EP2177647B1 - Method of forming multicolor aluminium alloy - Google Patents

Method of forming multicolor aluminium alloy Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2177647B1
EP2177647B1 EP09168633A EP09168633A EP2177647B1 EP 2177647 B1 EP2177647 B1 EP 2177647B1 EP 09168633 A EP09168633 A EP 09168633A EP 09168633 A EP09168633 A EP 09168633A EP 2177647 B1 EP2177647 B1 EP 2177647B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
substrate
colored
oxide layer
external surface
forming
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EP09168633A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2177647A1 (en
Inventor
Chia-Wei Hsu
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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D11/00—Electrolytic coating by surface reaction, i.e. forming conversion layers
    • C25D11/02—Anodisation
    • C25D11/04—Anodisation of aluminium or alloys based thereon
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D11/00—Electrolytic coating by surface reaction, i.e. forming conversion layers
    • C25D11/02—Anodisation
    • C25D11/022—Anodisation on selected surface areas
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D11/00—Electrolytic coating by surface reaction, i.e. forming conversion layers
    • C25D11/02—Anodisation
    • C25D11/04—Anodisation of aluminium or alloys based thereon
    • C25D11/12—Anodising more than once, e.g. in different baths
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D11/00—Electrolytic coating by surface reaction, i.e. forming conversion layers
    • C25D11/02—Anodisation
    • C25D11/04—Anodisation of aluminium or alloys based thereon
    • C25D11/14—Producing integrally coloured layers

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of forming a multicolor aluminum alloy, and more particularly to a method of forming a multicolor aluminum alloy by anodizing for preferred color quality.
  • a conventional anodizing surface treatment comprises forming a base oxide layer on a metal substrate by chemical or electrochemical treatment to provide a protective effect to the metal substrate.
  • the metal may be aluminum alloy.
  • the conventional anodizing surface treatment may further comprise steps of forming a base ink layer on the base oxide layer, forming a subsequent oxide layer and forming a subsequent ink layer on the subsequent oxide layer, wherein the steps after reforming the surface of the base layers may be repeated and the subsequent layer is included as the base in such repeated treatments to provide a multicolor effect.
  • the step of reforming the surface of the base layer requires a cutting or a milling process to expose the substrate such as cutting or milling, which uses coolant and oil that must be fully removed, or the coolant and oil prevent the surface oxide layer being formed on the substrate.
  • cutting or milling may damage the original ink layer.
  • the step of forming the surface oxide layer may cause the original oxide layer to flake, thereby allowing the metal substrate to be oxidized.
  • the surface ink layer may bleed into the base ink layer.
  • the base ink layer must also be fully removed before a surface oxide layer can be formed on the substrate so increasing a manufacturing time of the multicolor substrate.
  • the present invention provides a method of forming multicolor on aluminum alloy to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
  • the main objective of the present invention is to provide a method of forming multicolor aluminum alloy, and more particularly to a method of forming multicolor aluminum alloy using anodizing surface treatment for preferred color quality.
  • a method for forming multicolor aluminum alloy comprising steps of preparing, surface treating, forming, processing and reprocessing.
  • Preparing comprises providing an aluminum alloy substrate and cleaning with water.
  • Surface treating comprises disposing the substrate in a base electrolytic solution to form a base oxide layer by anodizing.
  • Forming comprises forming a membrane of transparent, acid-proof, insulated plastic material on the substrate.
  • Processing comprises removing local area membrane and corresponding oxide layer from the substrate and cleaning.
  • Reprocessing comprises disposing the clean substrate in a subsequent electrolytic solution to form a subsequent oxide layer on areas of the substrate exposed by the membrane by anodizing.
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a method of forming multicolor aluminum alloy in accordance with the present invention.
  • a method of forming multicolor aluminum alloy in accordance with the present invention comprises steps of preparing, surface treating, forming, processing and reprocessing.
  • the step of preparing comprises acts of providing an aluminum alloy substrate having an external surface, machining the substrate to form a shaped substrate by a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine with coolant and oil, removing the coolant and oil from the external surface with sodium hydroxide and cleaning the shaped substrate with water, thereby removing impurities from the external surface of the substrate to provide a clean external surface.
  • CNC Computer Numerical Control
  • the step of surface treatment comprises disposing the substrate with clean external surface in a base electrolytic solution to form a colored oxide layer on the substrate by an anodizing surface treatment, removing the substrate from the base electrolytic solution after forming the base oxide layer on the external surface of the substrate and drying to form a colored substrate.
  • the step of forming comprises forming a membrane on the colored oxide layer made from a transparent acid-proof insulated plastic material, such as plastic, rubber or ceramic layer.
  • the step of processing comprises processing the substrate to remove at least one local area of membrane and corresponding local area of colored oxide layer from the external surface of the colored substrate with coolant and oil using the CNC machine, removing the coolant and oil from the colored substrate using sodium hydroxide and cleaning the external surface of the substrate with water, thereby removing impurities from and providing and clean colored substrate.
  • the step of reprocessing comprises disposing the substrate in a subsequent electrolytic solution to form a subsequent oxide layer on the external surface of the substrate exposed by the membrane, and removing the substrate from the subsequent electrolytic solution after forming the subsequent oxide layer on the external surface of the substrate and drying to add a color to the colored oxide layer.
  • the coolant and oil in subsequent steps do not adhere to the colored oxide layer so is cleaned easily.
  • the local membrane on the local colored oxide is removed, the local colored oxide is fully replaced by the oxide layer so bleeding does not occur and damage to the oxide layer is replaced with the colored layer. Therefore, a preferred color quality is achieved.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Other Surface Treatments For Metallic Materials (AREA)
  • Chemical Treatment Of Metals (AREA)
  • Forging (AREA)
  • Cleaning And De-Greasing Of Metallic Materials By Chemical Methods (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Abstract

