ano and changing properties?

[SR_matt New User Find all posts View Profile Close SR_matt]

Hey,

I have been having some conversations over on another site about anodized aluminium vs. bright AL vs. etched AL (etched being just diped quickly in caustic soda IIRC) and their strength.

The aloys used are 5154 for the etched and ano'ed and 5356 for the "bright".

So now that you have the background heres the thing i dont understand...

There are rings of 14 gauge wire with 3/8 inch inner diamater made from the 3 above materials and then just plain 5154 alloy rings. Some one did a test to see how much weight it would take to open the rings here are the results:

bright al-8244 grams
ano'ed- 7100 g
plain-6848 g
etched-6060 g

and now my question, how can the same alloy be weakned by just etching it but strengthened by anodizing it, what are the reasons that the ano'ed rings would be stronger?

Thanks
-matt

[destroyer125 Experienced Metal Finisher Find all posts View Profile Close destroyer125]

Re: ano and changing properties?

etching is cause it was dipped in acid which eats some aluminum away....annodizing creates a coating on the surface of the aluminum 1mil thick or close to it which was the Strenth ppl say of Stainless steel...Bright aluminum has a fairly decent amount of silicone in the aluminum

[SR_matt New User Find all posts View Profile Close SR_matt]

Re: ano and changing properties?

it just doesnt make sence to me how that thin of a layer can make that much of a differance
-matt

[rclint Amateur Metal Finisher Find all posts View Profile Close rclint]

Re: ano and changing properties?

it just doesnt make sence to me how that thin of a layer can make that much of a differance
-matt

The anodic layer actualy approaches the hardness of a diamond(depending on the type of anodizing, time etc), even a thin layer will increase structual properties, also the layer covers the entire surface, depending on the shape of the pieces being tested this could really add to the strength as well, even a round or square piece would get a lot of surface area working for it

[SR_matt New User Find all posts View Profile Close SR_matt]

Re: ano and changing properties?

alright that makes sence but now im confused how etching weakens that much
-matt

[acidrain Metal Finishing Guru Find all posts View Profile Close acidrain]

Re: ano and changing properties?

I'm confused too... according to your results, the ano'd pieced take less weight to deform it. Are those numbers correct?
The ano layer is much stronger than aluminum... about the same as stainless steel in scratch resistance surface hardness.
The caustic etch is not an acid, but rather an alkali, and will remove .001in at normal etch times.

[SR_matt New User Find all posts View Profile Close SR_matt]

Re: ano and changing properties?

remember the Bright AL is a differantn alloy compared to the rest, the annoed gets an extra 200 grams to have to open it, but the etch removes enough to weaken it enought to need 800 grams less than plain AL

-matt

[destroyer125 Experienced Metal Finisher Find all posts View Profile Close destroyer125]

Re: ano and changing properties?

When I worked with Bright Aluminum for chainmail purposes awhile ago, I played heck tryin to find the stuff, when I found it I found out it had alot of other materials casted in with it, Has anyone tried annodizing Bright aluminum wire?

[SR_matt New User Find all posts View Profile Close SR_matt]

Re: ano and changing properties?

thats exactly what this is for
-matt

[andrewjb New User Find all posts View Profile Close andrewjb]

Re: ano and changing properties?

yippie for chainmaille!
thanks for those results , i always wondered if anodizing made the things stronger, now i know

[destroyer125 Experienced Metal Finisher Find all posts View Profile Close destroyer125]

Re: ano and changing properties?

If someone would give me a bright aluminum coil to play around with I can tell ya how well it will anodize, Chances are silicone levels are to high to anodize