Anodizing is a transformative process that enhances aluminum's natural durability and beauty, creating a corrosion-resistant and aesthetically appealing surface through an electrochemical procedure.
Mechanical brushing with a special machine treats aluminum profiles up to 7500mm long, creating textures from stainless steel looks to semi-gloss finishes. Techniques include light bronze anodizing and using canvas brushes for visible lines. Pre-brushed materials are recommended for sheet work.
Mechanical polishing with a soft cotton roller enhances aluminum's shine on profiles up to 7500mm long. Thinner anodized interior applications appear glossier. When combined with colour anodization, it gives aluminum a varnish-like finish, applicable to profiles, plates, or composites.
Blasting, using fine stainless steel particles, mechanically creates an ultra-matte finish on aluminum surfaces for profiles up to 7500mm long and 300mm high. When combined with pickling or chemical polishing, it achieves a sparkling shine. A minimum 3mm plate thickness is necessary to prevent deformation.
The mechanical pre-treatment of anodizing aluminum involves a meticulous process to prepare the surface for tailored anodizing solutions. Applicable techniques are E2 Brushing, E5 Polishing and E9 Blasting to achieve the desired finish.
Brushing creates a textured look, polishing results in a smooth, shiny surface, and blasting gives a matte finish. Mechanical pre-treatments ensure the aluminium is perfectly primed for anodizing to achieve the desired reflection and texture.
Chemical pre-treatment of aluminum involves a meticulous process to prepare the surface for further finishing, such as anodizing or painting. This method cleanses the metal, removing impurities and creating a uniform surface.
It typically includes degreasing, etching, and desmutting, which enhance adhesion and corrosion resistance. This essential step ensures the aluminum's longevity and aesthetic appeal, making it a critical phase in achieving high-quality, durable finishes on aluminum products.
Cleaning is the first step in the anodizing process, taking about 10 minutes in special soap to remove dirt and oil from aluminum.
After rinsing, it's ready for pickling or anodizing, with the alkaline rinse water neutralized with acid post-anodization.
Matte etching, the second step in chemical pre-treatment, involves a 12-minute soak in soda to achieve a silky surface. If this step is combined with blasting, less pickling time is needed.
Polishing skips etching, and alkaline wastewater is acid-neutralized post-anodization. Alumet uses a filter to capture dissolved aluminum, allowing by-products to be reused in other industries.
An alternative to matt-etching is our brightening technique. Rather than dulling the aluminum, this process enhances its luster, creating a bright, reflective finish.
Chemical brightening is achieved in an acid bath, which gives the aluminum its shiny appearance by removing surface particles. The acidic effluent produced during this process is then neutralized by combining it with an alkaline effluent.
Anodizing is an electrochemical process that creates a durable, decorative oxide layer on metal surfaces, particularly aluminum. Unlike coatings, this oxide layer is integrated with the metal, providing excellent corrosion and scratch resistance. The highly ordered porous structure allows for subsequent colouring.
The process involves electrolysis of water, splitting it into oxygen and hydrogen, with the oxygen reacting to form aluminum oxide resulting in a reaction which forms the aluminium oxide. Our anodizing layer adheres to exterior quality standards like QUALANOD and British Standard.
Colouring is the key step after anodizing at Alumet. Our process utilized metal salts, not pigments, to achieve colours, ensuring exceptional UV resistance and no fading. Most metal salts deposit during electrolytic processes, creating various hues like brown-bronze with tin and red tones with copper.
Gold colour, achieved through absorption with iron salts, initially brightens due to chemical reactions but stabilizes afterward, offering extreme UV resistance. All colours remain lightfast and will not lose gloss over time.
The final step in anodizing is sealing, a crucial process that determines the durability of the anodized layer. With AluGuard, we go beyond standard sealing methods. This advanced technology enhances the corrosion resistance, UV stability, and longevity of anodized aluminum, making it the ideal solution for demanding environments.
By implementing AluGuard, we ensure that our anodized aluminum surfaces maintain their brilliance and performance, even during construction or in extreme conditions.
The final step in the anodizing process is sealing, which closes the pores created during anodization to give the product its anti-corrosion properties, protecting the aluminum beneath from pollutants and oxygen.
This is achieved by using hot boiling water, causing aluminum oxide molecules to change shape, expand, and seal the pores. A hot-seal process is implemented to cause aluminum oxide molecules to shape expand and seal the pores.
