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AEROSPACE AMS2471™ REV. J

MATERIAL SPECIFICATION Issued 1958-08

Reaffirmed 2007-04
Revised 2020-01

Superseding AMS2471H

Anodic Treatment of Aluminum Alloys

Sulfuric Acid Process, Undyed Coating

RATIONALE

AMS2471J results from a Five-Year Review and update of this specification with changes to Ordering Information,
Definitions (2.3), Cleaning and Deoxidation (3.2.1), Electrical Contact Points (3.2.3), Anodizing (3.3.1.2 and 3.3.1.3), Touch
Up (3.3.3), Corrosion Resistance (3.4.2), Quality (3.5.1), Periodic Tests (4.2.2.1), and Acceptance Tests (4.3.1).

NOTICE

ORDERING INFORMATION: The following information shall be provided to the processor by the purchaser.

1. Purchase order shall specify not less than the following:

• AMS2471J

• Basis metal to be anodized

• Special features, geometry or processing present on parts that requires special attention by the processor

• Electrical contact locations, when specified (3.2.3)

• Optional: Alternative sealing solution (3.1.2)

• Quantity of pieces to be anodized

2. Parts manufacturing operations such as heat treating, forming, joining and media finishing can affect the condition of
the substrate and adversely affect the finished part. The sequencing of these types of operations should be specified
by the cognizant engineering organization or purchaser and is not controlled by this specification.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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1. SCOPE

1.1 Purpose

This specification establishes the requirements for undyed anodic coatings on aluminum alloys.

1.2 Application

This process has been used typically to increase corrosion resistance and to provide surfaces that will promote adherence
of paint and other organic finishes, but usage is not limited to such applications.

1.2.1 AMS2472 should be specified for coatings colored by dyeing. This process is not suitable for parts that contain
joints or recesses in which the anodizing solution may be retained.

1.3 Safety - Hazardous Materials

While the materials, methods, applications, and processes described or referenced in this specification may involve the use
of hazardous materials, this specification does not address the hazards which may be involved in such use. It is the sole
responsibility of the user to ensure familiarity with the safe and proper use of any hazardous materials and to take necessary
precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of all personnel involved.

2. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

The issue of the following documents in effect on the date of the purchase order forms a part of this specification to the
extent specified herein. The supplier may work to a subsequent revision of a document unless a specific document issue is
specified. When the referenced document has been cancelled and no superseding document has been specified, the last
published issue of that document shall apply.

2.1 SAE Publications

Available from SAE International, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001, Tel: 877-606-7323 (inside USA
and Canada) or +1 724-776-4970 (outside USA), www.sae.org.

AMS2472 Anodic Treatment of Aluminum Alloys, Sulfuric Acid Process, Dyed Coating

AMS2473 Chemical Film Treatment for Aluminum Alloys, General Purpose Coating

AMS4037 Aluminum Alloy, Sheet and Plate, 4.4Cu - 1.5Mg - 0.60Mn (2024; -T3 Flat Sheet, -T351 Plate), Solution
Heat Treated

ARP1917 Clarification of Terms Used in Aerospace Metals Specifications

ARP4992 Periodic Test Plan for Processing Solutions

2.2 ASTM Publications

Available from ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, P.O. Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,
Tel: 610-832-9585, www.astm.org.

ASTM B117 Operating Salt Spray (Fog) Apparatus

ASTM B137 Measurement of Coating Mass Per Unit Area on Anodically Coated Aluminum
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2.3 Definitions

Terms used in AMS are clarified in ARP1917 and as follows.

2.3.1 PIT

A pit, as used in 3.4.2, is defined as an area of localized corrosion having a depth greater than its width. Pit size may be
determined by either direct dimensional measurement or by comparison to known references. A superficial pit or
discontinuity in the anodize surface itself, not penetrating thru to the base metal and not showing the presence of white
corrosion products is not rejectable. As a general rule, a rejectable pit usually displays a characteristic tail or line of white
aluminum corrosion products.

3. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

3.1 Solutions

3.1.1 Electrolyte shall be an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid of suitable concentration maintained within ±2 °F (±1 °C) of
the temperature approved in 4.4.3 (see 8.2.11).

3.1.2 Sealer

Unless otherwise approved, the sealer shall be an aqueous solution of sodium dichromate or potassium dichromate
(see 8.2.9).

3.2 Preparation

3.2.1 Cleaning and Deoxidation

Parts shall have clean surfaces, free from water break, prior to immersion in the anodizing bath.

3.2.1.1 Cleaning materials or products used for surface preparation containing iron, such as steel wool, iron oxide rouge,
or steel wire, which may become embedded in the metal and accelerate subsequent corrosion, are prohibited.

