What is anodized aluminum?
aluminiumsheet > 10-11-2019, 03:40 AM
Ok, time for some chemistry 101. If you leave aluminum exposed to the air, it will naturally form a thin layer of aluminum oxide on the surface. While this layer is very thin, it is strong and hard. It prevents the metal from further oxidation by forming a barrier between the aluminum and the air. Scientist call this process ‘passivation’… meaning it makes the metal passive vs reactive.
As a matter of interest, both sapphires and rubies are gems made of aluminum oxide (different colors). Because of its hardness, aluminum oxide is also used as a commercial abrasive.
Now in order to make the layer of aluminum oxide thicker, the metal is subjected to an electrochemical process called anodization. This forms a much thicker layer of the non-reactive aluminum oxide, creating what is known as anodized or hard-anodized aluminum.