| Author |
Message |
Anonymous
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 12:25 pm: |    |
Can stainless be anodized? Or, is the process limited to aluminum? |
David R. Combs, CSI, CCS, CCCA
Senior Member
Username: davidcombs
Post Number: 274
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 12:36 pm: | |
From the Aluminum Anodizers Council:
http://www.anodizing.org/faqs.html
-----------------------------------------------
Q. What is anodizing?
A. A coating of aluminum oxide grown from the aluminum by passing an electrical current through an acid electrolyte bath in which the aluminum is immersed. The coating thickness and surface characteristics are tightly controlled to meet end product specifications.
Q. Can steel and/or stainless steel nuts and bolts be anodized?
A. Steel and stainless steel can't be anodized; the process baths used to anodize aluminum would attack and dissolve steel parts. |
Richard Baxter, AIA, CSI
Senior Member
Username: rbaxter
Post Number: 74
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 12:40 pm: | |
I googled and found this website: http://www.finishing.com/245/20.shtml
Apparently a few companies claim that they can anodize stainless steel, but it isn't the same as aluminum anodizing. It requires an additional coating to protect the anodizing and it doesn't appear to be useful. |
John Bunzick, CCS, CCCA, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: bunzick
Post Number: 882
Registered: 03-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 03:02 pm: | |
Stainless steel can be colored, too, though I have never done it. Refer to the publication in this link from the Specialty Steel Industry of North America: http://www.ssina.com/architect/publications/spe_fin.html |
James M. Sandoz, AIA, CSI, CDT, LEED AP
Senior Member
Username: jsandoz
Post Number: 35
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 09:00 am: | |
I remember several years ago seeing picture of a trio of colored, stainless steel DeLorean automobiles. The steel was actually "colored," not painted, probably by the process to which Mr. Bunzick refers. One was blue (attractive), one was supposed to be red but looked pink in the photograph, and the third was yellow (decidedly unattractive). The graining of the stainless steel showed through and that was aesthetically pleasing. |
Marc C Chavez
Senior Member
Username: mchavez
Post Number: 295
Registered: 07-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 10:45 am: | |
Go here
http://www.millenniumtiles.com/about.htm
Although they dance around the issue I believe this is what your looking for. |
Marc C Chavez
Senior Member
Username: mchavez
Post Number: 296
Registered: 07-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 10:49 am: | |
PS as to the second question I would answer with another.
Q. How do they passavate stainless steel?
A. Passivation is "the removal of exogenous iron or iron compounds from the surface of stainless steel by means of a chemical dissolution, most typically by a treatment with an acid solution that will remove the surface contamination, but will not significantly affect the stainless steel itself." In addition, it also describes passivation as "the chemical treatment of stainless steel with a mild oxidant, such as a nitric acid solution, for the purpose of enhancing the spontaneous formation of the protective passive film."
From http://www.electro-coatings.com
M |
Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: rlmat
Post Number: 267
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 12:14 pm: | |
Why would you want to anodize stainless steel?
I don't even anodize aluminum - I'd rather paint it. specially near the Ocean. |
Marc C Chavez
Senior Member
Username: mchavez
Post Number: 297
Registered: 07-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 12:27 pm: | |
Because it's cool looking black anodized is neat!
The "anodized stainless" has a range of iridescent-ish blues and greens that are really fun.
Besides the finish -on aluminum- does last for a while – perhaps not as long as a good PVDF but better than no finish at all!
If it wasn't cool looking all those anodized flashlights and keychains would have gone unpurchased! |
Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: rlmat
Post Number: 268
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 12:42 pm: | |
Marc - now you sound like a designer!
Yes, black anodize is nice until it gets scratched.
If one is not goint to paint aluminum, it's actually better not to anodize it, especially in corrosive environments or near the ocean.
The alternative here is to clean the aluminum and sand it with a 200 grit paper and leave it.
It will develop its own protective coating and won't pit or chalk like anodized aluminum will.
I specify this for exterior aluminum railings.
I have this on good authority from a local naval architect.
Besides, both the anodizing process and the kynar-based painting process are environmentally unfriendly. |
Robin E. Snyder
Senior Member
Username: robin
Post Number: 181
Registered: 08-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 01:06 pm: | |
I have learned not to ask "why" when it comes to interior designers on Casino projects. I just try to figure out how to do it. |
Richard L Matteo, AIA, CSI, CCS
Senior Member
Username: rlmat
Post Number: 269
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 01:23 pm: | |
Robin,
When it comes to interior designers on any project - the first question you have to ask them is "Why" and then "educate" them. Not all of them have the technical expertise required on materials beyond color and maybe finish.
It is not always possible to do what they want.
I've had architectural designers, (more technically oriented than interior designers) ask me to specify a particular porcelain tile in a kitechen, until I pointed out to them that the manufacturer's published literature made specific mention that selected tile was "not recommended for areas of high grease build-up". They changed the tile.
When it comes to interior designers - Good Luck! |
Anne Whitacre, FCSI CCS
Senior Member
Username: awhitacre
Post Number: 755
Registered: 07-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 02:19 pm: | |
I would disagree with regarding the Class 1 anodizing; there are a number of facilities near salt water that have had anodized aluminum for more than 50 years, and with a good cleaning they look as bright and shiny as new. Anodizing does "age" -- especially the darker colors -- but its a hardcoat finish that is integral to the surface and doesn't wear away like a painted finish does.
I've done some colored stainless steel finishes; its not the same process, but it is closer to an anodizing than to a painted finish -- you can see see the steel grain, and there is some variability to the color. Contrarian Metal Resources carries "anodized" stainless steel in a variety of colors -- the source is "www.metalresources.net". They refer to the process as "colorizing" and the material comes from Tsukiboshi in Japan. some of the colors are really beautiful. |
Ronald L. Geren, AIA, CSI, CCS, CCCA, SCIP
Senior Member
Username: specman
Post Number: 639
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 02:41 pm: | |
Here's something to check out on SMACNA's website:
Colored Stainless Offers A Rainbow Of Possibilities |
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