Uses For Hard Anodising in Aerospace & Automotive Applications

Technology

Hard Anodising, like that from Poeton is one of the two processes used in the manufacture of stainless steel products. In the process described above, the aluminium object that is to be coated with anodized aluminium is placed between the cathode and anode in an electrolytic cell. The anodized object is protected by a thin layer of clear plastic that prevents the corrosion of the coating from coming in contact with the metal and gives a protective layer against harmful particles. The thickness of the layer of plastic depends on the thickness of the object being protected.

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When it comes to hardening, hard anodising uses two different methods to achieve the same result. In the first method, known as anodic film hardening, the object is exposed to anodic current flowing through the film and then hardened. The process uses a lower current than that required for cathodic film hardening.

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During cathodic film hardening the aluminium object is placed between two pieces of aluminum oxide that have been fused together, and this allows the object to be protected against corrosion, as well as anodizing the surface of the object to a high degree of hardness. These properties make these surfaces ideal for use in a wide range of areas from automotive to aerospace applications. Some of the products of this technology are found in the aircraft industries, such as airframes, wings, landing gears and brake pads, as well as in ballistic armour used by the US military. This durability makes this type of coating suitable for use in a variety of areas where strength and durability are a major issue.