Aluminum Sheet: Anodizing – Integral Color (Duranodic)
Speed. Selection. Style. Our extrusions lead the industry.
- Anodizing Job Checklist
- Preparing Aluminum For Finishing
- Common Anodizing Specifications
- Anodizing Dye Colors
- Aluminum Finish Specification
- Military Specification Anodizing (Mil-A-8625)
- Aluminum Coil Anodizing Guidelines
- Extrusions & Sheet Poster
- Custom Anodizing
- Cut-to-Length Aluminum Extrusions
- How to Decide Between Anodizing, Painting, and Powder Coating
- SAFinish
- Aluminum Finishing – Painting vs Anodizing Features
- Appearance and Color Variation
- How to Specify Anodized & Painted Finishes
- Color Range Samples for anodizing
- Anodic Coating Designations
- Aluminum Sheet: Anodizing – Integral Color (Duranodic)
- Integral Color (discontinued) vs. 2-step Anodizing
- SAF adds acid etching to anodizing process
- Glossary
ALUMINUM SHEET: ANODIZING – INTEGRAL COLOR (DURANODIC)
DURANODIC, DISCONTINUED BY SAF…
… is a type of anodized finish we no longer offer. Duranodic is an Alcoa trade name for an electrochemical treatment to aluminum that results in the development of color while protecting against oxidation. It was commonly used in the coloring of aluminum storefront systems. There are many kinds of anodized finishes. Alcoa introduced this process in the early 1960’s and the name remains their trademark as far as is known. Companies employing the process were required to have a license from Alcoa.
In the early 1970’s the current 2-step process was introduced as an alternative to Duranodic color. This anodizing process forms corrosion resistant and hard oxide films on aluminium. The process consists of two steps: first the formation of chromate/phosphate treated layer on the surface of aluminium and secondly anodizing in a sulphuric acid solution. The films formed by the 2-step process provides better corrosion resistance and Vickers hardness compared with films formed by Alcoa’s anodizing.
Subsequently, Alcoa lost interest in this market presumably because of the increased competition, and the Duranodic became known as “integral color.” Integral color simply means the coloring and anodizing took place in a single step. With 2-step the anodizing takes place in two steps: the aluminum is sulfuric acid anodized before it is electrolytically impregnated with tin salts.
At SAF, we perform the 2-step process. For differences between the two process, click here.
