EP3117028B1 - Anlage und verfahren zur anodisierungsbehandlung von produkten aus aluminium oder seinen legierungen - Google Patents

Anlage und verfahren zur anodisierungsbehandlung von produkten aus aluminium oder seinen legierungen Download PDF

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EP3117028B1
EP3117028B1 EP15718575.2A EP15718575A EP3117028B1 EP 3117028 B1 EP3117028 B1 EP 3117028B1 EP 15718575 A EP15718575 A EP 15718575A EP 3117028 B1 EP3117028 B1 EP 3117028B1
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products
pipes
electrolyte solution
plant
along
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French (fr)
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EP3117028A1 (de
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Carlo Calcaterra
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Qualital Servizi Srl
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Qualital Servizi Srl
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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
    • C25D11/005—Apparatus specially adapted for electrolytic conversion coating
    • 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
    • C25D11/06—Anodisation of aluminium or alloys based thereon characterised by the electrolytes used
    • C25D11/08—Anodisation of aluminium or alloys based thereon characterised by the electrolytes used containing inorganic acids
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D17/00—Constructional parts, or assemblies thereof, of cells for electrolytic coating
    • C25D17/10—Electrodes, e.g. composition, counter electrode
    • C25D17/12—Shape or form
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PRODUCTION OF COATINGS; ELECTROFORMING; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25D21/00—Processes for servicing or operating cells for electrolytic coating
    • C25D21/10—Agitating of electrolytes; Moving of racks

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a plant and a process for the anodizing treatment of products made of aluminium or alloys thereof and, particularly, a plant and a process designed for the treatment of profiled sections made of such materials.
  • aluminium is a silvery metal having the unique feature of turning its surface into a thin layer of natural aluminium oxide which is hard, compact, and practically inert to atmospheric agents.
  • electrochemical processes are referred to as "anodizing” processes because the material (aluminium) is connected to the anode (positive pole) of a suitable electrochemical system comprising a direct current generator.
  • the thickness of aluminium oxide is expressed in microns (symbol ⁇ m), i.e. thousandths of a millimetre.
  • layer thickness is of great importance because it is a key factor controlling its corrosion resistance and its behaviour in the external environment.
  • the choice of the thickness should be agreed with the user and it depends on the degree of aggressiveness of the environment in which the material is to be placed, the final appearance of the surfaces and the final size of the finished object.
  • Table 1 Technical standards in force for architectural applications (doors, windows, curtain walls) provide five classes of thickness as indicated in Table 1 below.
  • Table 1 Class Minimum average thickness ( ⁇ m) Minimum local thickness ( ⁇ m) 5 5 4 10 10 8 15 15 12 20 20 16 25 25 20
  • thicknesses of Classes 15 and 20 are generally used for external architectural applications. In the United Kingdom, as well as in some other countries of Northern Europe, thicknesses of Class 25 may be required, especially where industrial pollution is high or when used in industrial marine environments.
  • the anodizing treatment of aluminium is generally carried out by dipping the products to be anodized into a tank containing an electrolyte solution, for example a solution of sulphuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ).
  • an electrolyte solution for example a solution of sulphuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ).
  • the products are then connected to the positive pole (anode), whereas the negative pole (cathode) consisting of a lead or aluminium electrode, is dipped into the electrolyte solution contained in the tank.
  • the quality and properties of the anodic oxide as obtained by these known types of processes depend on the characteristics of aluminium and alloys thereof, but especially on conditions and treatment variables which may influence the characteristics of the final product, namely:
  • the current density i.e. the current strength per unit surface
  • the choice of current density to be used depends on certain factors, such as the maximum power of the current rectifier with respect to the amount of material to be treated and the cooling capacity of the bath into which the products are dipped.
  • the aluminium anodizing process is carried out by passing an appropriate electric current through the products to be treated, utmost care should also be paid to the electrical connection of the products to the positive pole (anode) of the circuit.
  • the supports can be made, for example, of an aluminium alloy or otherwise of a material having characteristics of high electrical conductivity, good workability, light weight and affinity for the material to be anodized.