3.2.2 Masking

Areas where anodizing is prohibited shall be masked.

3.2.3 Electrical Contact Points

Tight electrical contact shall be maintained during the anodic treatment to prevent contact arcing (burning) of parts, but
small irregularities of coating at points of electrical contact are acceptable. For parts that are to be anodized all over, and
contact locations are not specified, contact locations shall be at the discreation of the processor. For parts that are not to
be anodized all over, and contact locations are not specified, locations shall be in areas on which coating is not required.
When required, contact locations shall be approved by the cognizant engineering organization.

3.3 Procedure

3.3.1 Anodizing

3.3.1.1 The cleaned parts shall be made the anode(s) in the electrolyte contained in a chemical-resistant tank which may
also serve as the cathode. The processing shall be adjusted to obtain the required weight and quality of the
coating. The anodizing current shall be maintained within ±2 amperes per square foot (±21.5 A/m2) of the nominal
value.

3.3.1.2 Alternatively, the anodizing current shall be ramped up over a 5 minute or other preselected period to the desired
final voltage and maintained until the anodic coating reaches the desired coating weight.

3.3.1.3 After anodizing, parts shall be rinsed in water at ambient temperature.

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3.3.2 Sealing

Parts shall be immersed in the sealer solution (8.2.9) for a suitable time (8.2.10), then rinsed. The rinse shall be thorough,
but slight staining resulting from the sealant solution is acceptable. Rinsing is not required if deionized water is used for
sealing.

3.3.3 Touch Up

Damaged areas of parts on which the anodic coating has been scratched or damaged superficially may be coated using
AMS2473 or another method acceptable to the cognizant engineering organization. Touch-up, unless otherwise specified,
shall not exceed 0.5 inch (13 mm) in its longest dimension, except that scratches that are essentially one dimensional (less
than 0.03 inches (0.8 mm) wide) may be reworked. The total reworked area shall not exceed 5% of the total anodized
surface.

3.4 Properties

Coated parts shall conform to the following requirements:

3.4.1 Coating Weight

The unsealed coating weight (4.3.3.2), determined in accordance with ASTM B137, shall be not less than 600 mg/square
foot (6.5 g/m2).

3.4.1.1 If small parts, such as rivets or machine screws, are anodized in bulk in a container, the specified coating weight
shall apply to not less than 75% of the parts treated together, determined by random sampling, but in no case
shall any part show uncoated areas.

3.4.2 Corrosion Resistance

Specimens in accordance with 4.3.3.3 shall meet the following requirements, determined after exposure for not less than
336 hours to salt spray corrosion test in accordance with ASTM B117, except that significant surface shall be inclined back
approximately 6 degrees from vertical. The five test specimens shall show not more than a total of 15 isolated pits, as
defined in 2.3.1, none larger than 1/32 inch (0.8 mm) in diameter, in a total of 150 square inches (968 cm2) of test area.
Areas within 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of identification markings or of an edge, or at electrode contact marks, shall not be included.
Individual test specimens shall show no more than five isolated pits none larger than 1/32 inch (0.8 mm) in a total of
30 square inch (194 cm2). See 2.3.1 for pit morphology definition.

3.5 Quality

Anodic coating, as received by purchaser, shall be continuous, smooth, adherent, and uniform in appearance, and shall be
free from powdery areas, loose films, discontinuities such as breaks or scratches (except at contact points), or other damage
or imperfections detrimental to usage of the coating. Differences in the anodic coating appearance on castings or wrought
components due to welds, or cast versus machined surface textures, or macro grain size and other inherent metallurgical
artifacts shall not be cause for rejection of the anodic coating (see 8.5).

3.5.1 The transition zone between the masked and anodize surfaces may not be uniform. Some anodize leakage onto
the previously masked surfaces can be expected, however, this transition zone should not exceed 0.050 inch
(1.3 mm) wide. To the extent this anodize leakage may extend beyond a 0.050 inch (1.3 mm) wide, transition zone,
the extent of leakage should be agreed upon with the cognizant engineering organization.

4. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROVISIONS

4.1 Responsibility for Inspection

The coating processor shall supply all samples for processor’s tests and shall be responsible for the performance of all
required tests. Parts, if required for tests, shall be supplied by purchaser. Processor may utilize his own or any other
inspection facilities or services acceptable to purchaser. The cognizant engineering organization reserves the right to
sample and to perform any confirmatory testing deemed necessary to ensure that processing conforms to specified
requirements.
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4.2 Classification of Tests

4.2.1 Acceptance Tests

Quality (3.5) is an acceptance test and shall be performed on parts, or samples representing parts when permitted, from
each lot.

