Grey BL Anodizing Dye Makes 8 litres

Grey BL Anodizing Dye

1. Description

Specialty Grey BL is a single component, water soluble dye, used to colour anodized aluminium bluish grey.

RoHS compliant ! REACH compliant

2. Application instructions

Concentration: 0.5-2 g/l

pH: 5.5 ±0.5

Buffering: Not required

Temperature:  60°C ±-1.5°C

Oxide film thickness: 0.20-0.50 mils.

Dye time: Depending on the shade desired, dye times could range from 2-10 minutes, but can only be determined by sampling in plant production.

Preferred sealing: Specialty Sealant MTL Specialty Sealant

3. Conditions for using Specialty Grey BL

Tank:                                     Stainless steel or other acid resistant materials such as neoprene, polyethylene and polypropylene that can withstand a constant operating temperature of 140°F.

Water quality:                   Deionized

pH adjustments:               Raise with sodium hydroxide. Lower with acetic acid.

The pH should be checked once per shift with a calibrated meter and maintained within recommended range.

Bath agitation:                   Mild agitation must be used for high uniformity of colour.

For light shades of grey, moving the parts around in the dyebath immediately upon immersion for one minute, improves colour uniformity.

Rinsing:                                It is important to remove all acid residues clinging to the work and acid retention in the oxide pore itself. Rinse work load thoroughly after anodizing. A minimum of two rinses is recommended, with the second rinse at over-flow.

To increase rinsing effectiveness, add vigorous air agitation in all rinse tanks. This also improves your rinsing of surfaces on complicated shaped parts.

4. Light fastness

Rating:   6 (1=poor, 8=excellent) This colour is not recommended for outdoor applications or other situations where it is subjected to intense UV radiation.

5. Storage

Store in original container in a cool dry location. Close package tightly after removal of dye. In humid environments, dye powder may clump-up.

6.  Preparation of a new dyebath

1. A cleaned tank is filled with deionized water to about 75% of final volume and raised to dyeing temperature.
2. The required amount of dye is weighed out and dissolved in hot deionized water (160-180°F) in a separate container until a slurry is formed. This is your stock solution.
3. With agitation turned on in tank, pour stock solution into tank.
4. Top off the tank to final working solution volume with more hot deionized water and agitate for 15 minutes.
5. Using a calibrated pH meter, check the pH and adjust if necessary.
6. The dyebath is brought to dyeing temperature, 60°C ±2°C.