  • the shapes of the supports depend on the type of products to be treated. For example, they can be rectangular, square, circular, pentagonal in cross-section or rack-shaped, or the like. In any case, the main features of the supports should be a good compromise among the following requirements:
  • One of the main drawbacks of this approach is that, when the profiled sections are in a hung condition, they can easily swing within the treatment area and directly contact the cathodes, resulting in a short circuit. Under normal conditions, the circuit between the anode and the cathode is closed by the jets themselves of the electrolyte solution, which forms the load resistance of the circuit. The currents passing between the anode and the cathode are very high and, therefore, the direct contact between the anode and the cathode turns-on the protection systems of the generator, thereby blocking the production cycle or, in the worst case, potentially damaging the direct current generator.
  • the pump used to pressurize the electrolyte solution should be very powerful in order to ensure the thrust required to supply the electrolyte solution under an appropriate pressure up to the highest spraying means.
  • US-A1-2010/176004 discloses a plant for the continuous anodizing treatment of products where jets of electrolyte are also used.
  • the task of the present invention is to provide a plant and a process for the continuous anodizing treatment of products made of aluminium or alloys thereof, which allow the drawbacks of the prior art to be solved.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide a plant of the type mentioned above in which the short circuit between the anode and the cathode is prevented from occurring.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant of the type mentioned above which can treat profiled sections of any length by effectively delivering the current along the entire length of the profiled sections.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a plant of the type mentioned above which can reduce the amount of power used by the pump for spraying the products, and particularly the profiled sections, with jets of an electrolyte solution.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a plant of the type mentioned above which can even treat profiled sections having a complex cross-profiled section.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a plant and a process which can be easily integrated with other processes and plants for the continuous treatment of products made of aluminium or alloys thereof.
  • a plant for the continuous anodizing treatment of products made of aluminium or alloys thereof comprises means for feeding the products along a treatment path, at least one tank for collecting and/or storing a liquid electrolyte solution, a plurality of pipes for supplying jets of the liquid electrolyte solution towards the products along the treatment path, a plurality of conduits for hydraulically connecting the tank to the pipes, and at least one pump for feeding the electrolyte solution under pressure to the pipes.
  • the plant comprises cathode electrodes arranged in electric contact with the liquid electrolyte solution, and anode electrodes arranged in electric contact with the products.
  • At least the pipes supplying the jets of electrolyte solution are made of an electrically insulating material. This helps to prevent dangerous short circuits from occurring between the anode and the cathode while the products are moved through the treatment area. Practically, the electric circuit is closed only and exclusively by means of the "liquid contact" of the jets connected to the cathode, so as to ensure the load resistance required in the circuit while preventing that any swinging movement of the products connected to the anode may bring them into direct contact with the cathode.
  • the pipes supplying the electrolyte solution are arranged on dispensing devices to which the electrolyte solution is fed under pressure.
  • At least one cathode electrode is advantageously housed in each of the dispensing devices.
  • the resistance of the electrolyte solution is not significantly altered compared to that of the solutions of the known type.
  • the cathode is positioned very close to the jets, and any change in the distance between the ends of the jets and the products passing through the treatment area will result in negligible changes in resistance.
  • an electrically insulating material which has proved to be suitable for the manufacture of the pipes is, for example, PVC.
  • PVC electrically insulating material
  • the dispensing devices in which the cathodes are housed, as well as the collection and/or storage tank for the electrolyte solution and the relevant pipings hydraulically connecting all the components of the hydraulic circuit may also be advantageously made of the same material.
  • the material employed for these purposes allows the costs of the plant to be reduced and the maintenance of the cathode electrodes, which are made of aluminium or lead, to be carried out independently from that of the dispensing devices made of PVC.
  • the pipes open onto opposite sides along the treatment path so that the entire surface of the products, particularly that of the profiled sections made of aluminium or alloys thereof, can be sprayed with the jets.
  • the pipes can also be equipped with nozzles, also made of an electrically insulating material, at their ends.
  • the nozzles may be adjustable to allow even the treatment of products in the form of profiled sections having a particularly complex cross-section. This allows the nozzles to be appropriately oriented in such a way as to direct their jets towards areas which are difficult to be effectively reached with a horizontal jet.
  • the products While the products are moved along the treatment path, they are supported by appropriate supporting means which comprise the anode electrodes adapted to connect said products to the positive pole of a direct current generator.
