History - Theory
The CompCote® Process is true innovation
Conventional anodic finishes have been available for more than 70 years with little change in application and technology. As various anodic finishing processes developed, standard types and applications such as Type I, Chromic Acid Anodizing; Type II, Sulfuric Acid Anodizing; and Type III, Hard Anodizing remain at the forefront as reliable and economical processes to protect Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys.
The industry has remained stagnant with the maturity of these developments; no distinctive breakthrough or real progress occurred to meet the needs of today’s industry.
CompCote® Finishes are the breakthrough!
With CompCote that breakthrough is now reality!
The development of CompCote® process began in 1995 with fundamental research by Dr. Jude Runge at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
The goal was to use the benefits of conventional anodic finishes - a highly ordered nanostructure with protective qualities such as corrosion and wear resistance - but to improve them through modification of the nanostructure. Another goal was to provide a true transition layer to enable actual chemical bonding between aluminum substrates and subsequent polymer layers.
The result was a new finish with a hybrid nanostructure that combines the columnar structure of conventional anodic finishes with cellular structural elements. This hybrid nanostructure has been proven superior to conventional anodic finishes through extensive scientific and engineering testing and in practice.
After several years of intensive cooperation between US and European partners, the CompCote® process became ready for use in large scale production for the metal finishing industry. Since 2000, millions of aluminum parts from all facets of industry have been successfully finished with CompCote®.
The CompCote® Process is theoretically proven
Intensive scientific studies of the theoretical background of the formation of anodic oxides on aluminum were the basis of the CompCote® process development. Research of past and present literature and analysis of experimental results determined that a more thermodynamic approach was necessary to understand and explain the interfacial reactions which happen during the anodization process.
- Photo Courtesy of Öhlins Racing AB, Sweden