A DEVICE FOR ANODIZING PRODUCTS MADE OF TITANIUM AND ITS ALLOYS

Abstract

This utility model relates to the electrochemical processing of refractory metals. A device for anodizing titanium and its alloys comprises an electrolyte container, anode and cathode electrodes, a power source, a control panel, a memory module, a controller, and a current sensor. The anode and cathode electrodes are formed by a single coaxial structure, in which the cathode electrode is formed by a central protruding rod, and the anode electrode is cross-shaped with stops at the ends located around the cathode electrode and directed in the direction opposite the rod. The memory module is configured to store a calibration table linking the color of the oxide coating to the corresponding voltage value and the threshold current for completing the anodizing process, the value of which is monitored by the current sensor.The power supply is configured to set current and voltage values ​​depending on the selected coating color, operate in constant current mode with a smooth increase in voltage to a preset value, followed by a transition to constant voltage mode with current control, and automatically terminate the anodizing process when the current decreases to the threshold value specified in the calibration table. The technical result consists in ensuring uniformity and reproducibility of the coating color of the products. 3 clauses, 3 figs.

Description

[0001] Field of technology to which the utility model belongs

[0002] The utility model relates to the electrochemical processing of refractory metals, in particular to devices for forming oxide coatings during anodizing of products or various parts made of titanium and its alloys.

[0003] Technology Level

[0004] Various devices for anodizing products to form oxide films, including colored interference coatings, on their surfaces are known in the art. Such devices typically comprise a container with an electrolyte, an anode, a cathode, and a power source that supplies voltage to the electrodes. The electromagnetic field generated around the anode and cathode initiates an electrochemical process, resulting in the product surfaces immersed in the electrolyte being coated with an oxide film of a specific color.

[0005] A known anodizing method and device are used in which the dependence of current density on voltage is first determined for a material sample, after which, during processing of the product, the required current density is set, the initial voltage is set according to the previously determined dependence, the current established at the specified initial voltage is measured, the specified current value is determined and, during subsequent processing, the current value is maintained constant at the specified level (see German patent application DE102008008998B4, published on 21.08.2008).

[0006] The described solution does not disclose a compact device specifically for color anodizing of titanium and its alloys, in which the user specifies the desired product color, and the device automatically sets the corresponding anodizing parameters. Furthermore, this solution does not disclose the coaxial design of the electrode system or the automatic process termination upon current reduction to the set value.

[0007] A device for anodic oxidation of titanium is known, which includes a housing and a printed circuit board installed therein with a circuit of a stabilized constant voltage source, wherein a coarse adjustment regulator is installed on the upper surface of the housing, connected to the said circuit, and on the outside of the regulator a color marking ring is placed, on which various color shades are designated, corresponding to the colors obtained after anodic oxidation of titanium at a corresponding output voltage (see Chinese patent CN206400932U, published 11.08.2017).

[0008] The disadvantage of this device is that it implements manual selection of voltage by the user according to the color scale and does not provide automatic setting of the anodizing mode according to the selected color, which affects possible errors in the resulting color of the processed products due to the human factor.

[0009] A device for anodic oxidation of titanium products is known, comprising a unit for receiving titanium products, an electrolysis unit containing an electrolytic bath and a washing mechanism, as well as a unit for transporting titanium products, configured to extract the titanium product from the electrolysis unit after processing (see Chinese patent application CN111218705A, published on June 2, 2020).

[0010] A drawback of the described solution is its focus primarily on transporting and mechanically handling parts within a more complex setup. It does not cover user selection of the desired color of the anodized part with automatic mode selection, a coaxial electrode system, or automatic termination of anodizing upon reaching a preset current threshold.

[0011] The closest analogue of the claimed utility model is the Exostom titanium anodizing apparatus manufactured by Medasco, information about which is disclosed in the user manual (see https: / / medasco.ru / data / uploads / РУССТВО-правление-Українська-Апарат-для-анодирования-титана.pdf, accessed 04.03.2026). This apparatus is designed for anodizing titanium products, contains a flask for an electrolytic solution, a titanium product holder that functions as an anode, a cathode, a lifting mechanism, a start button and a voltage adjustment knob, wherein the voltage is adjustable in the range of 15-90 V, and the anodizing color is selected by adjusting the voltage.

[0012] A drawback of the closest analog is that achieving the desired coating color requires manual voltage adjustment by the operator, increasing the vulnerability of the result to human error. Furthermore, the closest analog fails to disclose the design of the anode and cathode electrodes as a single coaxial structure, the presence of a memory with a calibration relationship between color and process parameters, and the automatic process termination upon reducing the current to the set value.

