Oxidation is a treatment done to protect aluminium from stress and the aggression of atmospheric agents.

In this procedure, also called anodisation, aluminium is coated with a layer of porous, transparent and unbrittle oxide (as iron rust can be), but hard and compact, implemented for dying. The thickness of the oxide layer varies depending on how the part will be used.

Treatments like varnishing and chrome plating are essentially coating different materials on the base material, while anodisation is actually a direct modification of the metal surface itself.

Nowadays this treatment has taken on great importance and it is one of the most effective techniques to protect light metals.