INVESTIGATION OF COATING THICKNESS, HARDNESS AND WEAR RESISTANCE OF ALUMINUM 6061 BY ANODIZING TREATMENT

Aluminum 6061 has the advantages such as good formability, corrosion resistance and lightweight, but it also has weaknesses, such as its hardness andwear resistance are relatively low, thus anodizing process is conducted to increase its hardness and wear resistance. The anodizing process can also produce a more attractive appearance and texture of metal. It alsocan increase the resistance of surface friction. The anodizing technique isa metal plating processbased on the formation of an aluminum oxide coating through controlled oxidation. The quality of the anodizing product is determined by the thicknesses of the coating formed. This study aimed to determine and analyze the mechanical properties and thicknesses of the coating on the surface of aluminum 6061 due to anodizing process. The method used in this research was a laboratory experimental method, with variations of the anodizing solution, voltage, and immersion time. The solutions used in this study were 100% 1M sulfuric acid, phosphorus acid, and nitric acid. The voltages used in this study were 15V and 30V, while the immersion time variation of the anodizing process was carried out at 10 minutes and 30 minutes. The mechanical properties of anodizing aluminum 6061 were tested using hardness and wear resistance tests. The data that had been obtained were analyzed using the descriptive analysis method. The results showed that the highest hardness rate was obtained in the treatment with the use of 100% H2SO4 anodizing solution, with a voltage of 15V, which was immersed for 30 minutes. The highest hardness reaching 106.47 HV was found in specimen number 2, with a wear resistance of 17153.09 m/g, and a coating thickness of 57.025 µm.