  • the anode electrodes may constitute a portion of the supporting means.
  • the supporting means support the profiled sections preferably by keeping them with their prevailing dimension parallel to the feeding direction along the treatment path, i.e. in a horizontal position.
  • the supporting means support the profiled sections in at least two points in order to ensure the passage therethrough of high currents which can either facilitate the formation of an oxide layer of increased thickness for the same treatment time or, alternatively, reduce the treatment times for the same thickness of the oxide layer.
  • the profiled sections can also be fed while keeping them with their prevailing dimension perpendicular to the feeding direction along the treatment path, i.e. in a vertical position, and with the use of a single supporting means to electrically connect the profiled sections.
  • the invention also relates to a process for the continuous anodizing treatment of products made of aluminium or alloys thereof.
  • the process comprises the steps of:
  • the process according to the invention envisages that the jets of liquid electrolyte solution directed towards the products along the treatment path are supplied by pipes made of an electrically insulating material.
  • the electrolyte solution is fed under pressure to dispensing devices in each of which at least one cathode electrode is housed and the pipes are arranged on said dispensing devices.
  • the jets of electrolyte solution under pressure are supplied by pipes opening onto opposite sides along the treatment path.
  • the jets directed towards the products can be supplied through nozzles arranged at the ends of the pipes.
  • the nozzles are also made of an electrically insulating material, and they can be of an adjustable type so as to appropriately direct the jets depending on the geometry of the profiled section.
  • the products While the products are moved along the treatment path, they are supported by appropriate supporting means which comprise the anode electrodes.
  • the products are profiled sections, i.e. products having a prevailing dimension with respect to the other two
  • the profiled sections are fed along the treatment path while keeping them hung up in at least two points with their prevailing dimension parallel to the feeding direction, i.e. in a horizontal position.
  • the profiled sections can be fed along the treatment path while keeping them hung up in at least one point with their prevailing dimension perpendicular to the feeding direction, i.e. in a vertical position.
  • the products can also be moved with a reciprocating motion along directions perpendicular to the axes of the pipes supplying the jets.
  • the products can be lowered and raised while they are moved through the treatment area, or they can be horizontally moved forward and backward to maintain them within the treatment area for all the time required to form the desired oxide layer.
  • FIG. 1 a portion of a treatment plant 100 according to a possible embodiment of the present invention is schematically illustrated.
  • the plant 100 comprises a containing body 101 having arranged therein two dispensing devices 9 to dispense an electrolyte solution, for example constituted by a sulphuric acid solution, which is fed from an inlet 4 through pipings 8 made of an electrically insulating material, such as PVC or the like.
  • the dispensing devices 9 face the two sides of an aluminium plate sample 2 to be subjected to the anodizing treatment.
  • the dispensing devices 9 have arranged thereon pipes 3 made of PVC or a similar electrically insulating material, which supply jets of the electrolyte solution towards the sample 2 while it is being moved through the treatment area.
  • the pipings 8 are connected to a collection reservoir 7 for collecting the electrolyte solution, which is fed by means of a circulation pump 6 from a storage/collection tank 5 for storing/collecting sulphuric acid 5.
  • FIG 2 a plant 100 for the continuous anodizing treatment of profiled sections 20 made of aluminium or alloys thereof is schematically shown.
  • the profiled sections 20 are fed along a treatment path in the direction indicated by arrows A.
  • various devices 9 for dispensing the electrolyte solution, which is supplied through the pipes 3, are highlighted.
  • the electrolyte solution supplied along the treatment path by the pipes 3 falls towards the bottom and is directed into the electrolyte solution collection/storage tank 5, for example by providing a hopper 50 below the containing body 101.
  • the pump 6 feeds the electrolyte solution under pressure to the collection reservoir 7 and then again to the dispensing devices 9 through a hydraulic circuit comprising the conduits 8 and the inlets 4 of the devices 9.
  • the piping 8 is outlined by a dashed line and connects the opposite side of the dispensing devices 9 (not visible here) facing those shown.
  • the profiled sections 20 are fed in a horizontal position, i.e. with their major dimension (length) parallel to the feeding direction, as indicated by the arrows A, along the treatment path.
