# Titanium Anodes

> MMO/DSA coated titanium anode manufacturer since 2006 — electrolytic copper foil, sodium hypochlorite, titanium mill products.

## MMO Titanium Anodes for Sodium Hypochlorite Generators
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/sodium-hypochlorite-generator-titanium-anodes/
> MMO coated titanium anodes for sodium hypochlorite generators: manufacturing process, RuO₂-IrO₂ coating, sintering, and quality control. Factory direct quotes.

## Titanium Anodes for Sodium Hypochlorite Generators: Manufacturing and Application

A sodium hypochlorite generator titanium anode is a mixed metal oxide (MMO) coated titanium electrode built for chlorine evolution from brine or seawater. The standard build uses a Grade 1 or Grade 2 titanium substrate, per ASTM B265, with a ruthenium based coating, typically RuO₂-IrO₂-TiO₂, applied by thermal decomposition. In normal service the anode runs at 1 to 3 kA/m² in 2 to 4% brine at 10 to 40 °C, and chlorine current efficiency usually stays above 85% in a properly designed cell. This article covers how these anodes are manufactured, why the coating is formulated the way it is, and how to specify them for a new generator.

## How a Sodium Hypochlorite Generator Works

A sodium hypochlorite generator produces sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), the same active compound as liquid bleach, by electrolyzing a sodium chloride (NaCl) solution. The anode oxidizes chloride ions to chlorine gas, the cathode reduces water to hydrogen and hydroxide ions, and the chlorine and hydroxide combine to form hypochlorite. The overall reaction can be written as NaCl + H₂O to NaClO + H₂.

Because the anode carries the chlorine side of the reaction, its coating must be formulated for chlorine evolution. A coating designed for oxygen evolution, such as an iridium type or lead dioxide type, will not give the same hypochlorite output and will wear differently in this service. This is the single most common specification error in hypochlorite cell design, and it is why the coating chemistry matters more than any other component choice.

## Why Titanium for the Substrate

Titanium is the substrate because it stays dimensionally stable in chloride electrolytes, which is where the term dimensionally stable anode (DSA) comes from. Grade 1 and Grade 2 titanium, per ASTM B265, cover nearly all hypochlorite generator duty. Grade 2 is the common default for plates and tubes. Grade 1 is slightly softer and is often used for mesh and expanded metal, where the metal is formed after rolling.

Under anodic polarization titanium forms a thin, self healing oxide film, so the base metal does not dissolve in brine the way graphite or lead alloy electrodes do. That film is also why the MMO coating must be applied to a clean, roughened surface: the coating bonds through mechanical interlocking as well as oxide growth, and a contaminated or polished surface will not hold it.

## The MMO Coating System

The active layer on a hypochlorite anode is a mixed metal oxide (MMO) coating with ruthenium dioxide (RuO₂) as the main catalyst. A common formulation is RuO₂-IrO₂-TiO₂: ruthenium keeps the chlorine evolution overpotential low, iridium slows passivation and adds resistance to the oxygen evolution that always accompanies chlorine generation, and titanium dioxide acts as a stabilizer and diluent.

The coating is applied in multiple thin layers, usually 5 to 15 coats, to a finished thickness of 2 to 8 microns, with a precious metal loading of 5 to 15 g/m² depending on the duty. Coatings with a higher iridium share are specified where the cell runs hotter, above roughly 40 °C, or with frequent polarity reversal, because iridium is the component that resists both oxygen evolution and the anodic wear that reversal causes.

## The Manufacturing Process

MMO coated anodes for hypochlorite generators are made in a six step process. Each step is controlled because the final coating performance depends on the condition of the surface before the first coat is applied.

- **Substrate preparation.** Titanium is cut and formed to the required geometry, then cleaned, sand blasted, and acid etched. Blasting and etching roughen the surface so the coating can grip the metal.
- **Coating solution preparation.** Precursor compounds, typically ruthenium chloride and chloroiridic acid, are dissolved with a titanium alkoxide in an organic solvent. Hydrochloric acid is added to keep the solution stable and to control the oxide chemistry during sintering.
- **Coating application.** The solution is applied to the prepared surface by brushing, spraying, or dipping. Brushing is common for small or complex parts; spraying and dipping are used for large plates and mesh.
- **Thermal decomposition.** Each coat is dried and sintered in air at 350 to 500 °C. The heat converts the chloride salts into the oxide coating and burns off the organic solvent.
- **Layer buildup.** The apply and sinter cycle repeats until the target coating thickness and precious metal loading are reached, typically 5 to 15 coats in total.
- **Inspection and packing.** The finished anode is checked for coating adhesion, thickness, and electrochemical response, then packed for export.

## Quality Control and Testing

Quality control on MMO hypochlorite anodes focuses on three things: coating adhesion, coating composition, and electrochemical life.

- **Adhesion.** The coated part is checked by thermal shock and bend testing. The coating must survive heating and bending without spalling or flaking, because a coating that separates from the substrate fails fast in service.
- **Composition and morphology.** Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X ray analysis (SEM/EDX) verifies the oxide composition and the coating structure across the surface. Consistent composition across a large plate matters because a thin or uneven area becomes the weak point in service.
- **Electrochemical life.** Accelerated life testing (ALT) is the standard life indicator. The anode runs at 10,000 to 20,000 A/m² in the target electrolyte until the cell voltage rises sharply, and the hours to failure are recorded. ALT hours are compared against a reference electrode with a known field history, because ALT does not translate directly into calendar years.

## Sizing and Selection Parameters



## Design and Maintenance Considerations

Several design decisions determine how long a hypochlorite anode lasts in service. The most consequential ones are listed below.

- **Polarity reversal.** Calcium and magnesium scale build up on the cathode in hard water. Reversing the polarity dissolves the scale, but it also stresses the anode coating. Frequent reversal, needed in hard water, is a reason to choose a coating with a higher iridium share.
- **Temperature.** Chlorine current efficiency falls as temperature rises, and coating consumption accelerates above roughly 40 °C. Cooling the brine, or keeping the cell below that point, protects both efficiency and anode life.
- **Current density.** Running above the rated 1 to 3 kA/m² shortens coating life faster than any other operating error. Design the electrode area for the peak current, not the average.
- **Cell geometry and flow.** The anode to cathode gap and the flow path must carry chlorine gas away from the electrode surface. Gas blinding raises local resistance and wastes energy.
- **Brine strength.** Chloride below roughly 2% raises the oxygen share of the reaction, which cuts hypochlorite output and wears the coating faster. Keep the feed at 2 to 4% for the best balance.

## Applications

- **Marine chlorination.** Seawater electrolysis on ships, offshore platforms, and power plant cooling water systems to prevent marine growth in pipes and heat exchangers.
- **Drinking water disinfection.** Municipal plants and small scale water systems that generate hypochlorite on site instead of handling bulk liquid bleach.
- **Swimming pools.** On site generation keeps a steady free chlorine residual without storing drums of chemical.
- **Aquaculture and seafood processing.** Disinfection of process water and wash water in hatcheries and processing plants.
- **Wastewater and greywater.** Disinfection of treated effluent and reuse water in decentralized treatment schemes.
- **Food and beverage sanitation.** Clean in place (CIP) and washdown disinfection where a continuous oxidant supply is needed.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the difference between a chlorine evolution anode and an oxygen evolution anode?

A chlorine evolution anode uses a ruthenium based MMO coating, such as RuO₂-IrO₂-TiO₂, that keeps the chlorine overpotential low. An oxygen evolution anode uses an iridium based or lead dioxide coating. Using the wrong coating for the electrolyte cuts hypochlorite output and shortens anode life, so the two types are not interchangeable in a hypochlorite generator.

### How long does an MMO anode last in a sodium hypochlorite generator?

Service life is set by the duty, not by a fixed calendar number. In normal service, 1 to 3 kA/m² in 2 to 4% brine at 10 to 40 °C, with sensible polarity reversal practice, MMO anodes in hypochlorite generators commonly run for several years. Hard water, high temperature, and over current all shorten life. Ask your supplier for an expected life based on your actual duty cycle.

### Can the same anode run on seawater and on dilute brine?

Yes, in most plate and mesh designs the same coating chemistry works for both, because the chloride content of seawater is still high enough for efficient chlorine evolution. The practical differences are the higher current density in seawater service and the heavier scaling on the cathode, which drives more frequent polarity reversal.

### Why does the coating contain iridium if ruthenium is the catalyst?

Iridium stabilizes the ruthenium oxide and improves resistance to oxygen evolution and to polarity reversal. A pure ruthenium coating passivates faster in service, so iridium is added even though it is the more expensive component. The exact Ru to Ir ratio is tuned to the operating temperature and the reversal frequency.

