Curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing 1989-2025
-----
Oxidizing aluminum without electricity?
Does anybody know of any chemicals or solutions which can oxidize aluminum WITHOUT using electricity (i.e. anodizing)?
L Robertson- Buffalo, New York
2000
Could you just heat it in air or oxygen? What thickness are you expecting?
Mandar Sunthankar- Fort Collins, Colorado
2000
Aluminium oxidizes very quickly, but its oxidized form makes a new coating that protects it from further oxidation. Rubbing mercury on the aluminum should allow more of it to oxidize.
Kevin Jiang- Taiwan
2002
In the October 2004 issue of Popular Science they have an article on the oxidization of Aluminum. You may find this to help you immensely.
TIM KOTT- Iowa
2004
I have been using a mixture of KOH + H2O (Potassium hydroxide and water) to oxidize aluminum to create hydrogen gas for experiments for some time. Sodium hydroxide can be used as a replacement for the KOH, but the KOH is more cost effective.
Both chemicals are highly corrosive. Beware!
Good Luck
RK
- Atlanta, Georgia
August 1, 2008
Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread