To understand how a metal can be dyed black, the basic process of anodization should be understood. Anodizing involves using a corrosive chemical and electrical current to alter the chemical body of certain metals and make them stronger in the process. Read More…
Located in Woonsocket, RI, Sanford Process serves customers globally with aluminum coating and finishing services. We license our technology throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. Sanford Process is a subsidiary of Katahdin Industries, Inc., which specializes in surface coatings and metal finishing application technologies and related services. Visit our website for more information!
Aluminum finishing specialist with over 50 years of personalized service in the anodizing industry & the largest commercial anodizing tanks in the country! A variety of capabilities for even your difficult jobs to meet & exceed all standards for clear & colored, protective & decorative, sulfuric, duranodic & chromic anodizing of parts large & small. Same-day estimates & 1 week or less turnaround.
At Tompkins Metal Finishing, we offer mid to high volume aluminum anodizing. We do pre-cleaning, etching, deoxidizng, dyeing and sealing. We can achieve a wide range of surface finishes from bright to dull matte in clear, black, gold, blue and red. Other methods are also available with consideration of alloy, coating thickness, masking requirements and racking instructions.
Since 1945, Light Metals Coloring has been one of the largest independent aluminum anodizing job shops. Light Metals Coloring provides hard coat anodizing, bulk anodizing, rack anodizing, clear anodizing, sulfuric acid anodizing, chromate conversion anodizing and color anodizing.
Dajcor Aluminum is the leading Canadian supplier of extruded, fabricated/machined and anodized components and assemblies to the automotive, renewable energy, transportation, building trades, military, recreation, and consumer-product industries.
More Black Anodizing Manufacturers
Black Anodizing - Extrude-A-TrimThere are many types of anodizing acids, including sulfuric and chromic as the major anodizing contenders. However, some acids such as organic and boric are used in custom anodizing situations because they can offer more control in smaller settings. Metals commonly anodized are aluminum, titanium, magnesium and zinc. The new characteristics of an anodized metal are increased strength and corrosion resistance, a thicker and smoother protector then regular paint or metal plating. However, the process does make the metal more brittle, so extreme temperatures can cause damage. Depending on the style of anodizing and the type of metal, dying the product is possible.
Because the basic black dye is made from an inorganic substance, a chemical mixture called ferric ammonium oxalate, dyes used in black anodizing tend to be more lightfast. The same chemical is used to produce gold dye. To be lightfast means that the colors tend not to fade as quickly. This is true of any inorganic dye used during an anodizing process.
Black anodizing is produced in the same basic fashion that all colors for anodizing are produced, although there are a couple alternative processes too. Most anodizing processes, such as the sulfuric acid, make the surface of a metal more porous and therefore able to soak and retain the color of dyes. So directly after the major chemical shift in the metal's crystal structure, a dye can be applied.
Once a metal has been dyed, hot water or steam, often mixed with nickel acetate, is used to seal the surface and to convert the oxide into its hydrated form. This process decreases the potential of bleeding and can improve corrosion resistance. A black anodized product can also be made by way of metal dyes, which are electrolytically deposited in the pores.
Organic dyes are actually used during the chemical immersion of a product. The dying process is utilized in almost every industry and application non-colored anodized products are. A couple examples include the electronic field, which sells colored Mp3 players, flashlights and cameras, and the cooking industry, which often markets two-toned cookware.
