<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This research evaluates the effects of sulfuric acid hard coat anodising parameters, such as acid concentration, electrolyte temperature, current density and time, on the hardness and thickness of the resultant anodised layers. A small scale anodising facility was designed and set up to enable experimental investigation of the anodising parameters. An experimental design using the Taguchi method to optimise the parameters within an established operating window was performed. Qualitative and quantitative methods of characterisation of the resultant anodised layers were carried out. The anodised layer’s thickness, and morphology were determined using a light optical microscope (LOM) and field emission gun scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM). Hardness measurements were carried out using a nano hardness tester. Correlations between the various anodising parameters and their effect on the hardness and thickness of the anodised layers were established. Careful evaluation of these effects enabled optimum parameters to be determined using the Taguchi method, which were verified experimentally. Anodised layers having hardness varying between 2.4–5.2 GPa and a thickness of between 20–80 μm were produced. The Taguchi method was shown to be applicable to anodising. This finding could facilitate on-going and future research and development of anodising, which is attracting remarkable academic and industrial interest.</p></abstract>

This research evaluates the effects of sulfuric acid hard coat anodising parameters, such as acid concentration, electrolyte temperature, current density and time, on the hardness and thickness of the resultant anodised layers. A small scale anodising facility was designed and set up to enable experimental investigation of the anodising parameters. An experimental design using the Taguchi method to optimise the parameters within an established operating window was performed. Qualitative and quantitative methods of characterisation of the resultant anodised layers were carried out. The anodised layer’s thickness, and morphology were determined using a light optical microscope (LOM) and field emission gun scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM). Hardness measurements were carried out using a nano hardness tester. Correlations between the various anodising parameters and their effect on the hardness and thickness of the anodised layers were established. Careful evaluation of these effects enabled optimum parameters to be determined using the Taguchi method, which were verified experimentally. Anodised layers having hardness varying between 2.4–5.2 GPa and a thickness of between 20–80 μm were produced. The Taguchi method was shown to be applicable to anodising. This finding could facilitate on-going and future research and development of anodising, which is attracting remarkable academic and industrial interest.

Optimising sulfuric acid hard coat anodising for an Al-Mg-Si wrought aluminium alloy

Department of Chemistry, University of Malta, Msida, MSD2080, Malta

Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, University of Malta, Msida, MSD2080, Malta

Materials Science-Poland

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

This research evaluates the effects of sulfuric acid hard coat anodising parameters, such as acid concentration, electrolyte temperature, current density and...

Optimising sulfuric acid hard coat anodising for an Al-Mg-Si wrought aluminium alloy

Published Online: Jul 22, 2014

Page range: 136 - 144

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13536-013-0174-9

Keywords
aluminium, hard coat anodizing, sulfuric acid, Taguchi method, nano pores, nano hardness

© 2013 Wroclaw University of Technology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Optimising sulfuric acid hard coat anodising for an Al-Mg-Si wrought aluminium alloy

Published Online: Jul 22, 2014

Page range: 136 - 144

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s13536-013-0174-9

Keywordsaluminium, hard coat anodizing, sulfuric acid, Taguchi method, nano pores, nano hardness

© 2013 Wroclaw University of Technology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
aluminium, hard coat anodizing, sulfuric acid, Taguchi method, nano pores, nano hardness