Page 27 - Curriculum Visions Dynamic Book

 There are two ways of providing
a protective and decorative coating
to aluminium products. The cheaper way is to apply a surface paint, but this is liable to wear off through handling. The better solution is
to anodise the aluminium so that it remains protected and good-looking throughout the lifetime of the product.
anode: the negative terminal of
a battery or the positive electrode of an electrolysis cell.
anodising: a process that uses the effect of electrolysis to make a surface corrosion-resistant.
electrolysis: an electrical–chemical process that uses an electric current
to cause the break up of a compound and the movement of metal ions in a solution. The process happens in many natural situations (as for example in rusting) and is also commonly used
in industry for purifying (refining) metals or for plating metal objects
with a fine, even metal coating.
electroplating: depositing a thin layer of a metal onto the surface of another substance using electrolysis.
oxide: a compound that includes oxygen and one other element.
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 This saucepan is made from anodised aluminium. The aluminium oxide surface has
the same hardness as other aluminium oxide minerals, such as sapphire, and so it is harder than stainless steel and even more scratch-resistant.
By anodising the surface, manufacturers can use aluminium (which is reknowned for its good heat transmission properties, but usually suffers from being too soft for prolonged use)
for high-quality, long-lasting cookware.