  • the profiled sections 20 are supported by at least two supporting means 40: as is known these can be, for example, grippers or else the so-called "hangers", i.e. filaments of aluminium or the like which are wrapped around the profiled sections to establish an electric contact between the profiled sections 20 and the positive pole 120 through the anodic bar 45.
  • the anodic bar 45 which is shaped as a track or a rail, for example, wheels or sliding contact pads 42 coupled to conductors 43 electrically connecting the supporting means 40 to the anodic bar 45, are moved along direction A.
  • the negative pole 110 is electrically connected to the cathodes 1 housed in each of the dispensing devices 9.
  • the poles 110 and 120 are connected to a direct current generator (not shown) which can supply the currents required to perform the treatment.
  • profiled sections 20 While the profiled sections 20 are moved along the treatment path, they can also be moved with a reciprocating motion along directions perpendicular to the axes of the pipes 3 supplying the jets of electrolyte solution. These movements, schematically referred to by double arrows M in Figure 2 , are independent from the feeding movement and can be useful for increasing the spreading of the electrolyte solution on the profiled sections 20 as well as for complying with the residence times of the profiled sections 20 along the feeding path as a function of the oxide thickness to be obtained.
  • a supplying pipe 3 equipped with a nozzle 30 at the end thereof is shown.
  • the nozzle 30, which is also made of a non-conductive material as the pipe 3 and the dispensing device 9 from which it protrudes, is preferably a nozzle of an adjustable type which can be tilted to various positions (as represented by dashed lines, for example) by an angle ⁇ with respect to the axis 3a of the pipe 3.
  • anodizing can also be used as one of the possible treatment techniques preceding a subsequent painting process and as an alternative to other conventionally used processes which are based on chromium or titanates, zirconates, silanes, etc.
  • a plant 100 according to the present invention which operates in a continuous manner, can be advantageously integrated into a plant for the continuous painting of profiled sections made of aluminium and alloys thereof.
  • the process according to the present invention also allows for easily meeting the treatment requirements necessary for subjecting the profiled sections made of aluminium and alloys thereof to a subsequent painting step.
  • anodizing as well as other treatments which will be defined by the generic term "chemical conversion” in the following, allow the formation of a layer which is protective against possible corrosive phenomena as well as suitable to allow the final layer of paint to be adhered thereto.
  • anodizing represents an actual surface finishing process by which oxide layer thicknesses of 15, 20, 25 microns can be achieved.
  • Anodizing, as pre-treatment for painting envisages layers of anodic oxide even more reduced in thickness, for example having a thickness in the range from 3 to 5 microns.
  • Anodizing treatments intended to reach thicknesses much higher than those indicated above, for example thicknesses even in excess of 50 microns, are also widespread; in this case, they are referred to as the so-called "hard” anodizing or "hard-coat”.
  • the material is hooked only once before being subjected to all the various steps of the entire process, i.e. before being sprayed with the pre-treatment solutions and being sprayed with the powder paints in the final step of painting.
  • the first approach involves costly and complex modifications to the process.
  • the second approach can be easily implemented by means of a device and a process according to the present invention.
  • a primary object of the invention is to be able to perform continuous surface treatments
  • the anodized samples were translated with a reciprocating motion (at a speed of about 1.2 m/min) in front of the jets, thus simulating the desired condition of integrating an anodizing step into continuous, full treatment lines, i.e. anodizing followed by painting.
  • the movement of the pieces with a reciprocating motion allowed obtaining a thickness of the anodic oxide layer which is clearly superior in evenness compared to those obtained by keeping the pieces to be anodized stationary in front of the jets.
  • the present invention is a valid alternative to the current techniques of chemical conversion and, as such, it offers the possibility of integrating the present treatment into a continuous painting line without altering its layout and while increasing the production yield thereof compared to the traditional approach which provides the step of dipping-type anodizing in a separate plant.
  • results of the tests carried out according to the present invention confirmed the soundness of the process and allowed evaluating the efficiency of the dispensing device 9 of electrolyte solution with the metal cathode 1 housed therein, in making the electric resistance of the jet independent from the cathode/anode distance, resulting in undoubted advantages especially from the point of view of safety (no risk of cathode/anode contacts and consequent short circuits) and plant simplicity.
