Color anodizing is a popular process because it allows for the creation of products in a wide range of colors. Such an enhancement of appearance can make a product more appealing to a potential customer. Buyers of color anodized metals should keep in mind the limitations of the color anodizing process, though. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
Consolidated Metal Technologies
Round Rock, TX | 512-255-9296ISO 9001 CERTIFIED. CMT offers clear and colored anodize, black anodizefor die castings, chromate conversion and a complete line of metalfinishes, including paint and powder coat. We have OEM pricing with anormal turnaround time of three days and next-day service is available.
Astro Shapes
Struthers, OH | 330-755-1414Astro Shapes is your single source for the very best in aluminum anodizing. Over the years, we have proudly supported and specialized in transportation, machinery, electrical, medical, and many other markets. Our team works tirelessly to be a recognized leader in our industry by providing exceptional parts and service.
Dajcor Aluminum Ltd.
Chatham, ON, Chavies, KY | 877-556-9191Dajcor 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.
Erie Plating Company
Erie, PA | 814-453-7531Erie Plating Company provides metal finishing services to hundreds of client companies in a variety of industries. We are specialists in applied chemical and mechanical metal finishing to ferrous and non-ferrous metals, with tremendous expertise in chromate conversion coatings. We are certified for aerospace coatings, military and industrial metal finishing engineering and quality systems.
Light Metals Coloring
Southington, CT | 860-621-0145For over 50 years, 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.
Color Anodizing – Dajcor Aluminum Ltd.For example, some colors fade more easily than others. Black and gold dyes are made by inorganic means; namely they are the result of combining a chemical mixture called ferric ammonium oxalate to an anodized product. This inorganic dye tends to be more lightfast than other colors. Organic colors, which are much more varied, have the downside of being prone to fade. Metallic colors are limited to metallic hues, but remain bright longer then either of the first two processes.
Color Anodizing – Dajcor Aluminum Ltd.Customers should consult professionals before making decisions about the color of their anodized products. What type of product is being produced will also play a part in what color a customer chooses. For example, the architecture industry tends to use mostly metallic color processes, while organic dyes, used in the electronic and construction fields work best with aluminum.
The actual dying techniques vary depending on the dye being used as well as the metal. Some metals do not require the additional step of dying to create a variety of colors. Anodized titanium naturally produces color, what hue depending on the amount of electrical current used to anodize the piece. Many metal accessories such as body piercing studs, wedding rings and costume jewelry are made from titanium.
However, the most commonly employed color anodization comes from organic and chemical dyes applied directly after the anodizing treatment. Because anodizing increases the pore size of the chemical body at the surface of a metal, it soaks up and retains color well. 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 bleed out and can improve corrosion resistance. Whether the color is a result of the process of anodizing or added, it is just one more reason anodized products are in such high demand.