
- Can serve as an electrical insulator
- Can be ground or lapped
- Improved lubricity for slide applications
- Can be dyed and sealed to exact specifications
- The finish is harder than tool steel
- Can repair worn aluminum surfaces
Typical Anodizing Applications
Type III anodized aluminum is often selected for aerospace, automotive, food manufacturing, robotics, and industrial applications such as:
- Valves
- Gears and pistons
- Actuating cams
- Hydraulic cylinders
- Swivel joints
- Sliding parts
- Hinge mechanisms
- Insulation plates
If you’re searching for a finish to protect your aluminum parts, contact Gleco Plating to discuss our Anodizing services.