  • the samples used for the tests were samples made of aluminium alloy EN AW 6060 with a chemical composition according to the requirements of standard EN 573-3.
  • the hooks used for supporting the test samples as well as the hidden faces of the test samples were suitably coated with a special resin which cannot be altered by the contact with the acidic solution of the electrolyte.
  • the samples were mechanically brushed and pre-treated (degreased and pickled) by means of three successive steps (with washes between the steps) in 1) an acidic solution, 2) an alkaline solution), and 3) an acidic solution, with process parameters as given in Table 3 below.
  • Table 3 Pre-treatment step and products Approximate formulation Time (min) Temperature (°C) 1. Acid degreasing Inorganic acids 1 Room temperature 2. Alkaline pickling Na(OH)-based 2 40 3. Acid neutralization Inorganic acids 1 Room temperature
  • the electrolyte solution dispensing device 9 comprising therein an aluminium cathode 1 was tested.
  • the system was constituted by two identical dispensing devices 9 opposing each other and equidistant from the anode, in this case constituted by the aluminium sample 2 to be anodized, as schematically shown in Figure 1 .
  • the aim of the first step was to verify whether it was possible to avoid the use of cathodes in the vicinity of the pieces to be anodized as well as to replace the holes drilled on the cathodes with simple PVC pipes.
  • Test No. 1 The process parameters for Test No. 1 were as follows:
  • Test No. 2 The process parameters for Test No. 2 were as follows:
  • Test No. 2 in terms of thickness of the anodic oxide as expressed in microns, are shown in Figures 4A and 4B with the values recorded in the areas highlighted by a circle.
  • the thicknesses obtained for the anodic oxide varied, for example with thicknesses in the range from 5.8 to 12.3 ⁇ m on one face ( Fig. 4A ) and thicknesses in the range from 6.9 to 11.2 ⁇ m on the other face ( Fig. 4B ).
  • Test No. 3 The process parameters for Test No. 3 were as follows:
  • Test No. 3 in terms of thickness of the anodic oxide as expressed in microns, are shown in Figures 5A and 5B with the values recorded in the areas highlighted by a circle.
  • the thicknesses obtained for the anodic oxide varied, for example with thicknesses in the range from 3.9 to 6.3 ⁇ m on one face ( Fig. 5A ) and thicknesses in the range from 3.6 to 13 ⁇ m on the other face ( Fig. 5B ).
  • This second test step was designed to evaluate the influence of the distance of PVC pipes from the piece to be anodized while keeping the ends of the pipes equidistant from the sample to be anodized, i.e. the anode. Practically, the electric resistance between the cathode and the anode was measured.
  • Test No. 4 The process parameters for Test No. 4 were as follows:
  • Test No. 5 The process parameters for Test No. 5 were as follows:
  • test sample 22 ( Figures 6A and 6B ) was subjected to an anodizing cycle in which voltage and current were varied as shown in Table 4 below.
  • Table 4 Voltage (V) Current (A) Time (min) 30 3 3 35 4 40 5 45 6.5 10
  • Test No. 5 in terms of thickness of the anodic oxide as expressed in microns, are shown in Figures 6A and 6B with the values recorded in the areas highlighted by a circle.
  • the thicknesses obtained for the anodic oxide varied, for example with thicknesses in the range from 8.7 to 19.2 ⁇ m on one face ( Fig. 6A ) and thicknesses in the range from 9.4 to 14.9 ⁇ m on the other face ( Fig. 6B ).
  • Test No. 6 The process parameters for Test No. 6 were as follows:
  • Test No. 6 in terms of thickness of the anodic oxide as expressed in microns, are shown in Figures 7A and 7B with the values recorded in the areas highlighted by a circle.
  • the thicknesses obtained for the anodic oxide varied, for example with thicknesses in the range from 6.3 to 8.7 ⁇ m on one face ( Fig. 7A ) and thicknesses in the range from 6.3 to 9.1 ⁇ m on the other face ( Fig. 7B ).
  • Test No. 7 The process parameters for Test No. 7 were as follows:
  • Test sample was subjected to an anodizing cycle in which voltage and current were varied as shown in Table 5 below for a total time of 8 minutes.