### What is accelerated life testing and why does it matter?

Accelerated life testing (ALT) runs the anode at a high current density, typically 10,000 to 20,000 A/m², in the target electrolyte until the cell voltage rises sharply, which marks the end of the coating. The hours to failure are compared against a reference electrode with known field performance. ALT is a relative ranking tool, not a direct prediction of calendar years in service.

## Need an anode specified for your brine, current density, and cell geometry?

Send us your brine concentration, operating temperature, current density, dimensions, and expected duty cycle. We will confirm the coating spec and return a quotation within 48 hours.

## MMO Titanium Anode Coating Failure and Maintenance
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/titanium-anode-coating-failure-maintenance/
> Understand how MMO titanium anode coatings fail and how daily maintenance in cleaning, storage, and operation protects anode service life.

MMO titanium anodes rarely fail without warning. Most coating failures trace back to a short list of causes: gradual electrochemical consumption of the precious metal oxide layer, passivation of the titanium substrate under prolonged oxygen evolution, mechanical damage during handling or cleaning, and chemical attack from contaminated electrolytes. For plant operators, three habits determine most of the service life you actually get: keeping current density inside the design window, keeping the electrolyte free of fluoride and debris, and cleaning deposits gently before they harden. This guide explains each failure mechanism in plain terms, the warning signs you can read from your rectifier and visual inspections, and a maintenance routine you can run with existing staff.

## What Actually Fails on an MMO Anode

An MMO (mixed metal oxide) anode is a titanium substrate carrying a thin active coating, typically an iridium oxide and tantalum oxide mixture for oxygen-evolving service, or a ruthenium oxide and iridium oxide mixture for chlorine-evolving service. The coating is only a few microns thick, so it deserves more careful treatment than the robust-looking metal underneath it suggests. Four mechanisms account for the majority of field failures.

### 1. Normal electrochemical consumption

The active oxides dissolve slowly into the electrolyte during operation. This is expected behavior, not a defect, and it proceeds at a rate set by the coating formulation and the operating conditions. Anodes that run continuously at moderate current density consume their coating far more evenly than anodes cycled between overload and shutdown.

### 2. Substrate passivation

Beneath the coating, titanium naturally forms a passive oxide film. That film is what makes titanium corrosion resistant, but on an anode it is also an insulator. Under prolonged anodic polarization, especially in oxygen-evolving electrolytes such as sulfate baths, this interlayer grows thicker season by season. As it thickens, cell voltage climbs and current distribution degrades. Passivation is the quiet failure: the coating may look intact while the electrode is already delivering less and less.

### 3. Delamination and mechanical damage

Coating adhesion is strong against normal electrolyte flow and gas evolution, but it does not tolerate scraping, impact, or abrasion. Hard tools, careless stacking, and aggressive ultrasonic cleaning all strip coating locally. A bare titanium spot does not stop the anode from working; it concentrates the full current load onto the remaining coated area, accelerating consumption precisely where the electrode can least afford it.

### 4. Chemical attack from the electrolyte

Fluoride ions are the classic killer. Even at low concentrations they attack the titanium substrate through any pore or microcrack in the coating, undercutting it from below. Organic contamination, oil films, and heavy metal sludge produce a different problem: they blanket the coating, block gas release, and create local hot spots. In seawater and hard-water systems, calcium and magnesium scale deposits behave the same way if left to build up.

## Failure Modes at a Glance



## Early Warning Signs Worth Logging Daily

Your rectifier is the cheapest diagnostic instrument in the plant. Read it the same time every shift and write down the numbers.

- **Cell voltage trend.** A slow rise with stable temperature and electrolyte composition points to passivation or coating consumption. A sudden jump points to scale, a short circuit, or a connection problem.
- **Current efficiency.** In sodium hypochlorite generation and electrowinning, falling product yield at constant amperes usually means the anode surface is compromised before anything is visually obvious.
- **Gas pattern.** Healthy anodes release gas evenly across the active area. Silent zones indicate blocked or lost coating.
- **Visual checks at every planned shutdown.** Look for color change, edge damage, bare titanium spots, blisters, and deposit buildup. Photograph the same electrodes each time; a photo series catches slow changes that memory does not.

## Daily and Periodic Maintenance Routine

The routine below fits most chlor-alkali, hypochlorite, electroplating, and water treatment installations. Adjust the intervals to your duty cycle and keep the sequence, because the order matters.



## How to Clean an MMO Anode Without Destroying It

More coatings are destroyed by cleaning than by electrolysis. The coating is a ceramic-like layer measured in microns, so treat it like a nonstick pan rather than a steel plate.

### Safe practices

- Soften and remove calcium and magnesium scale with a dilute mineral acid rinse, such as 5 to 10 percent hydrochloric acid or a citric acid solution, at ambient temperature, limited to the time needed to dissolve the deposit.
- Rinse thoroughly with clean water afterward and let the anode dry naturally.
- Handle electrodes by the titanium frame or busbar, never by the coated mesh or plate face.

### Never do these

- Never use hydrofluoric acid or any fluoride-containing cleaner, in any concentration.
- Never scrape, wire-brush, or sand the coating surface, even gently.
- Never use aggressive ultrasonic cleaning; it can erode coating at edges and defects.
- Never apply direct flame or sudden high heat to dry deposits off the surface.
- Never run an anode dry under load, and never lift energized electrodes out of the bath with current still flowing.

## Storage and Handling Between Campaigns

- Store anodes dry, upright or flat with soft spacers, in a ventilated area away from acid fumes and chlorinated atmospheres.
- Keep coated faces from touching each other or any metal rack during storage and transport.
- Rinse off residual electrolyte before storage; dried salt crusts hold moisture against the coating and can cause pitting at coating defects over time.
- Protect coated surfaces from welding spatter and grinding dust in shared workshops; both damage coatings irreversibly.
- If anodes will sit idle for extended periods in their cells, follow the supplier's guidance on wet layup versus dry storage for the specific electrolyte.

## Knowing When an Anode Is Finished

Replace or recoat when you see a combination of these, not just one:

- Cell voltage has climbed past the economically acceptable point for your process, with electrolyte conditions and connections confirmed normal.
- Visible bare substrate exceeds the area the supplier defines as the limit, commonly stated as a percentage of the active surface.
- Blistering or flaking shows substrate-level attack rather than surface wear.
- Current efficiency can no longer meet production requirements.

Do not discard a failed anode. Titanium substrates can usually be stripped and recoated, which costs a fraction of a new electrode and preserves the dimensional investment. Send the used anode back with your operating records, current density history, and electrolyte composition notes; that history lets the coating supplier reformulate for the actual duty rather than the nameplate duty.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How long do MMO titanium anodes last?

Service life depends on the coating formulation, current density, electrolyte chemistry, and temperature. Suppliers typically state life expectations against defined test conditions rather than as universal figures, so compare anodes on their tested basis, not on a single headline number.

### Can a failed anode be recoated instead of replaced?

In most cases yes. The titanium substrate is dimensionally stable and can be stripped, re-etched, and recoated. Recoating is standard practice for plate and mesh anodes whose substrates remain dimensionally sound.

### Why did my anode fail within months when the previous set lasted years?

Short-run failures are almost always operational, not material: fluoride in the electrolyte, current density above the design window, shorts, dry operation, or cleaning damage. Investigate the process before blaming the coating.

### Is a small area of exposed titanium acceptable?

It depends on the location and area, and this is a question for your supplier with photos in hand. Edge nicks and handling scratches are usually tolerable; spreading bare patches on the active face mean the anode is approaching end of service.

## Titanium and Titanium Alloy Mill Products
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/titanium-and-titanium-alloy/
> From titanium sponge to certified plate, bar, wire and tube: VAR/EBCHM melting, forging, rolling and QC to ASTM B265/B348/B863/B861/B862. Request a quote.

## From sponge to certified mill products: the complete process chain

Titanium Plate, Bar, Wire, Tube: Complete Manufacturing Guide

Titanium mill products are not shaped in a single step. The process chain moves from titanium sponge (and qualified revert) → ingot melting under vacuum (VAR, or EBCHM for the highest-purity service) → forging and rolling that set the microstructure → semi-finished plate, bar, wire or tube → surface processing → a documented QC and certification gate (chemistry, mechanical tests, NDT, heat traceability, MTR per EN 10204). Every property you specify — strength, corrosion resistance, weldability, ultrasonic quality — is decided upstream, mostly at the melt and the forge.