[0013] Thus, an analysis of the prior art revealed that known technical solutions either require manual voltage adjustment to achieve the desired coating color or are primarily focused on manual regulation of the electrical process parameters. However, the identified prior art does not include a device for anodizing titanium and its alloys that simultaneously incorporates the anodic and cathodic electrodes as a single coaxial structure, user-selectable color for the workpiece, setting the anodizing mode based on the selected color, and automatically stopping the process when the current decreases to the specified value.

[0014] Disclosure of the essence of the utility model

[0015] The technical problem that the claimed utility model is aimed at solving is to obtain the required coating of products or various parts made of titanium and its alloys while reducing the likelihood of operator errors and simplifying the anodizing process.

[0016] The technical result achieved by the claimed utility model consists in ensuring the homogeneity and reproducibility of the color of the coating of products or various parts made of titanium and its alloys during the anodizing process.

[0017] The technical result is achieved using a device for anodizing products made of titanium and its alloys, comprising a container for electrolyte, anode and cathode electrodes, a power source, a control panel, a memory module, a controller and a current sensor, characterized in that the anode and cathode electrodes are made of a single coaxial structure, in which the cathode electrode is made in the form of a central protruding rod, and the anode electrode has a cross-shaped form with limiters at the ends located around the cathode electrode and directed in the direction opposite to the rod, wherein the memory module is configured to store a calibration table linking the color of the oxide coating with the corresponding voltage value and the threshold value of the current strength for completing the anodizing process, the value of which is monitored by the current sensor,and the power supply is configured to set the current and voltage values ​​depending on the selected coating color, to operate in constant current mode with a smooth increase in voltage to a specified value followed by a transition to constant voltage mode with current control, as well as automatically stopping the anodizing process when the current decreases to the threshold value specified in the calibration table; the current sensor is built into the controlled power supply and is connected in series with the break of one of the supply wires; the control panel is configured to select the color of the oxide coating, as well as to start and stop the anodizing process; the memory module is configured to store the calibration table in the form of a data array linking the interference color of the anodized part with the corresponding voltage value for at least one electrolyte and with the threshold value of the current for completing the process.

[0018] The use of the declared device for anodizing products made of titanium and its alloys ensures a more stable and predictable production of the required coating color, an increase in the repeatability of the result when processing products, and a reduction in the likelihood of defects associated with operator errors.

[0019] Brief description of drawings

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a general view of the claimed device for anodizing products made of titanium and its alloys.

[0021] Fig. 2 illustrates a single configuration of the anode and cathode of the claimed device for anodizing products made of titanium and its alloys.

[0022] Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of the implementation of the operating principle of the claimed device for anodizing products made of titanium and its alloys.

[0023] The following elements are indicated on the figures:

[0024] 1 - body;

[0025] 2 - capacity;

[0026] 3 - electrolyte;

[0027] 4 - electrode;

[0028] 5 - workpiece;

[0029] 6 - cathode;

[0030] 7 - anode holder;

[0031] 8 - limiters;

[0032] 9 - control panel;

[0033] 10 - user interface;

[0034] 11 - controller;

[0035] 12 - controlled power supply;

[0036] 13 - memory module;

[0037] 14 - current sensor.

[0038] Implementation of a utility model

[0039] An example of the implementation of the claimed utility model is a device for anodizing products made of titanium and its alloys, comprising a housing (1) in which a container (2) for an electrolyte (3) is placed. The dimensions of the container (2) are selected with the possibility of placing in it a coaxial electrode (4) with a part (5) made of titanium or its alloy fixed to it, and with ensuring complete immersion of at least the treated surface of the part (5) in the electrolyte (3) (see Fig. 1).

[0040] The housing (1) can be made of electrically insulating material or of electrically conductive material with insulation of internal current-carrying parts.

[0041] The tank (2) can be made as a single unit with the body (1) or in the form of a removable reservoir installed in the body (1).

[0042] Sodium tetraborate solution, for example, can be used as the electrolyte (3), particularly at a concentration of 20-50 g / l. However, the claimed device can be configured to use other electrolytic solutions suitable for anodizing titanium and its alloys.

[0043] The coaxial electrode (4) consists of a central cathode (6) and an anode holder (7), which is located around the cathode (6). The cathode (6) is made in the form of a central protruding rod as a longitudinally oriented electrically conductive element. The anode holder (7) is located concentrically relative to the cathode (6) and is electrically insulated from it. The anode holder (7) is cross-shaped with limiters (8) at the ends, located around the cathode (6) and directed in the direction opposite to the rod, and is designed to fix the workpiece (5) and perform the function of anode current conductor. The limiters (8), due to their orientation in the direction opposite to the cathode rod (6), increase the interelectrode gap and additionally hold the workpiece (5). Thus, the cathode (6) and the anode holder (7) form a single coaxial structure, in which the cathode (6) is located in the central part, and the anode holder (7) is located on the periphery relative to it (see Fig. 2).The described configuration of the cathode (6) and the anode holder (7) makes it possible to create a distributed electromagnetic field around the workpiece (5) during the anodizing process to ensure uniformity and reproducibility of the color of the coating of the specified part.