  • Table 5 Voltage (V) Current (A) Current density (A/dm 2 ) Time (min) 15 2 1 1 30 3.5 1.75 1 40 5 2.5 1 50 7 3.5 2 60 10 5 2 70 12 6 1
  • Test No. 7 in terms of thickness of the anodic oxide as expressed in microns, are shown in Figures 8A and 8B with the values recorded in the areas highlighted by a circle.
  • the thicknesses obtained for the anodic oxide varied, for example with thicknesses in the range from 7.1 to 13 ⁇ m on one face ( Fig. 8A ), and thicknesses in the range from 6.1 to 12.5 ⁇ m on the other face ( Fig. 8B ).
  • test sample was a length of a door-and-window frame profiled section 25 made of aluminium alloy EN AW 6060 and having a length of 70 mm, which is representative of the extruded profiled sections widely used and always subjected to surface treatments of anodizing and/or painting.
  • a diagram of the plant 100 with the profiled section 25 arranged along the treatment path is shown in Figure 9 , whereas a cross-section of only the profiled section 25 is shown in Figure 10 .
  • the aim of this test step was to evaluate the anodizing capability for a profiled section, over its entire outer surface, being much more complex in the transverse direction, as precisely shown in Figure 10 compared to that of the flat extruded samples as used in the previous tests.
  • Test No. 8 The process parameters for Test No. 8 were as follows:
  • Test No. 8 in terms of thickness of the anodic oxide as expressed in microns, are shown in Figures 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D , corresponding to faces A-D as indicated in Figure 10 , with the values recorded in the areas highlighted by a circle.
  • the thicknesses obtained for the oxide were in the range from 5.1 to 7.9 ⁇ m on face A ( Fig. 10A ), from 5.5 to 14 ⁇ m on face B ( Fig. 10B ), from 2.5 to 6.9 ⁇ m on face C ( Fig. 10C ) and of about 5.5 ⁇ m in average thickness on face D ( Fig. 10D ).
  • Test No. 9 The process parameters for Test No. 9 were as follows:
  • Test No. 9 for both samples 26 and 27 were on average equal to 6 ⁇ m in terms of thickness of anodic oxide.
  • Weight loss tests were successively performed, whose values are reported in Table 6 below.
  • Table 6 (sample 26) P1: weight after pickling (g) 24.2726 P2: weight after oxidation (g) 24.3173
  • P3 weight after sealing (g) 24.3263
  • P4 weight after deoxidation (g) 24.1821 weight losses initial sealing (g) 24.3263 weight losses from sealing after HNO 3 (g) 24.3238 weight losses from sealing after phospho-chromaiation (g) 24.3112
  • Test No. 1 0 The process parameters for Test No. 1 0 were as follows:
  • Test No. 10 for both samples 26 and 27 were on average equal to 5 ⁇ m in terms of thickness of anodic oxide.
  • Weight loss tests were successively performed, whose values are reported in Table 7 below.
  • Table 7 (sample 27)
  • P1 weight after pickling (g) 24.9960
  • P2 weight after oxidation (g) 25.0355
  • P3 weight after sealing (g) 25.0452
  • P4 weight after deoxidation (g) 24.1821 weight losses of initial sealing (g) 25.0452 weight losses from sealing after HNO 3 (g) 25.0422 weight losses from sealing after phospho-chromatation (g) 25.0287
  • Tests No. 9 and No. 10 were compared with those obtained for a sample which was anodized by dipping in a static bath with the following process conditions:
  • the cathode used for the described tests was an extruded aluminium cathode made of alloy EN AW 6060, however, it is clearly possible to use any other metal having improved characteristics of corrosion resistance (for example Al SI 316 L) when dipped into an electrolyte solution.
  • a system for anodizing treatment of aluminium and alloys thereof which comprises a particular metallic cathode positioned within the electrolyte dispensing tank.
  • the dispenser is perforated and equipped with pipes and/or nozzles to allow the electrolyte solution to be supplied as a jet capable of anodizing objects made of aluminium and alloys thereof when these objects are positioned at the anode of a direct current electric circuit.

