Reactive metal anodizing
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Niobium and Titanium are the most common metals utilized in reactive metal coloring. Iron rusts and aluminum pits, but these reactive metals color when oxidized, especially when excited with heat or electricity in an electrolyte. (Typically water and salt or TSP). This anodizing process creates a thin oxide layer, which results in the appearance of color. The metal does not actually change color; rather, the thin, hard, transparent oxide generates interference colors. There are no pigments or dyes. White light reflects and refracts at the surfaces resulting in color, like oil on a wet street. The colors are controlled by the voltage being applied typically through a bath, a brush or sponge. The effective voltages range from 10-80 volts dc.
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