[0044] The anode holder (7) may be additionally equipped with means for fixing the component (5), ensuring its retention in the required position and electrical contact with it. The anode holder (7) may also be designed to provide electrical insulation for areas not intended to participate in the electrochemical process. The cathode (6) and anode holder (7) are designed to be placed together in the electrolyte (3) while maintaining the interelectrode distance.

[0045] A control panel (9) with a user interface (10) is located in the upper part of the housing (1). The control panel (9) is functionally connected to a controller (11), configured to generate control signals for setting the operating mode of the claimed device. The controller (11) is electrically connected to a controlled power source (12), which supplies electric current and voltage to the coaxial electrode (4). The source (12) can be connected to the power supply network or another power source.

[0046] The controller (11) is connected to the memory module (13), which stores pre-programmed anodizing mode parameters. These parameters can correspond to various processing options, including different colors of the resulting oxide coating. The operator selects the mode via the user interface (10), after which the corresponding data is transmitted to the controller (11) to control the power source (12).

[0047] The claimed device further comprises a current sensor (14) designed to monitor the electrical parameters of the anodizing process. The current sensor (14) can be integrated into the power source (12) and connected in series with one of the supply wires. The current sensor (14) is operatively connected to the controller (11) and transmits a signal indicating the current current, based on which the controller (11) controls the processing mode. In particular, the controller (11) is configured to set a mode characterized by a smooth increase in voltage to a predetermined value and then maintaining said voltage.

[0048] In one embodiment, the controller (11) is configured to implement at least two sequentially executed control modes of the power supply (12). In the first stage, the controller (11) sets the current limitation mode with a simultaneous smooth increase in the voltage on the coaxial electrode (4) to a predetermined value selected according to the data of the memory module (13). In the second stage, after reaching the predetermined voltage value, the controller (11) switches the power supply (12) to the voltage stabilization mode and monitors the decrease in current according to the signal from the current sensor (14). In particular, the anodizing voltage can be set in the range of 15-90 V. In a particular embodiment, the power supply (12) can provide voltage regulation in 0.1 V increments. For different colors of the oxide coating, the corresponding voltage values ​​​​and threshold current values ​​​​for completing the process can be stored in the memory module (13).The presence of a memory module (13) with a special calibration table provides the anodizing process with stable initial data to achieve uniformity and reproducibility of coating color under any environmental conditions and multiple repeatability of the anodizing process. For example, to achieve a violet color, a voltage of 65 V can be set, while to achieve a golden color, a voltage of approximately 80 V.

[0049] The memory module (13) stores a calibration table in the form of a data array containing information about at least the identifier of the desired coating color, the corresponding set voltage, and the process termination parameter expressed as a current threshold. Additionally, the calibration table may contain a characteristic of the electrolyte used. The values ​​in this table may be determined experimentally for a specific electrolyte composition and a specific geometry of the coaxial electrode (4). In one embodiment, the process termination current threshold may be specified in absolute form, for example, 0.1 A, or in relative form, for example, as 5% of the initial current value.

[0050] The controller (11) can be implemented using a microcontroller that receives a signal from the user interface (10), accesses the memory module (13), generates a control signal for the power source (12), and processes the signal from the current sensor (14). The specific circuit design of the controller (11) is not limiting for the claimed utility model.

[0051] The design of the housing (1) provides for the placement of a container (2), a coaxial electrode (4), a control panel (9), a controller (11), a power source (12), a memory module (13) and a current sensor (14).

[0052] Due to the implementation of the coaxial electrode (4) in the form of a central cathode (6) with an anode holder (7) with limiters (8) located around it, as well as due to the functional connection of the control panel (9), the controller (11), the memory module (13), the current sensor (14) and the power source (12), the claimed utility model is a set of structurally and functionally interconnected elements that form a device for anodizing products made of titanium and its alloys.

[0053] The claimed device operates as follows. The container (2) is filled with electrolyte (3) to a level sufficient to submerge the workpiece (5) mounted on the anode holder (7). The workpiece (5) is then secured to the anode holder (7) between stops (8), ensuring electrical contact.

