Titanium Anodizing Colors: What You Need To Know

What Is Titanium Anodizing?

Titanium anodizing is how we make titanium change colors. It does not use paint! The colors come from a thin layer that grows on top of the metal. This layer is so thin you can’t feel it.

When you put titanium in a special bath and add electricity, it makes this layer grow. The thickness of the layer makes different colors show up!

Doctors, plane makers, and jewelry makers all use titanium anodizing because:

• It does not chip off like paint
• It helps stop rust
• It is safe to put in the body
• It looks very pretty

How Titanium Anodizing Makes Colors

The way titanium gets colors is very cool! It works like when you see rainbow colors in a soap bubble.

When light hits the oxide layer on top of the titanium, some light bounces back from the top of the layer. Some light goes through and bounces back from the metal below. These light waves mix together.

Some colors get stronger, and some colors get weaker. The thickness of the layer picks which colors we see.

This is called light interference. It makes colors without any dyes or paints! for parts that can be anodized.

Anodizing Titanium Step By Step

To make titanium colors, you need to follow these steps:

Step 1: Clean The Surface

1. Wash with soap to get oil off
2. Use special cleaning baths that shake very fast
3. Wash with a mix called TSP or other cleaning stuff 

Step 2: Get Ready For Anodizing

1. Put the titanium in a bath with a special mix
2. Use trisodium phosphate (TSP) for safe home use
3. Some shops use sulfuric acid (very dangerous!) 

Step 3: Connect Electricity

1. Put the + wire on the titanium
2. Put the – wire on a piece of titanium you don’t need
3. Turn on the power supply
4. Pick the right voltage for the color you want

Step 4: Wash And Dry

1. Take out the titanium when it gets the right color
2. Wash it right away with clean water
3. Dry it well

Warning: Some cleaning stuff for titanium has hydrofluoric acid. This is VERY dangerous! It can hurt your skin very bad. 90% of people who touch it get hurt! 

Titanium Colors And Voltage Chart

The voltage you use sets the color. Here is a chart to help you pick:

Remember: The colors might look a bit different each time. The metal type, how clean it is, and the bath mix all change how the colors look. 

You cannot make true red colors on titanium! The oxide layer just can’t make that color with light waves. 

Find out about our precision CNC machining for perfect parts before anodizing.

Why Titanium Colors Might Not Look Right

Sometimes the colors don’t come out how you want. Here are the big problems people have:

Uneven Colors

• Metal not clean enough
• Fingerprints left on the metal
• Bath mix not stirred well
• Voltage jumping up and down

Wrong Colors

• Alloy type changes colors (Ti-6Al-4V is different from pure Ti) 
• Surface finish (rough vs. smooth) changes how bright colors look
• Old or dirty bath mix

Fading Colors

• Colors get 20-40% less bright after one year in the sun
• Scratching takes off the thin oxide layer
• Some colors fade faster than others

Pro Tip: Polish your titanium before anodizing for the brightest colors!

Where Titanium Anodizing Is Used

Many people use titanium anodizing for different jobs:

For Airplanes

• Bolts and small parts (70% use Type 2 anodizing)
• Color coding parts so they don’t get mixed up
• Making parts that fight rust better 

In Hospitals

• Hip and knee parts that go in the body
• Tools for surgery
• 90% of titanium implants get anodized 

For Jewelry

• Rings and earrings in many colors
• Body jewelry that is safe for skin
• Sales grew 45% from 2020-2023! 

For Bikes And Cars

• Exhaust parts that change color with heat
• Bolts and small parts that look cool
• Racing parts that need to be light

Check out our custom titanium machining services for parts you can anodize.

DIY Titanium Anodizing

You can anodize titanium at home! Here is what you need:

What To Buy:

1. TSP (trisodium phosphate) from a hardware store
2. Power supply that can change voltage (0-100V DC)
3. Wires with clips
4. Plastic tub for the bath
5. Pure titanium for the negative end

Steps For Home Anodizing:

1. Mix 1-2 tablespoons of TSP in warm water
2. Clean your titanium very well
3. Clip the + wire to your titanium
4. Put the – wire on a scrap piece of titanium
5. Dip both in the bath (don’t let them touch!)
6. Turn up the power slowly to the voltage you want
7. Take out when the color looks right
8. Wash with clean water right away

Safety Rules:

• Do this outside or with good air flow
• Wear gloves and eye protection
• Do not use acids at home – they are too dangerous
• Keep water away from electricity 

Taking Care Of Anodized Titanium

To keep your titanium colors looking good:

Do These Things:

• Clean with mild soap and soft cloth
• Dry well after cleaning
• Keep away from harsh chemicals

Don’t Do These:

• Use rough scrubbing pads
• Clean with bleach or strong cleaners
• Leave in the sun for a long time if you want colors to stay bright

If you scratch your titanium, you might see the color change. The only fix is to re-anodize it.

Explore ultra precision machining options for the best anodizing results.

Answers To Common Questions

Summary

Titanium anodizing is a cool way to add colors to titanium without paint. The colors come from a thin oxide layer that works with light waves.

The main points to remember are:

• Colors come from voltage settings (10-100V)
• Clean the metal very well before starting
• The process is safe with TSP but dangerous with acids
• You can’t get true red colors
• Colors can fade in sun and scratch off

With the right tools and care, you can make very pretty titanium in many colors!

Visit our titanium CNC parts page to order custom parts for your anodizing projects.