4.2.2 Periodic Tests

Coating weight (3.4.1) and corrosion resistance (3.4.2) are periodic tests and shall be performed at least monthly in any
month that parts are processed unless frequency of testing is specified by the cognizant engineering organization. Tests of
cleaning and processing solutions are periodic tests and shall be performed at a frequency established by the processor
unless frequency of testing is specified by the cognizant engineering organization (see 8.3 and 4.4.3).

4.2.2.1 Periodic testing may be suspended in any test period when parts are not processed but shall be performed before
or at the time such processing is resumed. Preproduction testing may be required by the cognizant engineering
organization, upon resumption of processing.

4.2.3 Preproduction Tests

All property verification tests (see 3.4) are preproduction tests and shall be performed prior to or on the initial shipment of
processed parts to a purchaser and when the cognizant engineering organization requires confirmatory testing.

4.3 Sampling for Testing

4.3.1 Acceptance Tests

Acceptance test samples shall be randomly selected from all parts in the lot. A lot is a group of parts, all of the same part
number, processed through the same chemical solutions in the same tanks under the same conditions, which have
completed the chemical processing within a period of 24 hours of each other and are presented to inspection at the same
time. Unless the cognizant engineering organization provides a sampling plan, the minimum number of samples shall be as
shown in Table 1.

Table 1 - Sampling for acceptance testing

Number of Parts
in Lot Quality
Up to 7 All
8 to 15 7
16 to 40 10
41 to 110 15
111 to 300 25
301 to 500 35
Over 500 50

4.3.2 Periodic and Preproduction Tests

Sample quantities shall be three for coating weight and five for corrosion resistance unless otherwise specified by the
cognizant engineering organization.

4.3.3 Sample Configuration

4.3.3.1 Separate test specimens may be used under any one of the following circumstances: The parts are of such
configuration or size as to be not readily adaptable to specified tests, nondestructive testing is not practical on
actual parts, or it is not economically acceptable to perform destructive tests on actual parts. Acceptance test
specimens shall be distributed within the lot, cleaned, anodized, and sealed with the parts represented.
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4.3.3.2 Coating weight shall be determined on representative parts when size and shape permit accurate determination
of surface area. If parts are of such size and shape that surface area cannot be determined readily, coating weight
determinations shall be made on separate test specimens 0.025 to 0.063 inch (0.64 to 1.60 mm) thick and not
less than 3 inches (76 mm) square fabricated from 2024-T3 aluminum alloy in accordance with AMS4037.

4.3.3.3 Corrosion resistance test specimens shall be 0.025 to 0.063 inch (0.64 to 1.60 mm) thick and not less than 3 x
10 inches (76 x 254 mm) in width and length fabricated from 2024-T3 aluminum alloy in accordance with
AMS4037.

4.4 Approval

4.4.1 Processes, control factors, or preproduction sample part or test specimen, or any combination thereof specified,
shall be approved by the cognizant engineering organization before production parts are supplied.

4.4.2 If the processor makes a significant change to any material, process, or control factor from that which was used for
process approval, all preproduction tests shall be performed and the results submitted to the cognizant engineering
organization for process reapproval unless the change is approved by the cognizant engineering organization. A
significant change is one which, in the judgment of the cognizant engineering organization, could affect the
properties or performance of the parts.

4.4.3 Control factors for anodizing shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

Cleaning procedure, including the compositions and temperatures of the baths used
Deoxidation process
Anodizing bath composition (including impurity limits), temperature, and agitation method
Rate of voltage rise, anodizing voltage, and time of anodizing
Sealing solution composition (including impurity limits), temperature, and pH
Purity of water used for sealing and rinsing
Stripping procedure, when applicable
Periodic test plan for cleaning and processing solutions (see 8.3)

4.5 Reports

The processor of coated parts shall furnish with each shipment a report stating that the parts have been processed and
tested in accordance with specified requirements and that they conform to the acceptance test requirements. This report
shall include the purchase order number, lot number, AMS2471J, part number, and quantity.

4.6 Resampling and Retesting

4.6.1 If any lot acceptance test fails to meet specified requirements, parts in that lot may be stripped, pretreated, coated,
post-treated as defined herein and retested. Alternatively, all parts in the lot may be inspected for the nonconforming
attribute, and the nonconforming parts may be stripped, pretreated, recoated, post-treated as defined herein, and
retested. After any stripping and recoating, parts shall meet the dimensional requirements of the drawing.