## Raw Materials: Where Titanium Starts

Commercial titanium production begins with **titanium sponge**. Natural rutile or ilmenite is upgraded to titanium dioxide (TiO₂), chlorinated to titanium tetrachloride (TiCl₄), then reduced — most commonly with magnesium in the **Kroll process** (with sodium-based Hunter reduction used in some plants). The result is a porous, sponge-like mass of pure titanium crystals that becomes the building block of every mill product.
Titanium sponge feedstock graded by hardness and impurity level for ingot melting

Three feed streams go into a titanium melt:

- **Primary sponge** — graded by hardness (Brinell), particle size and impurity level (notably oxygen, iron, nitrogen, chlorine and magnesium). Low-oxygen sponge is mandatory for ELI (extra-low interstitial) and implant grades.
- **Qualified revert / scrap** — internally generated cropped ingot ends and certified customer scrap, blended in controlled ratios. Only material with full chemistry traceability enters the melt; unknown scrap is rejected.
- **Master alloys** — e.g., aluminum-vanadium (60/40 Al-V), Al-Mo and other additions that set the final alloy chemistry (Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-3Al-2.5V, Ti-0.3Mo-0.8Ni, etc.).

Oxygen is the single most important impurity: it strengthens titanium dramatically but destroys ductility and toughness. That is why oxygen limits are spelled out grade by grade (e.g., 0.18% max for Grade 2, 0.13% for Grade 23 ELI), and why vacuum or inert-atmosphere handling runs through the entire process.



## Melting: From Sponge to Ingot

Molten titanium reacts violently with oxygen, nitrogen and most refractories, so melting happens **under vacuum** using water-cooled copper crucibles. The two dominant routes:

### Vacuum Arc Remelting (VAR)

Compacted sponge/alloy electrodes are remelted under vacuum in an electric arc furnace. Aerospace and medical specifications normally require **double or triple melting**: each remelt improves chemical homogeneity and removes porosity. VAR is the workhorse for the large majority of plate, bar, wire and tube stock.

### Electron Beam Cold Hearth Melting (EBCHM)

An electron beam melts feed in a water-cooled copper hearth before the metal flows into the ingot mold. The hearth gives inclusions a chance to settle or dissolve — **high-density inclusions** (e.g., tungsten carbide from tooling) sink and are trapped, while **low-density inclusions** (nitride/oxide defects) float and are removed. EBCHM is therefore specified for critical rotating aero-engine components and other high-integrity applications; plasma arc melting (PAM) is used for specialty alloys.



The finished ingot is cropped top and bottom (both ends contain solidification defects), surface-conditioned, and sampled for full chemistry before release to the forge.

## Forging and Primary Conversion

Forging does two jobs: it shapes the ingot into workable forms, and — more importantly — it **builds the microstructure** that controls final properties. Titanium has two crystal structures: alpha (hcp) at lower temperature and beta (bcc) above the beta-transus. Where you forge relative to that transition temperature decides what you get:

- **Alpha-beta forging** (below the beta-transus) produces a fine, equiaxed-alpha structure — the best balance of strength, ductility and fatigue life, and the standard for most plate, bar and billet.
- **Beta forging** (above the transus, with controlled finishing) gives a transformed lamellar structure with superior fracture toughness and creep resistance, at some cost in ductility — used where toughness dominates, e.g., large airframe forgings.
- **Open-die forging** (upsetting and cogging) converts round ingots to slab, bloom or billet; **closed-die forging** produces net or near-net parts; **ring rolling** produces seamless rings for flanges and engine cases.

Control points during conversion: heating practice (time/temperature windows to avoid oxygen pickup and grain growth), reduction ratio, strain distribution and finish temperature. These are written into each supplier's process control documents and verified by sampling mechanical properties and microstructure from forged billet ends.

## Mill Products: Plate, Bar, Wire and Tube

### Titanium plate and Titanium sheet — ASTM B265

Slabs are hot-rolled on reversing plate mills; thin sheet is further cold-rolled. Under B265, **sheet is under 4.76 mm (0.187 in) thick; plate is 4.76 mm and up**. Plate is supplied flat-rolled, cut to ordered dimensions (plasma, abrasive water jet, or machining), and is available in thicknesses to 100 mm and beyond by machining. Grade 2 dominates corrosion-service plate; Grade 5 and Grade 23 dominate aerospace and medical bar-stock-derived plate.
Hot-rolled titanium plate cut to ordered dimensions per ASTM B265



### Titanium bar and Titanium rod — ASTM B348
Titanium bar and rod stock per ASTM B348 for machined parts and fasteners

Billet is rolled or forged to round, square, rectangular or hexagonal bar. Surface conditions range from hot-rolled and pickled to turned, centerless ground or peeled for tight dimensional control and surface integrity. Straightness and alpha-case-free matter for machining and medical applications. Bar is the raw material for machined parts, shafts, fasteners, flanges and forged fittings.

### Titanium wire — ASTM B863
Titanium wire on spools per ASTM B863

Wire is drawn from rolled rod through successive dies with intermediate anneals, supplied on spools, in coils, or in straight lengths. Diameters commonly range from a few tenths of a millimeter up to ~7 mm (larger sizes overlap rod). Uses include welding wire (ERTi-2, ERTi-5, ERTi-23 per AWS A5.16), fasteners, springs, mesh, medical instruments and additive manufacturing feedstock. Surface cleanliness, diameter tolerance and tensile consistency (for spring wire) are the decisive QC items.

### Titanium tube and Titanium pipe — ASTM B861 (Seamless) and B862 (Welded)
Seamless and welded titanium tube per ASTM B861/B862

Seamless tube starts from a hollowed billet — extruded or rotary-pierced, then reduced on a pilger mill or draw bench to final dimensions. Welded tube is roll-formed from titanium strip and longitudinally TIG/plasma welded, then sized and annealed; B862 requires welded tube to meet the same mechanical and chemistry requirements as seamless in the same grade. Seamless is preferred for pressure service and aggressive media; welded tube wins on thin walls, long lengths and cost. Applications: heat exchangers, condensers, offshore seawater systems, chemical reactors and aerospace hydraulic lines (often Grade 9).

## Processing and Surface Finish

Between the mill and the customer, semi-finished products routinely go through secondary operations that change cost, lead time and, sometimes, specification:

- **Machining** — titanium's low thermal conductivity and work-hardening demand rigid setups, sharp tooling and flood coolant; machining itself does not alter the certified mill properties.
- **Forming** — hot forming for tight radii and springback control; CP grades form readily, alpha-beta alloys less so.
- **Welding** — must be done under inert gas shielding (GTAW/TIG) because molten titanium absorbs oxygen and nitrogen from air; weld zones are typically inspected by dye penetrant and X-ray.
- **Surface treatment** — pickling removes the oxygen-enriched alpha case from hot working; shot blasting, grinding, polishing and anodizing are applied per application.

## Quality Control and Certification



For aerospace, add the relevant AMS specification (e.g., AMS 4911 for Ti-6Al-4V sheet/plate, AMS 4928 for bar); for medical implants, ISO 5832-2 (CP) and ISO 5832-3 (Ti-6Al-4V ELI) apply.

## Grade Selection: A Buyer's Shortlist



Mechanical values are typical specification minimums for annealed condition; always verify against the exact edition of the governing standard for your order.

## FAQ

### What is the difference between titanium plate and titanium sheet?

### Which titanium grade should I choose: CP Grade 2 or Ti-6Al-4V?

### How is titanium melted, and why is vacuum melting necessary?

### What is the difference between seamless and welded titanium tube?

### What documents should I request with titanium mill products?

### How is titanium quality controlled during production?

## Specifying titanium plate, bar, wire or tube for your next project?

Send your grade, dimensions, quantity and required standard
Contact Us Today

## Titanium Anode Technical Glossary
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/titanium-anode-technical-glossary/
> Complete titanium anode glossary: MMO/DSA definitions, Ru-Ir vs Ir-Ta coatings, coating loading, current density & lifespan. ISO 9001 certified.

## MMO, DSA, Coatings & Key Electrochemical Terms

This glossary is a practical reference for engineers, plating supervisors, procurement teams, and water-treatment operators who specify coated titanium anodes. Every term below is defined in plain language, given with typical operating data, and cross-linked to our detailed product pages. All anodes referenced here are manufactured by Baoji Qixin Titanium Co., Ltd. (ISO 9001 certified, China) since 2006, and supplied to electroplating, chlor-alkali, electrowinning, cathodic protection, and wastewater treatment plants in 25+ countries.

## Core Terminology

### Titanium Anode

A titanium anode is an electrode made from a titanium substrate (typically Grade 1 or Grade 2 pure titanium per ASTM B265) that carries an electrochemically active coating. Compared with graphite or lead-alloy anodes, titanium anodes are dimensionally stable, do not contaminate the electrolyte, and operate at lower overpotential — typical energy savings of 10–30% in the same electrolysis duty.

