FAQ
How to Use Anodizing Dyes?
1.0 Alumon Dyestuff for dyeing anodized Aluminium.
The Alumon dyestuffs are designed for dyeing anodized Aluminium and some of its alloys. The procedure consists in producing artificially on the metal surface of porous oxide coating of suitable thickness, and bath dyeing of this coating in solution of Ano Dyes. Alumon dyestuffs assure level dyeing of the anode coatings and give dyeing with good or very good fastnesses. The pretreatment of metal surface consist of common operations, such as:
- • Mechanical working
- • Degreasing with Solvents or emulsion
- • Chemical or electrolytic cleaning
- • Brightening of metal surface
- • Chemical or electrolytic polishing
- • Removing of the unsuitable oxide coat
2.0 Anodic Oxidation
Most suitable for dyeing with Ano dyestuffs are films obtained by anodic oxidation of the metal surface under the following condition:
2.1 Pretreatments: - Degreasing Etching
2.2 Anodizing
Electrolyte |
20% wt. Sulhuric Acid with specific gravity of 1.14. |
Temperature |
18-20ºC. |
Current Potential |
Direct current with a density of 1.5 A/sq.dcm and voltage 14-17 V |
Time of Anodizing |
15-45 Minute |
Film Thickness |
Ca.20 µm |
Note: The anodized surfaces should be protected from contamination and the more so from greases, as otherwise unlevel dyeing may be obtained.
3.0 Dyeing
The anodized metal required an Acid treatment in such a way. Put the anodized metal in a tank containing 10% Nitric Acid for 10-15 second. Then rinsed the panel thoroughly in running cold water to remove Nitric Acid.
3.1 Setting of the dyebath:
The best results are obtained when dyeing in Alumon dye solutions directly after, anodic oxidation. The weighted out portion of the dyestuff is pasted with small amount of cold water, diluted with boiling distilled or softened water (condensate may be used, provided it is free from oil or grease). The solution is filtered and diluted in the bath to required volume. It is recommended to maintain the temperature precisely in the range characteristic of the particular dyestuff, only exceptionally, when the dyestuff is absorbed too quickly from the bath giving unlevel dyeings, the temperature may be raised above 60 C. the volume of the is adjusted so as to provide 300-500 ml of solutions per 1 sq.dcm of the stained surface.
(We recommend todissolve the dyestuff in demineralized water. Tap water is suitable as well but the bath stability can be reduced, however.
The powder dyestuff should be completely dissolved before addition to the bath. It is best to paste it with some of hot water, stirring constantly until a homogeneous paste free from lumps is formed and then to add more hot water with continued stirring so that the paste goes slowly in to the solution.)
Alumon Dye |
X gm / liter. |
Sodium acetate |
8 gm / liter. |
Acetic Acid |
0.4 ml/ liter. (pH 5.0-5.5) |
3.2 pH of the dyebath:
The optimum value for dyeing and stabilization of the dye bath is ph 4.5-5.0. The life of the dyebath is shortended by pH values beyond the tolerance region of 4.0-4.8 owing to accumulation of aluminium or ageing. Moreover lower pH values encourage bronzing of the dyeing.
3.3 Dyeing Temperature:
The optimum temperature for build-up of the dyestuff is 55-60 C.
At the lower temperature e.g. room temperature; a saller amount of dyestuff is adsorbed in the anodic coating in constant dyeing time. Dyeing produced at lower temperature are easier to strip, but they bleed rather more heavily in the sealing solution.
3.4 Dyeing Time:
The dyeing process is carried on for 15-20 minute at 55-60 C. in the bath continuously agitated. Under the normal anodizing and dyeing condition, i.e.
Coating thickness | 12-15qm |
Dyeing temperature | 60° C |
PH | 4.5-5.0 |
Dyeing concentration | 5-10 gms/litre. |
The saturation limit is very nearly reached after dyeing for 20 min. Longer dyeing times do not result in any significant increase in the intensity.
4.0 Sealing
The stained anodic coating must always be sealed. This procedure increases the resistence of these coating to corrosion, and improves the wet fastnesses of the dyeing. However there are two method of sealing is generally in practice. E.g.
4.1 Sealing in Ano Seal C200: (Cold Sealing)
Ano Seal C200 | 5.0 gms/litre |
PH | 5.5~6.0 |
Temp | Room Temperature |
Time | 10 Minute |
OR
4.2 Sealing in Ano Seal CA350: (Hot Sealing)
Ano Seal CA350 | 5.0 gms/litre |
PH | 5.5~6.0/td> |
Temp. | 80 - 90° C |
Time | 10 Minute |
OR
4.3 Sealing in boiling water:
Temperature | Boiling |
Time | 45 minute |
Medium | water with 5 gms/litre sealing salt |