Anodize USA

Aluminum Cathodes

Advantages

For many years anodizers used almost any convent cathode material, from the actual tank wall to the lead coils used for cooling in sulfuric acid anodizing baths. Little attention was paid to the type of material or the anode to cathode ratio. As operations became more sophisticated and research on this subject was accomplished, specific recommendations on the ratio and material became available.The consensus opinion was the best material for the cathodes was aluminum and specifically 6063t6 alloy.

In addition the ratio of 3 sq feet of anode to 1 sq foot of cathode gave the most consistent anodizing. Attempting to accomplish this ration in a job shop environment is difficult but the closer you are to this ratio the better your overall anodizing performance will be. Anodize USA went one step further and designed the "snappable cathode system" to insure years of reliable,flexible and easily serviceable cathode design. It offers the following advantages over other systems:

  1. Lower voltage required to do the same work.
  2. Long life (some cathodes in service over 3 years)
  3. No undesirable metals to contaminate the anodizing bath
  4. High surface area per cathode
  5. Easily replaced
  6. Uses less tank space
  7. Less heat build up
  8. Overall lower operating cost
  9. Simpler to change the cathode area