### MMO (Mixed Metal Oxide) Anode

An MMO anode is a titanium electrode coated with a mixed metal oxide layer — usually ruthenium-iridium, iridium-tantalum, or a precious-metal blend — applied by thermal decomposition. MMO anodes are the most widely used type of dimensionally stable anode (DSA) in chlor-alkali, sodium hypochlorite generation, electroplating, and electrowinning.

**Typical data:** coating loading 8–20 g/m² of precious metal oxide; service life 3–8 years depending on current density and electrolyte; corrosion resistance in both acidic and alkaline media.

### DSA (Dimensionally Stable Anode)

DSA (dimensionally stable anode) is the engineering term for a valve-metal electrode (usually titanium) coated with an electrocatalytic layer. The substrate does not dissolve or change shape during operation, which keeps the inter-electrode gap and cell voltage stable over years of service. MMO anodes are a subset of DSA; the two terms are frequently used interchangeably.

### CER and OER

- **CER (Chlorine Evolution Reaction)** — the reaction where chloride ions are oxidized to chlorine gas. Coating choice: ruthenium-iridium (Ru-Ir).
- **OER (Oxygen Evolution Reaction)** — the reaction where water is oxidized to oxygen. Coating choice: iridium-tantalum (Ir-Ta) or platinum.

Selecting the right reaction type is the single most important coating decision. Applying a chlorine-evolution coating in an oxygen-evolving duty shortens anode life dramatically.

### Coating Loading

Coating loading is the amount of precious metal oxide applied per unit area, expressed in g/m². Higher loading generally means longer service life but higher cost. Typical ranges:



### Current Density

Current density is the current per unit electrode area, expressed in A/m². It is the primary driver of anode service life: doubling current density can reduce anode life by roughly half. Typical working ranges:



### Overpotential

Overpotential is the extra voltage above the thermodynamic equilibrium that an electrode needs to drive a reaction. Lower overpotential means lower cell voltage and lower energy consumption. [MMO-coated titanium anodes](https://www.mmo-anode.com/coated-titanium-anode/) show significantly lower overpotential than graphite or lead anodes in both chlorine and oxygen evolution — a key reason for the 10–30% energy saving figure quoted above.

### Passivation

Passivation is the gradual loss of electrocatalytic activity that leads to rising cell voltage and eventual anode failure. Main causes: operating beyond the rated current density, reverse polarity, high temperature (>60°C sustained), or using a coating type mismatched to the electrolyte. Routine monitoring of cell voltage rise is the standard early-warning signal.

## Coating Types at a Glance

**Parameter**

**Ru-Ir (CER)**

**Ir-Ta (OER)**

**Platinum**

**PbO₂**

Primary reaction

Chlorine evolution

Oxygen evolution

Both

Oxygen evolution

Typical current density

100–2,000 A/m²

500–5,000 A/m²

200–1,000 A/m²

100–1,000 A/m²

Typical lifespan

3–5 years

1–3 years

1–3 years

1–2 years

Best-fit industries

Chlor-alkali, NaClO, seawater, electroplating

Copper foil, electrowinning, wastewater

Cathodic protection, electroplating

Organic wastewater, acid electrolysis

Relative cost

Medium

High

High

Low

Standards-compliant substrate

Gr1/Gr2 Ti (ASTM B265)

Gr1/Gr2 Ti (ASTM B265)

Gr1/Gr2 Ti (ASTM B265)

### See detailed pages:

- [Ruthenium-Iridium Titanium Anode](https://www.mmo-anode.com/ruthenium-iridium-titanium-anode/)
- [Iridium-Tantalum Titanium Anode](https://www.mmo-anode.com/iridium-tantalum-titanium-anode/)
- [Platinum-Plated Titanium Anode](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/platinum-plated-titanium-anode/)
- [PbO₂ Titanium Anode](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/pbo2-titanium-anode/)

New to titanium anodes? Read our [guide to choosing coated titanium electrodes](https://www.mmo-anode.com/how-to-choose-coated-titanium-electrodes/) or browse our [complete product range](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product-cat/titanium-anode/).

## Applications by Coating

- **Electroplating (zinc, nickel, copper, chrome):** Ru-Ir coated anodes, 200–1,000 A/m². Stable gap geometry keeps coating thickness uniform.
- **Chlor-alkali and sodium hypochlorite:** Ru-Ir (CER) anodes, 500–2,000 A/m². Low chlorine overpotential reduces cell energy cost.
- **Electrowinning and electrolytic copper foil:** Ir-Ta (OER) anodes, 500–5,000 A/m², with high reverse-polarity tolerance.
- **Cathodic protection:** Platinized titanium anodes for pipelines, marine structures, and concrete reinforcement.
- **Wastewater electro-oxidation:** PbO₂ or Ir-Ta coated anodes for organic pollutant oxidation and disinfection.

## Standards & Compliance

Qixin titanium anodes are manufactured under an ISO 9001 quality management system, and the titanium substrate is selected to ASTM B265 (Grade 1/Grade 2) specifications. Product documentation, mill test certificates, and coating test reports are available on request to support OEM and engineering-project requirements.

## Titanium Anode FAQ

### What is the difference between MMO and DSA titanium anodes?

### How long does an MMO titanium anode last?

### Which coating should I choose, Ru-Ir or Ir-Ta?

### What current density can a coated titanium anode handle?

### What is coating loading and why does it matter?

### Why do titanium anodes fail or passivate?

### Do you support custom titanium anodes?

### What standards do your titanium anodes comply with?

### How to Get a Custom Quote

Send your drawings and operating conditions (electrolyte, temperature, current density, required lifetime) to ourcontact pageand receive a quote within 12 hours.
Get Quote

## DSA Coated Titanium Electrodes
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/manufacture-and-application/
> DSA coated titanium electrodes for chlor-alkali, sodium hypochlorite & wastewater electrolysis. Ru-Ir / Ir-Ta coatings, custom sizes.

## DSA Coated Titanium Electrodes (MMO Titanium Anodes)

**DSA coated titanium electrodes** — also known as **MMO titanium anodes** or dimensionally stable anodes — are insoluble electrolytic electrodes made from a high-purity titanium substrate coated with a thermally decomposed layer of mixed precious metal oxides (ruthenium, iridium, tantalum, or platinum). They deliver low overpotential, long service life, and zero electrolyte contamination, making them the industry-standard replacement for traditional graphite and lead anodes in chlor-alkali, sodium hypochlorite generation, water treatment, electroplating, and cathodic protection.
DSA‑coated titanium electrode
Titanium‑based insoluble coated titanium anode

### What Is a DSA Coated Titanium Electrode?

DSA stands for **Dimensionally Stable Anode**. Unlike graphite anodes, which erode during operation, or lead anodes, which dissolve and contaminate the electrolyte, a DSA electrode keeps its exact dimensions and electrode spacing throughout its service life. This dimensional stability maintains a constant cell voltage, stable current distribution, and uniform electrolysis efficiency.

The electrode combines two functional layers:

- **Titanium substrate** (Grade 1 or Grade 2 per ASTM B265, Ti ≥ 99.6%) — provides mechanical strength and inherent corrosion resistance; the substrate is recoatable after the coating reaches end of life.
- **Electrocatalytic coating** (3–12 μm of mixed metal oxides) — lowers the reaction overpotential and drives the desired electrochemical reaction at high efficiency.

## How a DSA Electrode Works

The mixed metal oxide coating acts as an electrocatalyst. When current is applied, the coating lowers the activation energy of the target reaction — chlorine evolution in chloride-rich electrolytes, or oxygen evolution in acidic or sulfate systems — reducing cell voltage by 0.3–0.8 V compared with lead and graphite anodes. This translates into 10–20% lower power consumption at the same production output.

## Technical Specifications



## Coating Systems Comparison

Choosing the right coating is the single most important factor in anode longevity. The rule of thumb: chlorine evolution → ruthenium; oxygen evolution → iridium.



**Do not use ruthenium-based coatings in continuously oxygen-evolving acidic baths — the coating can deactivate several times faster. If your electrolyte contains significant fluoride ions, notify us before ordering; fluorides rapidly attack the titanium substrate.**

## Applications

DSA coated titanium electrodes are used wherever electrochemical oxidation or reduction is required at industrial scale:

- **Sodium hypochlorite generation** — on-site NaOCl disinfection for water treatment, swimming pools, and food processing (our core application).
- **Chlor-alkali industry** — chlorine and caustic soda production.
- **Wastewater treatment** — electrochemical oxidation of organic pollutants, cyanide destruction, and disinfection.
- **Electroplating** — hard chrome, copper, zinc, nickel, and precious metal plating.
- **Electrolytic copper foil** and metal electrowinning / hydrometallurgy.
- **Cathodic protection (ICCP)** — ship hulls, offshore structures, pipelines, and deep-well ground beds.
- **Electrodialysis / EDI** and electrolytic hydrogen production (alkaline and PEM water electrolysis).
- **Electrochemical ozone generation** and laboratory electrolysis.

