PROCESS FOR REDUCING NICKEL LEACH RATES FOR NICKEL ACETATE SEALED ANODIC OXIDE COATINGS

摘要

Sealed anodic coatings that are resistant to leaching of nickel and nickel-containing products and methods for forming the same are described. Methods involve post-sealing thermal processes to remove at least some of the leachable nickel from the sealed anodic coatings. In some embodiments, the post-sealing thermal processes involve immersing the sealed anodic coating within a heated solution so as to promote diffusion of the leachable nickel out of the sealed anodic coatings and into the heated solution. The resultant sealed anodic coating is pre-leached of nickel and is therefore well suited for many consumer product applications. In some embodiments, a post-sealing thermal process is used to further hydrate and seal the sealed anodic coating, thereby repairing structural defects within the sealed anodic coating.

主权项

1. A method of reducing a leach rate of a leachable material from a sealed anodic film, the method comprising:
immersing the sealed anodic film in a solution suitable for dissolving an amount of the leachable material so as to provide a diffusion path for removal of an amount of the leachable material such that the sealed anodic film achieves a target leach rate or less, the target leach rate associated with a predetermined amount of the leachable material leached from the sealed anodic oxide film over a predetermined period of time.