How to Anodize Bead-Blasted Titanium

You can anodize bead-blasted titanium using procedures similar to those typical for anodizing metals such as aluminum. Anodization involves treating a specimen in an electrolyte bath through which voltage current is passed, in order to form a protective layer of oxides on the surface of the specimen. With titanium, the layer of oxides, albeit higher than the layer that naturally forms on titanium, still is rather low (300 nm maximum) and, therefore, is easily disturbed. However, titanium anodization generates a variety of colors without dyes, depending on the thickness of the oxide layer, and therefore has cosmetic applications.

Things You'll Need

  • Platinum sheets
  • Electrolyte solution
  • 2 tubs made of nonreactive material, such as ceramic or plastic
  • Voltage source
  • Two-electrode system
  • Distilled water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the color that you would like your anodized titanium to be. This relates directly to the voltage current, together with the free ions in the electrolyte and the surface finish of the metal. Bronze tends to appear around 10 V, near-blue around 50 V and bright green around 110 V. Based on this, obtain a voltage source that will provide the necessary voltage. Ensure that the voltage source is turned off and then connect it to your bath, following the manufacturer's instructions clearly.

    • 2

      Set up the two-electrode system. Connect titanium to the anode, or negative electrode, and platinum to the cathode, or positive electrode. Oxides will accumulate at the anode; the cathode, to counteract negative current flowing from the anode, will produce positive hydrogen ions.

    • 3

      Fill the bath with your electrolytic solution, such as sulfuric acid. Immerse the two-electrode system in the bath. Turn the voltage source on and adjust to get the color that you want. The amount of time that you leave your titanium in the bath will depend entirely on the color you wish to obtain.

    • 4

      Rinse the titanium thoroughly with distilled water to get rid of sulfuric acid or other electrolytic solution.

    • 5

      Dispose of the electrolytic solution safely in a chemical waste disposal plant.

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