Electrolysis effects on aluminum & brass?

[Tom Evans]

I built a 50 gallon electrolysis tank last month and I am very please with the results. However, I'm wondering what effects the process would have on aluminum and brass parts.

[Lurker Carl]

Put only iron/steel items in the tank. Electrolysis quickly destroys aluminum and you should assume it's hard on the yellow metals as well. Some alloys may hold up better than others but you won't know until it's too late.

[Rudi]

I built a 50 gallon electrolysis tank last month and I am very please with the results. However, I'm wondering what effects the process would have on aluminum and brass parts.

Tom:

to what Carl said:

Unless you would like to have a figment of your imagination left behind, I would not put aluminum, brass, copper or pot metal in an electrolysis tank. It kinda disappears

Can you post pics of your tank Curiosity always gets me .... I am like a kid a Christmas opening presents

[johnbron]

I had My front axle a bubblin for 4-days & nights in the tank. Including the Brass Spindle Bushings and there was no ill effect on the bushings what so ever. I avoid putting any aluminum in the shocker though.

[Jack Donovan]

I would think it would have to be Magnetic to have any affect, Although if it will carry curent

[400lbsonacubseatspring]

Well....strictly speaking....

Aluminum is not particularly suitable as an electrolyte....it doesn't like to play the metallic salt game in the water with electricity.

After all....it's a metalloid and not a metal when you get down to it....

It would be possible to electrolyse brass/copper/bronze in the tanks, but of course, we would have to be using brass/copper/bronze electrodes, and not pieces of rebar.

Unless you've got something like a bronze canon or bell that has been sitting beneath the sea for centuries, there's not a whole lot of advantage to it, although for treasure divers, it's a great way to recover these items......

You can do it with silver and gold as well, but since gold is fairly inert to begin with, there's not much purpose in it.....silver, however, has its advantages when recovered in this way..........old roman coins from off the coast of Alexandria have been nicely restored in this fashion...the gold ones are best just brushed off and polished a bit....