Pros And Cons Of Alkaline Vs. Acid Etching Of Aluminum

摘要

Alkaline etching of aluminum has been the traditional method of surface preparation for anodizing. Using this method, one can produce a pleasing matte appearance on an aluminum part. With the price of caustics rising and landfill space diminishing, interest in acid etching has increased. In this article, we will briefly compare the appearance and various physical properties of etching aluminum with either acidic or alkaline solutions.rnIn recent years, more and more aluminum extrusions have been processed in countries other than the United States, and subsequently they are imported into the country. These aluminum extrusions have also been anodized in those source countries, via either mechanical etching using stainless steel shot to blast the parts or by long soaks in fluoride baths-which produces an appearance on the anodized extrusions that cannot be duplicated with an alkaline etch.