Niobium Bangle Bracelets

My friend Kathleen and I wanted to try out her new electrolytic anodization setup to put some color on titanium and niobium. We were so anxious to get to the electricity and water/borax part, that we forgot we needed something finished to stick in the water. Disappointed that we couldn’t see colors right away, we spent some time making bracelets and earrings out of niobium and titanium. After making sure the pieces had nicely finished edges, we masked the metal and the fun really began.

When I pulled my metals out of my bag, I wondered why I’d only bought niobium this time. After we anodized the first of Kathleen’s titanium pieces, I remembered. I wanted brighter colors on these bangle bracelets.

Anodizing Titanium, Tantalum and Niobium: Part 2

Titanium, fine silver, and peridot bracelet
Kiln anodized titanium, fine silver, and peridot bracelet

Another way to create an anodized surface color on titanium is with a kiln

Back to heat in a minute…. Last month, my friend and I were looking forward to some serious electrolytic anodization of titanium.

electroforming voltage converter setup for electrolytic anodization
electroforming voltage converter setup for electrolytic anodization - voltage and current needed to go higher

We had found her husband’s linear voltage power supply the previous day and had all the necessary supplies gathered up.

titanium bracelet being electrolytically anodized
titanium bracelet being electrolytically anodized - sort of

Turns out the power supply didn’t provide the juice we needed.

Oh, well. We had a nice pasta lunch with fresh tomatoes and mushrooms, roasted garlic and red pepper flake sauce.

fresh tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, and roasted garlic sauce
fresh tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, red pepper flakes and roasted garlic

We regrouped and decided to torch anodize with a propane torch. When we wanted a hotter larger flame, we switched to a MAPP gas torch.

heat anodized titanium propane and MAPP gas torches
heat anodized titanium using propane and MAPP gas torches

One thing we still want to try in the future is painted anodization using with a setup like Edith Sommer’s below

Anodizing paint brush by Edith Sommer
Anodizing paint brush created by Edith Sommer

Anodizing Titanium, Tantalum and Niobium: Part 1

paper thin electrolytically anodized tantalum sheet
Paper thin electrolytically anodized tantalum sheet

Anodization of titanium, tantalum and niobium takes advantage of oxidation to create a surface layer on the metals. The surface oxidation refracts light as different colors. These pics are from a one-day anodizing workshop where we colored titanium, tantalum, and niobium.

electrolytically anodized titanium sheet; flat and textured
Electrolytically anodized titanium sheet; flat and textured

One way to anodize is electrolytically with a DC rectifier, the same type of electronic equipment used in electroforming and electrolytic etching.

Electrolytic Anodization Setup
Electrolytic Anodization Setup