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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Improving the reflectivity of anodised surfaces

I need to improve the reflectivity of parts of an aluminium component that has been black anodised.

Is it possible to locally strip off the black and replace with an alternative surface finish - it does not need to be another anodised finish, although it does need to be conducting - and I'm not looking for very high levels of reflectivity.

Is it possible to electroless plate with Ni on an anodised surface and are there any special conditions required?

Richard Dibling
- UK

It is possible to plate onto anodized surfaces under special conditions (phosphoric anodizing has been used as a base for electroplating). But the answer for you is, no, it's not going to work. Your first idea was the right one, you want to selectively strip the anodizing; and then you can electroless nickel plate that area.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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