Anodized and colored art works of aluminum and its alloys, using exhauster sulfuric acid from batteries

Abstract

Exhausted batteries are a significant environmental problem, because they are abandoned by motorists. The recycling of these electrochemical devices allows us to save materials and mitigate damage to the environment. The process of anodizing used the sulfuric acid for the oxidation of the surface of the aluminum, leaving it suitable to be colored. The artist dedicated to cast aluminum and its alloys for the production of artworks uses this process to give an added value to their work. Acid containing the dead battery has a proper density to be anodized under optimal conditions, allowing the user to considerable savings. This paper analyzes the variables that have an impact on the quality of the films of oxide and color, using the acid that is contaminated with lead sulfate, compared with anodized using pure sulfuric acid.

Keywords: anodizing, sulfuric acid of batteries, colored anodized coating.