Claims (15)

  1. Anlage (100) zur kontinuierlichen Anodisierungs-Behandlung von Produkten (2, 20-27) aus Aluminium oder Legierungen davon, umfassend Mittel zum Zuführen der Produkte (2, 20-27) entlang eines Behandlungspfades,
    mindestens einen Tank (5) zum Sammeln und/oder Speichern einer flüssigen Elektrolytlösung, eine Vielzahl von Rohren (3) zum Zuführen von Flüssigkeitsstrahlen der flüssigen Elektrolytlösung zu den Produkten (2, 20-27) entlang des Behandlungspfades,
    mehrere Leitungen (8) zum hydraulischen Verbinden des Tanks (5) mit den Leitungen (3), mindestens eine Pumpe (6) zum Zuführen der Elektrolytlösung zu den Rohren (3) unter Druck, wobei Kathodenelektroden (1) in elektrischem Kontakt mit der flüssigen Elektrolytlösung angeordnet sind, und Anodenelektroden in elektrischem Kontakt mit den genannten Produkten (2, 20-27) angeordnet sind,
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass zumindest die genannten Rohre (3) aus einem elektrisch isolierenden Material bestehen, und dadurch, dass die genannten Rohre (3) an Abgabevorrichtungen (9) angeordnet sind, welchen die Elektrolytlösung unter Druck zugeführt wird, und dadurch, dass in jeder der Abgabevorrichtungen (9) mindestens eine Kathodenelektrode (1) untergebracht ist.
  2. Anlage (100) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die Rohre (3) entlang des Behandlungspfades auf entgegengesetzten Seiten münden.
  3. Anlage (100) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die Rohre (3) an ihren Enden mit Düsen (30) ausgebildet sind, und wobei die Düsen (30) aus einem elektrisch isolierenden Material hergestellt sind.
  4. Anlage (100) gemäß Anspruch 3, wobei die Düsen (30) einstellbar sind.
  5. Anlage (100) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei Tragmittel (40, 42, 43, 45) bereitgestellt sind, um die Produkte (2, 20-27) zu tragen, während sie entlang des Behandlungswegs bewegt werden, und wobei die Anodenelektroden einen Teil der Tragmittel (40, 42, 43, 45) ausbilden.
  6. Anlage (100) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die Produkte (2, 20 bis 27) Profilabschnitte mit einer bezüglich zweier anderer Abmessungen vorherrschenden Abmessung sind, und wobei Stützmittel (40, 42, 43, 45) bereitgestellt sind, um die Profilabschnitte an mindestens zwei Punkten zu stützen, während sie mit ihrer vorherrschenden Abmessung parallel zur Vorschubrichtung entlang des Behandlungswegs gehalten werden.
  7. Anlage (100) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die Produkte (2, 20-27) Profilabschnitte mit einer bezüglich zweier anderer Abmessungen vorherrschenden Abmessung sind, und wobei Stützmittel (40, 42, 43, 45) bereitgestellt sind, um die Profilabschnitte an mindestens einem Punkt zu stützen, während sie mit ihrer vorherrschenden Abmessung senkrecht zur Vorschubrichtung entlang des Behandlungspfades gehalten werden.
  8. Verfahren zur kontinuierlichen Anodisierungs-Behandlung von Produkten (2, 20-27) aus Aluminium oder Legierungen davon, umfassend die Schritte:
    a) Vorschieben der Produkte (2, 20-27) durch eine Behandlungsanlage (100) mit einer Vielzahl von Rohren (3) zum Zuführen von Flüssigkeitsstrahlen einer flüssigen Elektrolytlösung zu den Produkten (2, 20-27) entlang eines Behandlungswegs;
    b) Sammeln der flüssigen Elektrolytlösung in einem Tank (5), welcher über mehrere Leitungen (8) hydraulisch mit den Rohren (3) verbunden ist, wobei mindestens eine Pumpe (6) entlang der Leitungen (8) angeordnet ist, um die Elektrolytlösung unter Druck zu den Rohren (3) zu befördern;
    c) Anordnen von Kathodenelektroden (1) in elektrischem Kontakt mit der flüssigen Elektrolytlösung;
    d) Anordnen von Anodenelektroden in elektrischem Kontakt mit den Produkten (2, 20-27),
    dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die auf die Produkte (2, 20-27) entlang des Behandlungsweges gerichteten Flüssigkeitsstrahlen der flüssigen Elektrolytlösung durch Rohre (3) aus einem elektrisch isolierenden Material zugeführt werden, und dadurch, dass in den Rohren (3) an Abgabevorrichtungen (9) angeordnet sind, um die Elektrolytlösung unter Druck den Abgabevorrichtungen (9) zuzuführen, und dadurch, dass mindestens eine Kathodenelektrode (1) in jeder der Abgabevorrichtungen (9) untergebracht ist.
