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Anodized aluminum alloy products having improved appearance and/or abrasion resistance, and methods of making the same

  • US 10,087,542 B2
  • Filed: 03/15/2013
  • Issued: 10/02/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method comprising:

  • (a) preparing an aluminum alloy body for anodizing, wherein the aluminum alloy is a 2xxx, a 5xxx, a 6xxx, or a 7xxx aluminum alloy;

    (b) anodizing the aluminum alloy body, thereby producing an anodized aluminum alloy body having an anodic oxide zone;

    (i) wherein the anodizing is selected from the group consisting of type II anodizing, type III anodizing, and combinations thereof;

    (c) contacting an intended viewing surface of the anodized aluminum alloy body with an acid to decrease the yellowness of the anodized aluminum alloy body, thereby producing a prepared intended viewing surface of the anodized aluminum alloy body;

    (i) wherein the acid is selected from the group consisting of nitric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, and mixtures thereof;

    (ii) wherein the contacting occurs for a time of from 1 minute to 60 minutes;

    (iii) wherein the contacting occurs at a temperature of from 40°

    F. to 110°

    F.;

    (iv) wherein, when the acid is the nitric acid, the concentration of the nitric acid is from 0.67 wt. % to 67 wt. %; and

    (d) sealing, via a sealing solution, the prepared intended viewing surface of the anodized aluminum alloy body, wherein the sealing solution is free of colorants, and wherein the method excludes coloring of the anodic oxide zone via dyes;

    wherein the method comprises pre-selecting an abrasion resistance tolerance for the intended viewing surface of the aluminum alloy body; and

    wherein the contacting step is completed such that the intended viewing surface of the aluminum alloy body achieves the pre-selected abrasion resistance tolerance.

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