Negin Madelat, Paulo Vieira, Bart Van den Bossche, Romain Baudson.
Aluminium anodizing, initially developed in the early 20th century to prevent corrosion on seaplane components, has become indispensable in surface engineering due to its decorative and functional advantages—such as improved corrosion resistance, enhanced wear protection, and the potential for vibrant colours.
Modern anodising operations must address increasing design complexity, growing production volumes, and more stringent specifications. The evolution of anodizing is exemplified in consumer electronics manufacturing, where ultra-thin components introduce challenges related to thermal and electrical properties during processing, and an impeccable finish is consistently required. Additionally, the increased use of recycled aluminium often leads to higher scrap rates and decreased productivity.
Accurate modelling techniques are valuable for forecasting key outcomes—including oxide layer thickness, material characteristics, energy consumption, and productivity—prior to actual production. This presentation will demonstrate how intuitive electrochemical modelling tools can optimise anodising rack configurations by analysing alternative designs, loads, and process parameters, thereby maximising efficiency within defined requirements.