Anodising

Anodising refers to a process that is of great importance for the production of high-quality jewellery and also other metal workpieces. In this process, the respective metal objects are coated with an oxide surface that protects the underlying material and thus enhances the overall value of the product. Metal processed in this way is better protected against tarnishing and has an overall repellent and more robust surface. During anodising, the metal blank is first immersed in a bath of a chemical compound, which is also called the electrolyte. In addition, an electrical voltage then ensures the formation of the desired oxide surface coating. The workpiece itself is the anode, which is where the name "anodising" comes from. Anodising is often used to make aluminium alloys even more durable. Here, the so-called eloxal process is often used, which is generally the most common application of anodising. Titanium alloys are also frequently processed by anodising, which allows colour changes and biocompatible surfaces to be created. The counterpart to anodising, where the workpiece is always polarised as the anode, is electroplating. In electroplating, the object to be coated is the cathode.