A method for forming multicolor aluminum alloy part has steps of preparing, surface treating, forming, processing and reprocessing. Preparing comprises providing an aluminum alloy substrate and cleaning with water. Surface treating comprises disposing the substrate in a first electrolytic solution to form a base oxide layer by anodizing. Forming comprises applying a membrane of transparent, acid-proof, insulating plastic on the substrate. Processing has locally removing an area of the membrane and corresponding oxide layer from the substrate and cleaning. Reprocessing has disposing the clean substrate in a subsequent electrolytic solution to form a subsequent oxide layer by anodizing on areas of the substrate exposed by local removal of an area of the membrane.

Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention
  • The present invention relates to a method of forming a multicolor aluminum alloy, and more particularly to a method of forming a multicolor aluminum alloy by anodizing for preferred color quality.
    • 2. Description of the Prior Arts
  • A conventional anodizing surface treatment comprises forming a base oxide layer on a metal substrate by chemical or electrochemical treatment to provide a protective effect to the metal substrate. The metal may be aluminum alloy. The conventional anodizing surface treatment may further comprise steps of forming a base ink layer on the base oxide layer, forming a subsequent oxide layer and forming a subsequent ink layer on the subsequent oxide layer, wherein the steps after reforming the surface of the base layers may be repeated and the subsequent layer is included as the base in such repeated treatments to provide a multicolor effect.
  • However, the step of reforming the surface of the base layer requires a cutting or a milling process to expose the substrate such as cutting or milling, which uses coolant and oil that must be fully removed, or the coolant and oil prevent the surface oxide layer being formed on the substrate.
  • In addition, cutting or milling may damage the original ink layer. The step of forming the surface oxide layer may cause the original oxide layer to flake, thereby allowing the metal substrate to be oxidized.
  • Furthermore, the surface ink layer may bleed into the base ink layer. The base ink layer must also be fully removed before a surface oxide layer can be formed on the substrate so increasing a manufacturing time of the multicolor substrate.
  • To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a method of forming multicolor on aluminum alloy to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.
  • UP 60 075599 A discloses multicolor anodizing of Al pieces
    • SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
  • The main objective of the present invention is to provide a method of forming multicolor aluminum alloy, and more particularly to a method of forming multicolor aluminum alloy using anodizing surface treatment for preferred color quality.
  • A method for forming multicolor aluminum alloy comprising steps of preparing, surface treating, forming, processing and reprocessing. Preparing comprises providing an aluminum alloy substrate and cleaning with water. Surface treating comprises disposing the substrate in a base electrolytic solution to form a base oxide layer by anodizing. Forming comprises forming a membrane of transparent, acid-proof, insulated plastic material on the substrate. Processing comprises removing local area membrane and corresponding oxide layer from the substrate and cleaning. Reprocessing comprises disposing the clean substrate in a subsequent electrolytic solution to form a subsequent oxide layer on areas of the substrate exposed by the membrane by anodizing.
  • Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
    • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a method of forming multicolor aluminum alloy in accordance with the present invention.
    • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFFRRED EMBODIMENTS
  • With reference to Fig. 1, a method of forming multicolor aluminum alloy in accordance with the present invention comprises steps of preparing, surface treating, forming, processing and reprocessing.
  • The step of preparing comprises acts of providing an aluminum alloy substrate having an external surface, machining the substrate to form a shaped substrate by a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine with coolant and oil, removing the coolant and oil from the external surface with sodium hydroxide and cleaning the shaped substrate with water, thereby removing impurities from the external surface of the substrate to provide a clean external surface.
  • The step of surface treatment comprises disposing the substrate with clean external surface in a base electrolytic solution to form a colored oxide layer on the substrate by an anodizing surface treatment, removing the substrate from the base electrolytic solution after forming the base oxide layer on the external surface of the substrate and drying to form a colored substrate.
  • The step of forming comprises forming a membrane on the colored oxide layer made from a transparent acid-proof insulated plastic material, such as plastic, rubber or ceramic layer.
  • The step of processing comprises processing the substrate to remove at least one local area of membrane and corresponding local area of colored oxide layer from the external surface of the colored substrate with coolant and oil using the CNC machine, removing the coolant and oil from the colored substrate using sodium hydroxide and cleaning the external surface of the substrate with water, thereby removing impurities from and providing and clean colored substrate.
  • The step of reprocessing comprises disposing the substrate in a subsequent electrolytic solution to form a subsequent oxide layer on the external surface of the substrate exposed by the membrane, and removing the substrate from the subsequent electrolytic solution after forming the subsequent oxide layer on the external surface of the substrate and drying to add a color to the colored oxide layer.
  • By forming a transparent, acid-proof, insulation plastic to cover and protect the colored oxide, the coolant and oil in subsequent steps do not adhere to the colored oxide layer so is cleaned easily. When the local membrane on the local colored oxide is removed, the local colored oxide is fully replaced by the oxide layer so bleeding does not occur and damage to the oxide layer is replaced with the colored layer. Therefore, a preferred color quality is achieved.
  • Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and features of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in the details, especially in mattes of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims (10)