## Manufacturing Process

- **Substrate machining** — CNC cutting, stamping, and forming of Grade 1/2 titanium to the specified shape and size.
- **Surface pretreatment** — sandblasting to roughen the surface, followed by multi-stage acid pickling and ultrasonic cleaning to remove grease and oxide layers, maximizing coating adhesion.
- **Coating application** — noble metal precursor solutions are applied by brush, roller, or spray in controlled layers.
- **Thermal decomposition** — segmented high-temperature sintering converts the precursors into a dense, conductive mixed oxide layer bonded to the titanium surface.
- **Post-treatment** — polishing and passivation to stabilize the electrode surface.
- **Inspection and testing** — every batch undergoes adhesion, uniformity, electrochemical, and accelerated life testing before shipment.

## Advantages Over Traditional Anodes

- **Low overpotential** — reduces cell voltage by 0.3–0.8 V and power consumption by 10–20%.
- **Long service life** — 3–8 years typical, depending on operating conditions and coating selection.
- **No secondary pollution** — no heavy metal dissolution, safe for drinking water and food-grade applications.
- **Recoatable substrate** — the titanium matrix can be stripped and recoated after coating end-of-life, cutting long-term procurement cost.
- **Lightweight and strong** — simplifies cell assembly and installation.
- **High current density capability** — supports compact, high-output electrolyzers.

## Customization

Every electrolysis cell is different. We customize DSA electrodes by:

- **Shape and size** — plate, mesh, tube, rod, ribbon, disc, or complex 3D assemblies per your drawings (a few cm² to several m²).
- **Coating formulation** — Ru-Ir, Ir-Ta, Pt, or proprietary multi-component formulations matched to your electrolyte chemistry.
- **Precious metal loading** — 5–20 g/m² (or higher) tuned to current density and target service life.
- **Connections** — titanium or copper core rod, cable attachments, mounting holes, and busbar configurations.

## FAQ

### What is the difference between DSA and MMO titanium anodes?
DSA
MMO

### How long does a DSA electrode last?

### Which coating should I choose — Ru-Ir or Ir-Ta?

### Can you manufacture custom sizes and shapes?

### Are your electrodes tested before shipment?

## How to Choose Coated Titanium Electrodes
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/how-to-choose-coated-titanium-electrodes/
> Compare Ir-Ta, Ru-Ir, platinum, and PbO₂ coatings on service life, current density, and electrolyte compatibility.

## How to Choose Coated Titanium Electrodes: The Complete Buyer's Guide for 2026

**Quick Answer: What Coated Titanium Electrode Should You Choose?**_In short: choose an iridium-tantalum (IrO₂–Ta₂O₅) MMO coating for oxygen-evolving acidic electrolytes (electroplating, wastewater, electrowinning), a ruthenium-based (RuO₂–TiO₂) coating for chlorine-evolving media (seawater electrochlorination, chlor-alkali), and platinum-coated titanium only when the process demands platinum's specific catalysis or product purity. Always specify Gr2 titanium substrate, a precious-metal loading matched to your target service life (typically 5–50 g/m²), and verify the supplier's accelerated life-test data before ordering._

### What Is a Coated Titanium Electrode (DSA Anode)?

A coated titanium electrode — widely called an **MMO anode** (Mixed Metal Oxide) or **DSA** (Dimensionally Stable Anode) — is a titanium plate, mesh, rod or tube carrying a thin electrocatalytic layer of precious metal oxides (IrO₂, RuO₂, Ta₂O₅) or platinum, applied by thermal decomposition of precursor salts at 400–450 °C.

Compared with graphite or lead-alloy anodes, coated titanium electrodes deliver three decisive advantages:

Property

Graphite Anode

Lead Alloy Anode

Coated Titanium (MMO/DSA)

Dimensional stability

Poor – erodes

Moderate – deforms

Excellent – no shape change

Overpotential

High

High

Low (energy saving 10–30%)

Product contamination

Carbon particles

Lead dissolution

Negligible

Typical service life

3–12 months

1–3 years

1–8+ years (recoatable)

This is why MMO titanium anodes have become the industry standard across **electroplating, chlor-alkali production, sodium hypochlorite generation, cathodic protection, electrowinning and electro-oxidation water treatment**.

### Selection Guide in 5 Steps

- **Step 1 – Identify the electrode reaction**Chlorine evolution (chloride media) → ruthenium-based coating. Oxygen evolution (sulfate/nitrate media) → iridium-based coating. This is the single most important decision; the wrong coating family can fail within weeks.
- **Step 2 – Define your operating conditions**Document electrolyte composition, pH, temperature, fluoride content, current density (A/m²), and duty cycle. Fluoride above ~20 ppm or pH < 1 requires a revised design.
- **Step 3 – Select coating system & loading**Higher precious-metal loading (g/m²) extends life roughly proportionally. Match loading to your economic optimum — over-specifying wastes platinum-group metals, under-specifying causes premature failure.
- **Step 4 – Design substrate geometry & connections**Choose plate, mesh, expanded mesh, rod, tube or basket forms; confirm Gr2 titanium, argon-arc (TIG) welding, and connection method (bolt, welding lug, copper-titanium clad bar).
- **Step 5 – Validate with data & warranty**Request accelerated life test (S-N) reports, coating adhesion and loading certificates, and a written service-life warranty including a recoating option.

### Coating Systems Compared: Ir, Ru, Pt and BDD Alternatives

Coating System

Best For (Reaction)

Typical Electrolyte

Current Density

Relative Cost

IrO₂–Ta₂O₅

Oxygen evolution

Acidic sulfate, nitrate

100–8,000 A/m²

High

RuO₂–TiO₂

Chlorine evolution

Seawater, brine, HCl

50–2,000 A/m²

Medium

Platinum

O₂ evolution, precision plating

Neutral & mild acidic baths

50–1,000 A/m²

High

PbO₂ on Ti

Organic oxidation

Strong acid wastewater

100–1,000 A/m²

Low

BDD on Ti

Hard-to-oxidize organics

High-end EO treatment

50–500 A/m²

Very high

### Key Specifications to Include in Your RFQ

- **Substrate** Gr1/Gr2 pure titanium (ASTM B265), thickness 1–5 mm; welded by argon-arc (TIG).
- **Current density** Design point & maximum A/m².
- **Dimensions** Plate/mesh/rod/tube; tolerance ±1 mm; connection: bolt / lug / Cu-clad bar
- **Electrolyte** Chemical composition of electrolyte.
- **Temperature** Electrolysis operating temperature.

### Application Matching: Which Electrode for Which Process?

Application

Recommended Coating

Why

Electroplating (Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr-III)

Ir-Ta MMO

Oxygen evolution in sulfate baths; no bath contamination

Chlor-alkali / chlorate cells

Ru-Ir MMO

Low chlorine overpotential, high current density

Seawater / brine electrochlorination

Ru-Ir MMO (Ti substrate)

Stable chlorine evolution in high-chloride media

Electrowinning (Cu, Zn, Mn)

Ir-Ta MMO

Long life in strong acid, dimension stability for flat cathode deposits

EO / wastewater treatment (dye, pharma, landfill leachate)

Ir-Ta, PbO₂

High oxygen-overpotential coatings generate ·OH radicals

Sodium hypochlorite generators (on-site)

Ru-Ir MMO

Optimized Cl₂ → HOCl conversion efficiency

Precious metal plating (Au, Pt, Rh)

Platinized Ti

Purity and plating-bath compatibility

Cathodic protection (ICCP)

Ir-Ta or MMO mixed

Decades of life in soil/sea water at low current density

### Cost & Lifespan Optimization

Coated titanium electrode cost is dominated by platinum-group metal (PGM) usage and current market prices of iridium/ruthenium/platinum. Practical cost-control levers:

- **Right-size the loading** — every extra g/m² adds cost but also life; calculate total cost per ampere-hour, not unit price.
- **Reduce current density by increasing area** — halving current density can extend coating life 3–5×.
- **Plan for recoating** — recoated anodes cost 30–50% less than new ones while reusing the titanium substrate.
- **Avoid polarity reversal errors** — [MMO anodes](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product-cat/titanium-anode/) must operate as anodes; cathodic polarization strips the coating (exception: specially designed DSA/DSA systems).
- **Control fluoride & temperature** — keep F⁻ below 20 ppm and temperature below the coating's rated maximum (typically 20–60 °C).

