Colouring of anodised aluminium by electroless method

Abstract

In this investigation, a porous oxide coating has been formed on aluminium using direct current anodising technique, sensitised in stannous ion followed by colouring in dilute silver ion at different concentrations and durations to produce pleasing colours ranging from yellow to brown and black. The metallically coloured surface has been analysed using EDAX, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction and ultraviolet–visible–infrared spectrophotometer, and a suitable mechanism has been proposed.