[0054] The operator then selects the desired processing mode via the user interface (10). In the preferred embodiment, the mode is selected based on the desired oxide coating color. The signal regarding the selected mode is sent to the controller (11), which accesses the memory module (13), which stores the anodizing parameters corresponding to the selected mode. Based on the data retrieved from the memory module (13), the controller (11) generates a control signal for the power source (12) (see Fig. 3).

[0055] After this, the power source (12) applies voltage to the coaxial electrode (4), causing the part (5), secured to the anode holder (7) between the limiters (8), to be polarized by the resulting distributed electromagnetic field anodically relative to the cathode (6). At the initial stage, the controller (11) sets a mode for smoothly increasing the voltage to a preset value while simultaneously limiting the current. This mode reduces the likelihood of electrical breakdown, which can damage the oxide layer formed as a result of the electrochemical process, and ensures a more stable start to the anodizing process. After the preset voltage is reached, the power source (12) switches to voltage maintenance mode.

[0056] During the anodizing process, an oxide layer forms on the surface of the workpiece (5), the thickness of which increases as the process progresses. At the same time, the current flowing through the electrolyte (3) between the cathode (6) and the workpiece (5) gradually decreases. The current value is monitored by the current sensor (14), which transmits a corresponding signal to the controller (11). The controller (11) compares the current value with the set threshold value corresponding to the selected mode and stored in the memory module (13). When the current decreases to the specified threshold value, the controller (11) generates a command to stop the power supply to the coaxial electrode (4). As a result, the anodizing process is automatically terminated.

[0057] Thus, in one particular embodiment, when the operator selects the violet color, the controller (11) reads from the memory module (13) a record containing, for example, a voltage of 65 V and a process termination threshold of 0.1 A, after which it controls the power source (12) in such a way as to set the anodizing mode to the specified voltage and maintain it until the current decreases to 0.1 A. After reaching this threshold value, the anodizing process is automatically terminated. In another particular example, when the gold color is selected, the controller (11) sets the voltage to approximately 80 V and the current threshold value corresponding to the specified mode, previously stored in the memory module (13).

[0058] After the process is complete, part (5) is removed from the anode holder (7). If necessary, part (5) is rinsed and dried. The device is then ready for the next anodizing cycle, following the same sequence described above.

[0059] Thus, the claimed device enables automated anodizing of titanium and its alloy products. The operator selects the processing mode via the user interface (10) rather than manually. Electrical parameters corresponding to the selected color are set by the controller (11) based on data from the memory module (13). The anodizing process is completed automatically by a signal from the current sensor (14).

[0060] The essence of the claimed utility model as a technical solution related to a device is expressed in the totality of the following essential features, sufficient to obtain the claimed technical result:

[0061] - the configuration of the electrode in the form of a single coaxial structure allows for the creation of a distributed electromagnetic field around the workpiece to ensure uniformity and reproducibility of the coating color of the specified part during the anodizing process;

[0062] - the presence of a memory module with a special calibration table provides the anodizing process with stable initial data to achieve uniformity and reproducibility of the color of the coating of parts under any external conditions and multiple repeatability of the anodizing process;

[0063] - a controlled power supply with features of its operating modes affects the energy parameters and reduces the likelihood of electrical breakdown for uniformity and reproducibility of the color of the coating of parts.

[0064] The use of the claimed device allows for the production of parts or products made of titanium and its alloys with a more stable and reproducible coating color while reducing the likelihood of operator error and simplifying the anodizing process.

Claims

1. A device for anodizing articles made of titanium and its alloys, comprising a container for electrolyte, anode and cathode electrodes, a power supply, a control panel, a memory module, a controller and a current sensor, characterized in that the anode and cathode electrodes are made of a single coaxial structure, in which the cathode electrode is made in the form of a central protruding rod, and the anode electrode has a cross-shaped form with limiters at the ends located around the cathode electrode and directed in the direction opposite to the rod, wherein the memory module is configured to store a calibration table linking the color of the oxide coating with the corresponding voltage value and the threshold value of the current strength for completing the anodizing process, the value of which is monitored by the current sensor, and the power supply is configured to set the values ​​of current strength and voltage depending on the selected color of the coating,operation in constant current mode with a smooth increase in voltage to a specified value, followed by a transition to constant voltage mode with current control, as well as automatic termination of the anodizing process when the current decreases to the threshold value specified in the calibration table.

2. The device according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the current sensor is built into the controlled power source and is connected in series into the break of one of the supply wires.

3. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control panel is designed with the ability to select the color of the oxide coating, as well as to start and stop the anodizing process.

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the memory module is configured to store a calibration table in the form of a data array linking the interference color of the anodized part with the corresponding voltage value for at least one electrolyte and with the threshold value of the current strength for completing the process.

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