## Frequently Asked Questions: How to Choose Coated Titanium Electrodes

### What is a coated titanium electrode?

### IrO₂ or RuO₂ coating — which should I choose?

### What is a coated titanium electrode (DSA anode)?

### What applications are MMO titanium anodes best suited for?

### What does precious-metal loading (g/m²) mean and how does it affect service life?

## Ru-Ir Coated Titanium Anode
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/ruthenium-iridium-titanium-anode/
> Ru-Ir coated titanium anodes for chlorine evolution: coating loads of 5-25 g/m², ≤1.14 V chlorine potential, >100 h accelerated life. Specs, applications, and inquiry guide for B2B buyers.

## Ru-Ir Coated Titanium Anode: Specs, Applications, and Service Life

Ruthenium-iridium coated titanium anodes (Ru-Ir anodes) are mixed metal oxide (MMO) anodes engineered for chlorine evolution. Compared with lead or graphite, they operate at lower overpotential, tolerate oxygen ingress and reverse-current events better, and typically deliver years of continuous service. The coating chemistry, the numbers that matter when comparing quotes, and the test data that separates a reliable anode from a marginal one are covered below. All values are typical vendor figures, not guarantees — always ask the supplier for the test conditions behind each number.

## What Is a Ru-Ir Coated Titanium Anode?

A Ru-Ir coated titanium anode is a titanium substrate, usually Grade 1 or Grade 2, with a thin layer of ruthenium and iridium oxides fired onto the surface. The coating is only a few microns thick and does the electrochemical work. The titanium carries the current and holds the shape.

The anode family goes by several names. Electrochemists call it a dimensionally stable anode (DSA), because unlike graphite or lead it keeps its geometry through years of service. Coating suppliers and most industrial buyers call it an **MMO anode**, short for mixed metal oxide. Ru-Ir is the most common MMO recipe for chlorine environments.
Ru-Ir MMO coated titanium anode plate for saltwater pool chlorinator cells

## Why ruthenium and iridium, and in what ratio

**The two oxides do different jobs.**

Ruthenium oxide (RuO₂) is the active catalyst for chlorine discharge. It gives the anode a low chlorine overpotential, which means lower cell voltage and lower power cost. But RuO₂ does not survive oxygen exposure well. Where oxygen is co-evolved, or where the current is interrupted and the anode sits at open circuit, a high-ruthenium coating ages fast.

Iridium oxide (IrO₂) is less active for chlorine but far more tolerant of oxygen and of reverse-current conditions. Adding iridium extends service life, at some cost to chlorine activity and to price.

Titanium oxide (TiO₂) is usually blended in as a stabilizer. It dilutes the active oxides but improves coating longevity and adhesion substantially.

The ratio is a trade-off, not a fixed standard. Common vendor formulations fall into three bands:



## Where Ru-Ir anodes are used

**Ru-Ir anodes show up wherever a cell needs chlorine and can tolerate the electrolyte. The main categories:**

### Sodium hypochlorite generation

On-site hypochlorite generators for water treatment run almost exclusively on Ru-Ir anodes. The cell oxidizes chloride in a dilute brine stream, and the anode must stay selective for chlorine at low overpotential, which is exactly what Ru-Ir does.

### Chlor-alkali and chlorate

Dimensionally stable anodes replaced graphite in this industry decades ago. Ru-Ir and related MMO coatings are the standard for membrane and diaphragm cells.

### Electrochemical water and wastewater treatment

COD reduction, cyanide oxidation, and disinfection cells use Ru-Ir anodes where chloride is present. The anode oxidizes chloride to active chlorine, which carries most of the oxidation load.

### Seawater electrolysis

Marine anti-fouling systems generate hypochlorite from seawater. The high chloride content is forgiving, but magnesium and calcium in the water demand a coating that tolerates scale and occasional polarity events.

### Electroplating and electrowinning

Ru-Ir anodes replace lead anodes in some plating baths, especially where lead contamination of the product is unacceptable. They are less common here than iridium-based oxygen coatings, because many plating baths evolve oxygen.

### Cathodic protection

Impressed-current systems use small anodes buried in soil or submerged in water. Ru-Ir coatings handle the current densities involved and survive in that service for long periods.

Not all Ru-Ir anodes are equivalent. The coating load, the substrate grade, and the test conditions define the product. The table below lists the parameters that matter and typical values to benchmark against.



Two warnings about this table. First, accelerated life test methods are not standardized across the industry, so a "100 h" result from one factory is not directly comparable to one from another. Always request the exact conditions: electrolyte, temperature, current density, and the failure criterion. Second, a chlorine potential number is only meaningful with the reference electrode and conditions stated. A number without conditions is marketing.
DSA‑coated titanium electrode

## Ru-Ir vs Ir-Ta Coated Titanium Anodes: Which One Fits Your Cell?

if your cell evolves chlorine, specify Ru-Ir; if it evolves oxygen, specify Ir-Ta.



## How the coating is made

The standard route is thermal decomposition. The factory pre-treats the titanium base by degreasing, sand blasting, and acid etching to remove the oxide film and create a rough surface for the coating to grip. Then it applies a paint-like solution of ruthenium, iridium, and titanium salts, dries it, and fires it in a furnace, typically between 400 and 500 °C. The salts decompose into the oxide layer. The cycle repeats until the target coating load is reached, usually several layers. A final inspection checks appearance, adhesion, and electrical behavior.

Process control is what separates two anodes with the same nominal spec: substrate cleanliness, layer uniformity, and furnace temperature stability. These process variables are why two anodes with the same nominal spec can perform very differently.

## Common failure modes

Ru-Ir anodes fail in a handful of ways, and most failures are traceable:

- **Coating exhaustion.** This is the normal end of life. The oxide dissolves slowly in service, and the anode voltage rises as the active surface shrinks. High current density, high temperature, and oxygen exposure all accelerate it.
- **Substrate passivation.** If the coating detaches or wears through at a spot, the titanium underneath oxidizes into an insulating layer at anode potential. Cell voltage jumps, and the anode is finished even though most of the coating looks intact.
- **Local peeling.** Mechanical damage, thermal shock, or a poorly prepared substrate can lift the coating. The exposed base then passivates as described above.
- **Electrolyte attacks.** Fluoride and some organics attack titanium or the coating. Cyanide solutions are a known hazard, and so are baths with aggressive fluoride levels.
- **Reverse current.** Polarity reversal, stray current, or AC ripple erodes the coating quickly. Rectifier faults are a common, avoidable cause.

These failure modes are well documented in the electrochemical literature. What separates a reliable anode from a marginal one is not the coating chemistry on paper but the process control behind it.

## FAQ

### What is the difference between Ru-Ir, pure ruthenium, and pure iridium coatings?

Ru-Ir is a compromise. Pure ruthenium gives the lowest chlorine potential and the shortest life. Pure iridium tolerates oxygen and reverse current better but is less active for chlorine and more expensive. Ru-Ir blends the two for chlorine-service cells where a single oxide would fail early.

### How long does a Ru-Ir coated titanium anode last?

It depends on current density, temperature, electrolyte, and duty cycle. In a well-run hypochlorite generator at moderate current density, several years is normal. At the high end of the current range, or with oxygen ingress, life drops sharply. The accelerated life test is the closest thing to a prediction.

### Can I use a Ru-Ir anode in an oxygen-evolving cell?

Not for long. RuO₂ dissolves quickly under oxygen evolution. For oxygen service, the standard coating is iridium-tantalum (IrO₂-Ta₂O₅). If your cell evolves oxygen, say so when you request a quote; the coating decision changes completely.

### Why does my anode voltage climb over time?

Usually coating exhaustion or local substrate passivation. It can also be an electrolyte side effect, such as scale buildup or conductivity loss. A polarization curve and a visual check will separate the causes.

### Can the titanium substrate be reused after the coating wears out?

Rarely. Stripping the old oxide and recoating is possible in principle, but the substrate is usually etched or thinned, and recoated anodes rarely match new ones. For most buyers, replacement is more economical.

## Iridium-Tantalum Coated Titanium Anode
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/iridium-tantalum-titanium-anode/
> IrO₂–Ta₂O₅ titanium anodes for acid oxygen-evolving electrolysis: coating specs, current density limits, lifespans.

If your process evolves oxygen in an acidic electrolyte (copper electrowinning, copper foil formation, acid copper plating, persulfate or organics oxidation), the iridium-tantalum (Ir-Ta) coated titanium anode is the industry-standard electrode. This guide covers what the coating is, where it outperforms alternatives, its operating envelope, and the details you should specify before requesting a quotation.
Iridium‑Tantalum Coated Titanium Anode for Electrolytic Copper Foil

## At a Glance: Iridium-Tantalum Coated Specifications



Values are typical industry ranges. Every Ir-Ta anode we quote is engineered against your electrolyte chemistry, current density, and target life. Treat the figures above as a starting point; the datasheet we issue with your quotation governs.

