An Alternate Electrochemical Procedure for Testing Anodized Aluminum

Abstract

The quality control of aluminum anodizing with routine electrochemical measurements has become an acceptable and reliable replacement to salt spray testing. The electrochemical measurements can be performed a thousand times faster than classical salt spray exposure and be included in the routine daily operation of a plant. The sensitivity of the electrochemical testing techniques to intermediate surface conditions also means that these alternate techniques could be used to reveal trends in the anodizing process and help to fine tune its chemistry. This paper reviews the progress made with the new electrochemical procedure which has been recently developed to evaluate the quality of anodized aluminum coupons.