In close collaboration with chemical supplier AD Chemicals, KO-AR High Tech Surface Treatment is introducing a new process within its services; anodizing titanium. The purpose of anodizing is, among other things, to prevent alloying with other metals. The treatment provides an extremely wear-resistant layer without dimensional changes to the object. KO-AR is the only anodizing company in the Benelux that can provide this unique high-tech process.
The Background
At the beginning of 2016, KO-AR was approached by a new business relation whether it was possible to anodize titanium. Owner Marco Kaarsgaarn immediately gave an affirmative answer. Marco has anodized many titanium F16 parts during his work at Fokker. A test series was started within a few weeks. The anodizing layer on titanium is generally colored purple. The treatment carried out, in accordance with the Fokker procedure, also resulted in this beautiful purple finish of the test series. There was great enthusiasm within the team. However, the customer wanted a completely different appearance with a ‘dull gray’ finish unknown to KO-AR.
AD Chemicals as sparring partner
KO-AR's own research to achieve a dull gray appearance did not lead to the desired finish. This is why business partner AD Chemicals was asked to provide support. Although AD Chemicals has extensive experience in chemistry for anodizing aluminum, it was complex to understand the chemical process for creating a dull gray finish on titanium. After several months of research and extensive laboratory testing, a solution was found that met the desired result. Now came an important next step in the development process; scaling up from lab to practice.
Puzzling with the parameters
The next step towards the KO-AR pilot line was quickly taken. Testing started at the end of November 2017. Implementing a new process is always a matter of time, energy and costs. Only by testing, testing, optimizing, testing and testing again can significant steps be made. After carrying out the practical tests, the result was still far from the desired dull gray finish. The titanium products had a white glow with speckles. So again we had to figure out the parameters, including voltages, amperes and time. However, the result remained similar and KO-AR had to tell the customer that KO-AR had not progressed far enough to successfully process the first order.
The eureka moment
After the conversation with the client, there was disappointment within the KO-AR team. The customer would receive the test material back so that he could have the treatment carried out in Switzerland by the only other European business for titanium anodizing. Later that day there was contact with the development department of AD Chemicals. It appeared that the anodized titanium products also needed to be polished. Could the solution have been so close all along? After cleaning a few remaining parts, the eureka moment was there. A perfect dull gray color emerged. Not just one piece, but all products met the dull gray requirement!
KO-AR preferred supplier for titanium anodizing
After the successful implementation of the process, the customer was immediately contacted again. Here too, people were naturally very pleased with the very rapid progress; the results shown spoke volumes. Although the aforementioned order had already been placed, the result turned out to be so good that KO-AR has since become the preferred supplier for this customer in the Benelux. A result that the KO-AR team is very proud of!
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