Polymer solution for preventing warping during the aluminum anodizing process
05 Aug 2025
AQUATENSID ALX is a special concentrated polymer solution designed to be mixed with water in various ratios to achieve different cooling rates.Aluminum of various grades must undergo a heat treatment process called solution heat treatment (at temperatures ranging from 250°C to 500°C) and then be rapidly quenched in water to achieve the desired hardness and physical properties. However, due to the stress that occurs during the quenching process, the workpiece—whether it is a casting, forging, extrusion, or flat sheet—tends to warp.
A is aluminium which uses normal water
B is aluminium which uses AQUATENSID ALX solution.
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What is aluminum alloy?
An "alloy" is a mixture of different metallic elements, typically created to improve the strength and durability of the base metal. Aluminum alloys usually consist of aluminum as the primary element combined with others such as silicon, tin, manganese, or even copper, tin, and magnesium, depending on the intended application. With the right mix of elements, aluminum can become much stronger and, in some cases, even outperform steel. Alloys retain the benefits of pure aluminum while being more cost-effective due to their lower melting point.
You’ll find aluminum alloys used widely in engineering contexts, especially in the manufacturing of lightweight and corrosion-resistant metal parts. One of the industries that heavily relies on aluminum alloys is the aerospace industry, followed closely by the automotive industry. In these sectors, aluminum alloys are becoming increasingly important materials, as they help reduce vehicle weight, thereby enhancing fuel efficiency and sustainability in the long term. Additionally, the durability of aluminum alloys makes them a safe choice, offering excellent performance in crash tests, often exceeding global safety regulations. Aluminum is also significantly lighter than steel (about one-third the weight), allowing manufacturers to produce strong metal parts without unnecessary weight that would otherwise compromise vehicle performance.
To maximize the efficiency of aluminum materials, they must undergo a high-temperature heat treatment process (500°C) to increase their strength, followed by water quenching. However, the issue arises when, upon immersion in water, the parts warp significantly. Immersing in hot water at 80°C actually causes even more severe warping. Attempts to solve this by using clamping jigs have not been very successful and instead add complexity and cost to the production process.
With over 50 years of expertise and leadership in the heat treatment industry, we have developed a special polymer solution for aluminum heat treatment that prevents warping and deformation. Today, AquaTenZid ALX has become the standard quenching solution used by aircraft, aerospace, and defense manufacturers that rely on aluminum as a raw material.