  1. A method for forming multicolor aluminum alloy comprising steps of:
    preparing, comprising
    providing an aluminum alloy substrate having an external surface;
    machining the substrate with coolant and oil to form a shaped substrate;
    removing the coolant and oil from the external surface of the substrate; and
    cleaning the shaped substrate with water;
    surface treating, comprising disposing the shaped substrate with clean external surface in a base electrolytic solution to form a base oxide layer on the external surface of the substrate by anodizing surface treatment to provide a colored substrate;
    forming, comprising forming a membrane on the colored substrate made from a transparent, acid-proof, insulating plastic material;
    processing, comprising
    processing the colored substrate to remove at least one local area of membrane and corresponding local area of colored oxide layer from the external surface of the colored substrate;
    removing the coolant and oil from the colored substrate; and cleaning the external surface of the colored substrate with water to form a clean colored substrate; and
    reprocessing, comprising disposing the clean colored substrate in a subsequent electrolytic solution to from a subsequent oxide layer on the external surface of the substrate exposed by the membrane.
  2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of surface treating further comprises removing the substrate from the base electrolytic solution after forming the base oxide layer on the external surface of substrate and drying.
  3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reprocessing step further comprises removing the substrate from the subsequent electrolytic solution after forming the subsequent oxide layer on the external surface of the substrate and drying.
  4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of machining the substrate is performed by a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine.
  5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the step of processing the substrate to remove at least one local area membrane and corresponding local area of colored oxide layer from the external surface of the colored substrate is performed by the CNC machine.
  6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein in the steps of removing the coolant and oil uses sodium hydroxide.
  7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steps of surface treating and surface reprocessing further comprise removing the substrate from the electrolytic solution after forming the oxide layer and drying.
  8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the step of machining the substrate to form the shaped substrate is performed by a CNC machine.
  9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of processing the substrate to remove at least one local area membrane and corresponding local area of colored oxide layer from the external surface of the colored substrate is performed by a CNC machine.
  10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steps of removing the coolant and oil form the external surface of the substrate used sodium hydroxide.
EP09168633A 2008-10-20 2009-08-25 Method of forming multicolor aluminium alloy Active EP2177647B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
TW097140159A TW201016891A (en) 2008-10-20 2008-10-20 Anode multi-color surface treatment method for aluminum alloy

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2177647A1 EP2177647A1 (en) 2010-04-21
EP2177647B1 true EP2177647B1 (en) 2011-03-23

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EP (1) EP2177647B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE503042T1 (en)
DE (1) DE602009000954D1 (en)
TW (1) TW201016891A (en)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US8968548B2 (en) 2012-05-12 2015-03-03 Catcher Technology Co., Ltd. Method of forming multicolor surface
CN103498177A (en) * 2013-09-24 2014-01-08 昆山凯诺尔金属制品有限公司 Processing method of various anodized surfaces of light metal product
CN103556185B (en) * 2013-11-20 2016-05-04 沈阳工业大学 Electrolytic aluminium anode rod cleaning plant
GB201702213D0 (en) * 2017-02-10 2017-03-29 Multitechnic Ltd Aluminium panels
US11505875B2 (en) 2019-05-21 2022-11-22 Bang & Olufsen A/S Method of providing a coloured, anodised aluminium surface

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5867893A (en) * 1981-10-16 1983-04-22 Tateyama Alum Kogyo Kk Method for decorating aluminum or aluminum alloy with colored pattern
JPS58110694A (en) * 1981-12-23 1983-07-01 Katsushika Press Kogyosho:Kk Multi-color treatment of aluminum surface
JPS6067691A (en) * 1983-09-21 1985-04-18 Seiko Epson Corp Preparation of multi-colored clock case
JPS6075599A (en) * 1983-09-30 1985-04-27 Nippon Denso Co Ltd Formation of multicolor pattern of anodized film
RU2072000C1 (en) * 1993-08-23 1997-01-20 Институт химии Дальневосточного отделения РАН Method of multicolored dying of aluminium and aluminium-alloy objects
US20050109623A1 (en) * 2003-09-10 2005-05-26 Bao Sheng Corporation Multi-color anodizing processes

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Publication number Publication date
EP2177647A1 (en) 2010-04-21
ATE503042T1 (en) 2011-04-15
TWI338056B (en) 2011-03-01
TW201016891A (en) 2010-05-01
DE602009000954D1 (en) 2011-05-05

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