How to Anodize for Salt Water Protection

Prepare the metal for anodization by cleaning or polishing the surface with 1200-mil paper cloth. ‘Mil” indicates the thickness of the paper, with each mil equal to a thousandth of an inch.

Prepare a solution made up of 50 percent sodium hydroxide and distilled water (also known as caustic soda solution) in a plastic container. This mixture strips away impurities from the metal’s surface.

Submerge the metal in the caustic soda solution until it turns a grayish color.

Combine pure distilled water with sulfuric acid solution using 2 parts sulfuric acid solution to 10 parts water. The amount of solution needed depends on the size of the metal piece. Be sure to add the acid to the water to avoid splash-back. Allow the mix to cool.

Submerge the metal in the sulfuric acid solution using an aluminum wire or strut.

Place the ends of the 12-volt charger into the sulfuric acid solution. This process charges the solution and creates the chemical environment needed to oxidize the surface of the metal piece. Oxidization happens when oxygen molecules replace molecules along the metal’s surface. Leave the metal piece in the solution for 45 minutes.

Remove the metal piece and wash it off with distilled water. The oxidation process creates surface a honeycomb-like texture on the metal’s surface.