A Brief History of Anodizing Aluminum

Abstract

The chronological events in science and technology that lead to the development of the anodizing industry are presented. This chapter reviews important related interdisciplinary sciences that contributed to the discovery of passive behavior of various metals, the electrochemical formation of anodic oxide on aluminum, its characterization and development of applications. Additionally, important research and development specific to anodizing theory is provided that spans the late nineteenth and twentieth century to important research that is being carried out today is presented. The work of selected important scientists who contributed to the birth of the anodizing industry and the course of its theoretical development as well as key figures in modern anodizing are also presented.