## What the Coating Is, and Why the 70:30 Ratio Matters

An Ir-Ta anode is a dimensionally stable anode (DSA): a titanium substrate carrying a thin catalytic layer of mixed iridium and tantalum oxides. The two oxides do different jobs.

Iridium dioxide is the workhorse. It catalyzes the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with a low overpotential and, critically, it stays put. Under high anodic potentials IrO₂ does not form volatile higher oxides, so the coating dissolves slowly rather than evaporating. This is the failure mode that disqualifies ruthenium-based coatings in oxygen-evolving duty.

Tantalum pentoxide is the stabilizer. It is largely inert electrocatalytically, but it forms a dense, acid-resistant framework that suppresses cracking, slows iridium dissolution, and protects the titanium underneath from anodic passivation. Industrial practice and published studies both point to the same optimum for acidic OER: roughly 70 mol% IrO₂ / 30 mol% Ta₂O₅, the best balance of activity and service life. Modest deviations (65:35) trade a little life for cost, and higher iridium fractions buy life at rising cost.

## Why Ir-Ta Instead of Ru-Ir, Platinum, or PbO₂

Coating selection comes down to one question: which reaction happens at the anode?

In chloride-rich baths that produce chlorine or hypochlorite (brine electrolysis, sodium hypochlorite generation, seawater electrochlorination), ruthenium-based coatings win on both performance and price. In sulfate media where oxygen evolution dominates, the picture reverses. RuO₂ oxidizes further to volatile RuO₄ under sustained high anodic potentials, so a ruthenium coating in acid OER service loses precious metal continuously and can fail in a fraction of its expected life.



One more note on mixed systems: if your bath carries both chloride and significant oxygen evolution, do not default to a ruthenium coating on price. In mild conditions a high-iridium Ru-Ir formulation can work; in strong acid at high potential, Ir-Ta is the defensible choice.

## How the Coating Is Made

Industrial Ir-Ta coatings are applied by thermal decomposition. The sequence matters. Each step controls a specific failure mode:

- **Substrate preparation.** Grade 1 or 2 titanium is degreased, sandblasted, and acid-etched. The roughened surface is what the coating anchors to; shortcuts here show up later as delamination.
- **Precursor application.** A solution of iridium and tantalum chlorides in alcohol is brushed, dipped, or sprayed onto the prepared substrate.
- **Pyrolysis.** Each layer is dried and sintered at roughly 400–550 °C, converting the salts to oxides. The paint–dry–sinter cycle repeats, typically 10–20 times, until the specified loading and thickness are reached.

The finished surface shows a characteristic cracked, "mud-crack" microstructure. The cracks are not a defect — they raise the real electrochemically active surface area — but controlling their density is part of the coating house's craft. Ultrasound-assisted spray application, used for premium foil and PEM-grade anodes, gives more uniform loading and better batch-to-batch consistency than brushing.

## Applications of Ir-Ta Coated Titanium Anode

**Copper electrowinning.** In sulfate electrolytes at pH 1–1.5 and current densities of roughly 800–1,200 A/m², Ir-Ta anodes replaced lead alloys to eliminate lead contamination of cathode copper and the sludge that comes with it. Dimensional stability keeps the anode–cathode gap constant, so cell voltage and current efficiency hold over the anode's life.

**Electrolytic copper foil.** Foil-forming machines run far harder: 5,000–8,000 A/m² in CuSO₄/H₂SO₄ baths at 50–60 °C. At these loads, anode life is usually expressed as accumulated charge throughput rather than calendar time, and coating formulations are tuned for the specific bath chemistry and chloride level.

**PCB and acid copper plating.** Insoluble Ir-Ta anodes in vertical continuous plating and pattern plating hold bath composition stable and avoid dissolved-anode contamination.

**Electrochemical oxidation of wastewater.** For high-COD organic effluents, Ir-Ta anodes generate hydroxyl radicals and other strong oxidants that break down organics that resist biological treatment.

**Electrosynthesis.** Persulfate production, organic oxidations, and other high-potential acid reactions where the anode must survive conditions that destroy base-metal electrodes.

## How Ir-Ta Anodes Fail — and How to Read the Signals

Ir-Ta coatings wear out gradually. Iridium dissolves at a slow, finite rate, and once the active loading falls below a threshold, cell voltage climbs. A common end-of-life criterion is a sustained voltage rise of 15–20% over the baseline under identical conditions.

Three mechanisms shorten life below specification, and all three are avoidable:

- **Reverse or intermittent currents** during shutdowns reduce coating adhesion; specify a reverse-current-tolerant formulation if your plant experiences power interruptions.
- **Running above the design** current density accelerates coating wear, raises bath temperature, and shortens service life.
- **Fluoride in the electrolyte** corrodes the titanium substrate under the coating. Above trace levels, discuss substrate protection with the manufacturer before ordering.

## What to Specify When Requesting a Quotation

Send these nine items with your inquiry and we can quote a coating engineered to your duty, usually within two business days:

- **Electrolyte chemistry:** main acid/base system, chloride level, fluoride (even trace), additives
- **Current density:** design point (A/m²) and any peak or transient loads
- **Operating temperature:** continuous and maximum bath temperature
- **Target service life:** expressed as charge throughput (kAh/m²) or calendar time
- **Geometry and dimensions:** drawing or sketch; plate, mesh, tube, rod, or machined part
- **Substrate grade:** Grade 1 or Grade 2 titanium (ASTM B265/B348), thickness
- **Power profile:** rectifier ripple, planned shutdowns, reverse-current exposure
- **Quantity and delivery schedule:** annual volume, first-delivery date

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What does an Ir-Ta titanium anode cost?

Pricing tracks iridium metal, so it moves with the market. Quotes are typically per piece or per square meter of coated area, driven by loading, geometry, and quantity. Send your operating conditions for a firm quotation.

### Can I use Ir-Ta anodes in chloride-containing baths?

Brief or low-level chloride exposure is tolerable, but Ir-Ta is not the economical choice for chlorine-evolving duty. If chloride is the main electrolyte, a Ru-Ir coating is the correct system.

### How long do Ir-Ta anodes last?

There is no single number: life depends on current density, temperature, electrolyte chemistry, and loading. As an order of magnitude, copper foil anodes at 5,000–8,000 A/m² are commonly guaranteed in months; electrowinning anodes at a fraction of that current density run for years.

### Can a spent anode be recoated?

Usually yes. The titanium substrate is stripped, re-etched, and recoated, which is typically cheaper than a new anode.

### Mesh, plate, or tube: which form should I order?

Follow your cell design. Mesh lowers weight and drag in high-flow cells; plate suits compact high-current geometries; tube and rod forms serve special reactors. The coating system is independent of the form.

## Coated titanium anodes
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/coated-titanium-anode/
> Coated titanium anodes (DSA/MMO) with Pt, Ir-Ta, or Ru-Ir coatings for electroplating, water treatment, and chlor-alkali. Custom builds, quote in 12 hours.

A coated titanium anodes is an industrial electrode made of two parts: a titanium substrate and a thin electrocatalytic coating bonded to its surface. The coating does the electrochemical work. The titanium sets the shape, carries the current, and resists corrosion in electrolytes that destroy lead, graphite, and steel anodes. Qixin Titanium builds coated anodes to order for electroplating, water treatment, metal finishing, and chlor-alkali service, and quotes from a drawing within 12 hours.
coated titanium anode
Titanium Anode Plate

## Key facts at a glance

- Coating families: platinum (Pt), iridium-tantalum oxide (IrO₂-Ta₂O₅), and ruthenium-iridium oxide (RuO₂-IrO₂-TiO₂)
- Substrate: Grade 1 or Grade 2 titanium per ASTM B265
- Shapes: plate, mesh, tube, rod, and custom geometry
- Manufacturer: ISO 9001 certified, based in Baoji, China, 20+ years in business, exports to 25+ countries

## What Are Coated Titanium Anodes?

A coated titanium anode, also called a DSA (dimensionally stable anode) or an MMO (mixed metal oxide) anode, is an electrode whose working surface is a thin electrocatalytic layer applied over a titanium substrate. Platinum, iridium-tantalum oxide, and ruthenium-iridium oxide are the three coatings most used in industry. The division of labor is what makes the design work: bare titanium passivates and stops carrying current in most electrolytes, while the right coating stays active for years in acid, chloride, and caustic baths. The titanium provides the structure. The coating provides the chemistry.

