Thoroughly clean specimen surfaces of dirt and oils using a nonalkaline chemical cleanser. Grind specimen surfaces with abrasive paper to facilitate even aluminum oxide formation on the surface.
Prepare electrolyte bath. Combine sulfuric, succinic, and oxalic acids in the bath. Set up a two-electrode system. To the anode, connect the specimen to be anodized, along with the voltage source, which must provide current at 2-4 A. To the cathode, connect the platinum sheets. Oxides will accumulate on the anode. The cathode will produce positive hydrogen ions to counterbalance the negative charges from the anode.
Adjust the temperature of the bath. 20 degrees Celsius is the ideal temperature at which oxides undergo deposition on the specimen surface; furthermore, since 20 degrees Celsius is slightly below room temperature, this setting decreases the risk of the electrolyte bath dissolving the oxide layer forming on your specimen. Connect the voltage source. Leave the specimen in the bath for 20-80 minutes. Aluminum oxides, in an amorphous, fibrous layer, will form on the surface of the specimen.