Aluminum has an oxide layer that is resistant to corrosion and wear. Pure aluminum does not easily corrode because of this. However, aluminum that contains other alloying elements can be subject to corrosion unless a thick aluminum oxide layer can be made to protect it. In order to prevent the corrosion and abrasion of an aluminum alloy, techniques have been created to create this thick, protective aluminum oxide layer. One way of forming this oxide layer is through a process called anodizing. But what is anodizing?
nodizing is a process that is used to promote the formation of an aluminum oxide layer on a base material more rapidly or with greater thickness than it normally would under natural conditions. While anodizing does work for several other base materials, aluminum responds the most effectively to anodizing. Anodizing first became popular in the 1920’s as a means to prevent the corrosion of aluminum components. Since then, it has been used not only for corrosion resistance, but also for wear resistance and dyeing aluminum. Since aluminum oxide is not nearly as conductive as aluminum, it can be also used for electrical insulation purposes. Anodizing has many benefits, but it is important to note that it will not increase the strength of the aluminum underneath the anodized surface