I have a titanium Taurus .45 Colt with an aluminum anodized frame. I blasted the blue color off with 120gr aluminum oxide and coated it black. I have since read that the anodizing process adds strength to the aluminum finish should not be removed. Is this true? I have shot the gun some with no issues, and do know not to shoot hot loads in it. Ken
HArd anodizing will not increase the strength any appreciable amount.
It will add corrosion and wear resistance but not any kind of strength.
Consider it unmodified and shoot as usual
I like your answer. Thanks a lot, Ken
All anodizing does is make a layer of aluminum oxide a few thousandths deep on the aluminum.Basically ceramic. It adds durability to the finish,but not to the under lying material.
Anodizing as utilized on firearms is sulphuric anodizing that has been dyed black, it is approximately .0002" (two ten thousandths). It is a controlled oxidation similar to gun bluing (black oxide), its main function is to prevent further uncontrolled oxidation. It provides some protection from abraision though this is limited to its minimal depth, I would hesitate to call it ceramic though. Hard coat anodizing is another matter, it provides much more surface hardness and therefore resistance to attack from hostile environments. The drawback to hardcoat anodize is increased cost vs. sulphuric anodize, also it cannot be dyed the range of colors that sulphuric anodize can.
You mean Type 2 and 3.
Type 2 can be as thin as .0001" to as thick as .001" under controlled highly specialized condition.
Type 3 can be a few thousandths thick and is usually only available in clear or black.
and it is a ceramic (� ( ceramic) any nonmetallic solid that remains hard when heated.) What you are doing is converting the aluminum to aluminum oxide the same stuff used in sand paper.
And both type 2 and 3 can use sulfuric acid Type 3 is a different dilution of acid and the bath is refrigerated and the current density is much higher.
BAck on point though. Anodizing only add a layer of corrosion and wear resistance while also adding some cosmetic effects
