Anodized bolts are treated with a protective layer to prevent rust and corrosion. Steel and aluminum are common materials used, with aluminum often being dyed for aesthetics. The anodizing process increases surface area, which can cause issues with threading.
When metal hardware is exposed to moisture, it can rust or corrode. To counter this problem, manufacturers can anodize the metals, creating a protective layer that will prevent rust and corrosion damage. Anodized bolts are any type of bolt that has been treated with the anodizing process. Some manufacturers will even dye the metals when creating anodized bolts to make the visible bolts more attractive. In other cases, it may not be apparent that the bolt has been anodized just by looking at it.
Metals that are ferrous or contain iron are more likely to be anodized, although such metals are often zinc plated. Galvanizing is the process of applying a protective layer of zinc to metal, which is beneficial to ferrous metals. Steel is a common material used for anodized bolts, although aluminum is also a very common material. Steel bolts are perhaps the most widely used because they are durable and strong, and the anodizing process makes them resistant to water damage. Anodized aluminum bolts are generally used for lighter duty applications, as aluminum is a light metal that can be quite brittle; this means that the bolts can be subjected to cracking or shearing more easily than steel bolts.
Aluminum bolts tend to be anodized more often than steel because steel reacts better to zinc plating than to anodizing. Anodized aluminum bolts are also often dyed in the process, making them an attractive choice for automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, and any other vehicle that relies on strength and aesthetics. Once the aluminum has been anodized, the metal must be deionized to help seal the anodized surface, further protecting it from corrosion. This is usually done by soaking the anodized bolts in deionized water for an extended period of time.
When anodized bolts are made, the surface area of the bolts is raised, thus increasing the surface area of the bolt. This usually isn’t too much of a problem, although it can be a problem if the bolt needs to be threaded into a nut to a tight tolerance. The added surface area can cause the bolt to stick, thus increasing the likelihood of the bolt snapping or the bolt threads binding during application. Aluminum tends to be brittle, so when a bond does occur, it is likely to break.
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