4.6.1.1 When stripping is performed, the method shall be acceptable to the cognizant engineering organization and shall
not roughen, pit, or embrittle the basis metal or adversely affect part dimensions. When parts have been stripped
and re-anodized, the cognizant engineering organization shall be informed.

4.6.2 If any periodic test fails to meet specified test requirements, the process is nonconforming. No additional parts shall
be plated until the process is corrected and new specimens are coated and tested. Results of all tests shall be
recorded and, when requested, reported. Purchaser shall be notified of all parts coated since the last acceptable
test.

5. PREPARATION FOR DELIVERY

5.1 Coated parts shall be handled and packaged to ensure that the required physical characteristics and properties of
the coating are preserved.
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5.2 Packages of coated parts shall be prepared for shipment in accordance with commercial practice and in compliance
with applicable rules and regulations pertaining to the handling, packaging, and transportation of the coated parts to
ensure carrier acceptance and safe delivery.

6. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

A processor shall mention this specification number and its revision letter in all quotations and when acknowledging
purchase orders.

7. REJECTIONS

Parts on which the coating does not conform to this specification, or to modifications authorized by the cognizant engineering
organization, will be subject to rejection.

8. NOTES

NOTICE

This specification may reference the use of substances, products, or processes that are restricted or banned by local
(regional) chemical substance regulations. Users of this specification should consider the implications of local legislation on
the products, substances, and processes referred to within the document.

8.1 Revision Indicator

A change bar (|) located in the left margin is for the convenience of the user in locating areas where technical revisions, not
editorial changes, have been made to the previous issue of a document. An (R) symbol to the left of the document title
indicates a complete revision of the document, including technical revision. Change bars and (R) are not used in original
publications, nor in documents that contain editorial changes only.

8.2 Process Notes

8.2.1 All fabrication-type operations, such as forming, shot peening, brazing, welding, perforating, machining, and heat
treatment, should be completed before parts are anodized.

8.2.2 Surfaces to be painted should be handled with care after anodizing to prevent rupture of the film and contamination
by dirt or oil. Painting, if required, should be performed as soon after treatment as practicable.

8.2.3 Aluminum parts that contain inserts of other metals should be masked before anodizing to seal off the non-aluminum
material.

8.2.4 Hooks or racks, except those made from titanium, should have the anodic film removed from the contact areas prior
to reuse.

8.2.5 Holes, whether tapped or not, 0.25 inch (6.4 mm) in diameter or greater, with an L/D ratio of three or less, should
anodize. In the case of small holes, coating thickness may vary from no film to a full normal coating.

8.2.6 Anodic coatings will affect dimensions. Special attention should be given to external and internal threads. The pitch
diameter of external threads may increase two to four times the coating thickness.

8.2.7 Although the exact thickness of sulfuric acid anodic coatings will depend on the processing parameters and the
specific alloy being anodized, the normal range is 0.0002 to 0.0006 inch (5 to 15 µm). This, with the growth, which
is one-third to one-half the coating thickness, and inherent brittleness of the coating, should be considered for
possible cause of damage during interference fit of assemblies.

8.2.8 Surface finish of the machined part prior to anodizing should be better than the surface finish requirement of the
anodized area. Any polishing or honing of the coating will be harmful.
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8.2.9 Sealing solution dichromate concentration should be 4.5 to 6% by weight. The pH should be within the range 5.5 to
6.5 and may be adjusted by the addition of chromic acid to lower the pH or sodium hydroxide to raise the pH. The
temperature should be within the range 190 to 212 °F (88 to 100 °C).

8.2.10 Sealing time should be not less than 20 minutes.

8.2.11 The nominal concentration of sulfuric acid in the anodizing electrolyte should be 15 to 20% by weight. The
temperature should be selected from within the range 64 to 75 °F (18 to 24 °C).

8.3 ARP4992 is recommended to satisfy control of processing solutions.

8.4 Dimensions and properties in inch/pound units and the Fahrenheit temperatures are primary; dimensions and
properties in SI units and the Celsius temperatures are shown as the approximate equivalents of the primary units
and are presented only for information.

8.5 The anodize process can reveal the presence of metallurgical damage which has occurred prior to submittal of parts
to the anodize processor. Examples are damage from improper welding, weld repair of castings after final heat
treatment, incorrect initial heat treatment, raw material chemical segregation or other prior metallurgical conditions
which may be detrimental to the final use of the component. The purchaser or cognizant engineering organization
may elect to place such components on material review pending further testing or analysis. The anodizing processor
is not responsible for the presence of these types of metallurgical anomalies occurring prior to submittal of parts for
anodizing.

PREPARED BY AMS COMMITTEE “B”