  9. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Flüssigkeitsstrahlen der Elektrolytlösung durch Rohre zugeführt werden, die auf gegenüberliegenden Seiten entlang des Behandlungsweges münden.
  10. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Flüssigkeitsstrahlen den Produkten (2, 20-27) durch an den Enden der Rohre (3) angeordnete Düsen (30) zugeführt werden, wobei die Düsen (30) aus einem elektrisch isolierenden Material hergestellt sind.
  11. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 10, gekennzeichnet durch Einstellen der Düsen (30), um die Flüssigkeitsstrahlen auf die Produkte (2, 20-27) zu richten.
  12. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 8, gekennzeichnet durch Stützen der Produkte (2, 20-27), während sie entlang des Behandlungspfades mittels der die Anodenelektroden umfassenden Stützmittel (40, 42, 43, 45) bewegt werden.
  13. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 8, wobei die Produkte (2, 20-27) Profilabschnitte mit einer bezüglich zweier anderer Abmessungen vorherrschenden Abmessung sind, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Profilabschnitte entlang der Behandlungsstrecke geführt werden, während sie mit ihrer vorherrschenden Abmessung parallel zur Vorschubrichtung an mindestens zwei Punkten aufgehängt gehalten werden.
  14. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 8, wobei die Produkte (2, 20-27) profiliert sind Profilabschnitte mit einer bezüglich zweier anderer vorherrschenden Abmessung sind, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Profilabschnitte entlang der Behandlungsstrecke geführt werden, während sie mit ihrer vorherrschenden Abmessung senkrecht zur Vorschubrichtung an mindestens einem Punkt aufgehängt gehalten werden.
  15. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 8, gekennzeichnet durch Bewegen der Produkte (2, 20-27) mit einer senkrecht zu den die Flüssigkeitsstrahlen zuführenden Rohrachsen (3) gerichteten Pendelbewegung.
EP15718575.2A 2014-03-11 2015-03-10 Anlage und verfahren zur anodisierungsbehandlung von produkten aus aluminium oder seinen legierungen Active EP3117028B1 (de)

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PCT/IB2015/000307 WO2015136353A1 (en) 2014-03-11 2015-03-10 Plant and process for the anodizing treatment of products made of aluminium or its alloys

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CN108546973B (zh) * 2018-05-11 2019-05-31 江苏礼德铝业有限公司 一种铝镁合金桥架的制造方法
CN108315794B (zh) * 2018-05-11 2019-06-07 江苏华美特金属科技有限公司 一种铝镁合金阳极氧化表面处理设备
IT201900020386A1 (it) * 2019-11-05 2021-05-05 Otefal Ingegneria S R L Impianto e procedimento di anodizzazione di profilati in alluminio o sue leghe.
CN111118567B (zh) * 2020-01-17 2022-03-25 西安凯美泰科环保科技有限公司 一种微弧氧化装置及航空集装托盘氧化膜层的制备方法

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US4225399A (en) * 1979-04-25 1980-09-30 Setsuo Tomita High speed aluminum anodizing
US5421987A (en) * 1993-08-30 1995-06-06 Tzanavaras; George Precision high rate electroplating cell and method
EP1602127A2 (de) * 2003-03-11 2005-12-07 Ebara Corporation Platierungsvorrichtung
DE102007026633B4 (de) * 2007-06-06 2009-04-02 Atotech Deutschland Gmbh Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum elektrolytischen Behandeln von plattenförmiger Ware
ITPR20100047A1 (it) 2010-05-21 2011-11-22 Massimiliano Gazzani Metodo e impianto per l'anodizzazione di un profilato in alluminio o sue leghe

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