Anodising

Anodising and anodizing are often used somewhat inaccurately as synonyms. While the term "anodising" generally refers to electrolytic processes for producing oxide layers on metals, "anodizing" refers specifically to the electrolytic oxidation of aluminum (anodizing for short).
Anodizing is undoubtedly the best known and most widely used anodizing process. Anodizing produces a transparent oxide layer with a thickness of 5 to 25 micrometers. This layer reliably protects aluminum from corrosion, increases surface hardness and reduces friction values when in contact with other materials.
BWB offers a wide range of electrolytic surface coatings, from classic anodizing to high-performance coatings for special applications.

Range of services
Technical coatings
Colour anodising
Aluminum in construction
Contact
Markets

The advantages of anodising

Anodising is not only visually appealing, but also provides effective protection against abrasion and corrosion. The anodised layer also provides improved sliding properties and offers high heat resistance and good electrical insulation. These properties make anodised aluminium ideal for a wide range of applications in various industries.

Data sheet anodizing

Technical coatings

Hard anodising

Particularly hard and durable surfaces can be achieved by hard anodising (also called hard anodising). In contrast to normal anodising, hard anodising involves working with very high currents and temperatures around freezing point. As a result, Vickers hardness values of up to 550 HV can be achieved. To further improve the sliding properties, hard anodised parts can be PTFE impregnated.

Product data sheet hard anodising

Ematal anodising

Ematal anodised aluminium parts have a wear-resistant, slippery and almost non-porous surface. Ematal is used when friction is to be minimized by mechanical contact (e.g. in plain bearings), by a flowing medium (e.g. valve bodies and nozzles for gases or liquids) or a combination of these (in pneumatics and hydraulics).

Ematal Competence Center

Bilatal anodising

Bilatal is a special anodising process for various alumiunium alloys (press and rolled alloys). The Bilatal coating is characterised in particular by its low residual reflection in UV, DUV and VUV spectral range, as well as low outgassing behavior and good wear resistance.

Product data sheet Bilatal anodising

Heloxal hard anodizers

Heloxal is a BWB product innovation that revolutionizes the corrosion resistance of anodized coatings in demanding environments. Compared to conventional hard anodized coatings, Heloxal offers up to ten times better resistance.

Data sheet Heloxal

PTFE impregnation

For even better sliding properties, hard anodised parts can be additionally impregnated with PTFE. PTFE impregnation is often used in dry lubrication and in bearings and seals to minimize friction.

Dimensionally accurate coatings

The application of a protective layer leads to an increase in the size of the component. To ensure that the dimensions remain true to size, the increase must be neutralized by chemical erosion or already taken into account during mechanical processing. Tolerances agreed in advance can be adhered to when anodizing to size.

Oversize anodising

BWB Surface Technology anodises aluminium components with a weight of up to 2 tons, a length of 22 meters and a height and width of 2.2 x 1.3 meters.

Titanium anodising

As a competent expert for high-quality anodization of titanium, BWB offers a comprehensive range of services at its Dresden site. We produce titanium oxide coatings in various shades and thicknesses to increase the corrosion and wear resistance of titanium components. Thanks to state-of-the-art equipment and a highly qualified team, we are able to offer customized solutions for our customers in the aviation and other industries.

Colour anodising

Aluminium parts can be coloured by firmly binding colour pigments into the anodised layer. Due to different requirements of the target markets, BWB offers two colour systems: Colour for Industrial application with high chemical and mechanical resistance and colours for architectural applications with high weather resistance and light fastness.

Colour chart in industrial design

Colour chart in architecture

Requirements for the material

The aluminium alloy can affect the appearance and technical properties of the oxide layer. To find out which alloys are suitable for architectural or industrial applications, please refer to our suitability chart.

Suitability chart aluminium alloys

Aluminum in construction

By anodizing facade elements, they are protected from the weather and visually enhanced. Learn more about the advantages of aluminum on the website alu-am-bau.ch - the information portal on the material of the modern age and the Sustainblog.

Aluminum in construction - information portal on the building material of the modern age

Sustainblog - Building for our future

Facade finishing

Architecture brochure

Inoxal

Natural tone EV1

Sanodal

Colinal

Permabronze

Permalux

Permagrey

Permacolor

Sandalor

Markets

By proving market-specific certificates for aviation (Nadcap, EN 9100), architecture (Qualanod) and medical technology (ISO 13485) as well as the implementation of the necessary quality management systems (ISO 9001), BWB proves to be a reliable partner in the industry.

Aviation

Architecture

Mechanical engineering