### Coating families at a glance



## Advantages of Coated Titanium Anodes

## Advantages of Coated Titanium Anodes

Four properties drive the switch from consumable anodes to coated titanium:

- **Corrosion resistance in aggressive electrolytes.** Titanium forms a stable passive film, so the substrate stays intact in acids, chlorides, and caustics. The coating shields the active interface. A coating matched to the bath keeps the anode in service for years where a soluble anode would need replenishment every few months.
- **Lower energy consumption.** The coating lowers the overpotential of the intended reaction, oxygen or chlorine evolution. Less overpotential means lower cell voltage at the same current. In a plant pulling tens of thousands of amps around the clock, that shows up directly on the power bill.
- **Dimensional stability.** Insoluble coatings are not consumed into the bath, so the anode holds its geometry for its whole service life. Current distribution stays even and product quality stays consistent. This property gives the design its industry name: dimensionally stable anode.
- **One construction, many duties.** Electroplating, electrowinning, water treatment, and chlor-alkali electrolysis all run on the same substrate plus coating approach. Moving a cell to a different duty usually means changing the coating recipe, not the anode design.

## Applications of Coated Titanium Anodes

- **Electroplating.** Coated titanium anodes work as insoluble anodes for copper, nickel, and gold plating. Because nothing dissolves off the anode into the bath, plating chemistry stays stable over long runs and anode maintenance drops to periodic inspection.
- **Water treatment.** Electrocoagulation, electro-flotation, and direct anodic oxidation all use coated titanium anodes to generate oxidants in the cell that destroy pathogens and cut chemical oxygen demand (COD). For on-site hypochlorite generation from brine or seawater, ruthenium based coatings are the standard choice.
- **Metal finishing.** Anodizing and electropolishing lines run coated titanium anodes as inert counterelectrodes. They hold dimensional tolerance, shed no debris onto the workpiece, and stand up to the acid electrolytes these processes use.
- **Chlorine production.** Coated titanium anodes displaced graphite in chlor-alkali cells decades ago and remain the standard for chlorine and caustic soda production from brine, combining high current efficiency with stable operation at high current density.

## Need a custom anode for your process?

Send a drawing, or just the working conditions: electrolyte, current density, temperature, and target reaction. We will recommend a coating and return a quote within 12 hours.

## Titanium Anode Manufacturing
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/titanium-anode-manufacture/
> Custom DSA-coated titanium anodes (Ru-Ir, Ir-Ta, Pt, PbO₂) for chlor-alkali, electrowinning, electroplating & water treatment. Manufacturing since 2006.
DSA Coated Titanium AnodeWhat is a titanium anode?Classification of coated titanium anodeWhy choose titanium as the anode substrate?Why can't titanium be used directly as an anode?What is a unidirectional valve-type metal?Titanium anode production process and procedureApplication fields of titanium anodeWhy choose us?Precautions for the use of titanium anodesTitanium anode R&DFAQ

## DSA Coated Titanium Anode

Here, you will gain a more comprehensive understanding of titanium anodes.

In the 1960s, researchers developed titanium-based, oxide-coated electrodes using titanium as the substrate and coating its surface with metal oxides. These electrodes became known as DSA (Dimensionally Stable Anodes). The coating oxides mainly include RuO₂, IrO₂, Ta₂O₅, PbO₂, and SnO₂. After more than 60 years of development, titanium anodes have been widely used in industrial fields such as chlor-alkali production, chlorate production, water electrolysis, sewage treatment, organic synthesis, cathodic protection, and electrolysis.

## What is a titanium anode?

A titanium anode — also known as a titanium-based metal oxide coated electrode, or a dimensionally stable anode (DSA) — is a new type of insoluble anode material developed in the late 1960s. Before that, traditional anode materials such as graphite and lead had many disadvantages. For example, graphite electrodes were prone to wear and tear, and lead electrodes produced toxic substances during use. With the progress of materials science and electrochemical technology, researchers began to explore the possibility of using titanium metal as the anode substrate. Titanium offers good corrosion resistance and mechanical strength, laying the foundation for the development of coated titanium anodes.

In the following decades, researchers continuously explored and improved the composition and preparation of the coating. The main components of the coating are precious metal oxides, such as ruthenium, iridium, and platinum. With in-depth research and growing adoption, titanium anodes have gradually replaced traditional platinum, graphite, and lead alloy anodes, thanks to their good electrical conductivity, corrosion resistance, mechanical strength, and processing performance, as well as their long service life. They have become mainstream and are now widely used.

Titanium anodes are mainly applied in the fields of electrochemistry and electrometallurgy, such as the chlor-alkali industry, chlorate production, hypochlorite production, perchlorate production, persulfate electrolysis, electrolytic organic synthesis, electrolytic extraction of non-ferrous metals, cathodic protection, copper plating of PCBs, and galvanizing of steel plates.

During the development of titanium anodes, metal oxide coating technology has been significantly improved. For example, oxygen-evolution-type precious-metal-coated titanium anodes have shown great development potential in the field of non-ferrous metal electrolysis. Research and development focus mainly on modifying IrO₂–Ta₂O₅ coatings by different methods, aiming to improve their electrocatalytic activity and stability. These studies cover not only the preparation method of the coating, but also the discussion of the coating failure mechanism.

The research and application of titanium anodes have made significant progress in recent years, especially in improving electrocatalytic activity, reducing energy consumption, and improving production efficiency. With the continuous advancement of technology, the application prospects of coated titanium anodes will be even broader.

## Classification of coated titanium anode

### [Ru–Ir titanium anodes](https://www.mmo-anode.com/ruthenium-iridium-titanium-anode/)

Ru–Ir titanium anodes are chlorine-evolution-oriented MMO (mixed metal oxide) dimensionally stable anodes. They are widely used in sodium hypochlorite disinfection generators, seawater electrolysis, marine cathodic protection, brine electrolysis, and chloride-rich water treatment systems.

### [Ir–Ta titanium anodes](https://www.mmo-anode.com/iridium-tantalum-titanium-anode/)

The Ir–Ta titanium anode is a dimensionally stable mixed-metal-oxide anode mainly designed for the oxygen evolution reaction. It is widely used for copper foil electrodeposition, acidic electroplating, and wastewater electrolysis.

### [Platinized titanium anodes](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/platinum-plated-titanium-anode/)

A platinized titanium anode is an insoluble anode with pure platinum electroplated onto a titanium substrate. It combines titanium's mechanical strength with platinum's outstanding corrosion resistance and catalytic properties, and is widely used for precious metal plating, cathodic protection, and precision electrolysis.

### [Lead dioxide titanium anodes](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/pbo2-titanium-anode/)

Lead dioxide titanium anodes (Ti/PbO₂) are insoluble high-oxidation anodes. They are widely used for refractory organic wastewater degradation, copper/zinc electrowinning, hard chrome plating, and advanced electrochemical oxidation projects in strong-acid electrolytes.

**Plate**

Flat anodes for copper foil, strip plating, and wastewater.

**Rod**

Solid and copper cored rods for ICCP and plating.

**Wire**

Bendable anodes for deep well CP and woven mesh.

**Tube**

Cylindrical anodes for groundbeds and flowing electrolytes.

**Mesh**

High surface area for copper foil and water treatment.

## Why choose titanium as the anode substrate?

The selection of titanium as the anode substrate is mainly based on the following reasons.

**Excellent corrosion resistance:** Titanium can exhibit extremely high corrosion resistance in various chemical environments. Whether in strong acids, strong alkalis, or other corrosive media, titanium remains stable and is not easily corroded or damaged. This enables titanium-based anodes to operate stably under harsher electrochemical working conditions.

**Outstanding physical properties:** Titanium has high strength and hardness, can withstand the mechanical stress and vibration generated during the electrolysis process, and is not easily deformed or damaged. For example, in large electrolytic cells, titanium anodes can withstand the impact force caused by liquid flow and electrode reactions.

**Low density and light weight:** Compared with other metals with similar properties, the density of titanium (4.51 g/cm³) is relatively low, which lowers the overall weight of the anode assembly, reduces structural load as well as installation and maintenance costs, and improves overall efficiency.

**Good processing performance:** Titanium has good processability and can be made into various complex shapes and anodes of multiple specifications to meet the requirements of different electrolytic equipment and processes.

These excellent properties make titanium an ideal anode substrate, providing stable, efficient, and durable anode materials for electrochemical processes.

## Why can't titanium be used directly as an anode?

Copper, iron, aluminum, and other metals can be used directly as anodes. The oxidation reactions of copper, iron, aluminum, and stainless steel during electrolysis occur relatively easily, and these metals can lose electrons under certain conditions to form ions and enter the solution. In an appropriate electrolyte, the outer electrons of copper atoms are more easily lost, so copper can act as an anode and participate in the electrolysis process. Iron is prone to oxidation under specific circumstances, forming iron ions. Although aluminum usually has an oxide film on its surface, it can also lose electrons under specific conditions. Due to its composition and structural characteristics, stainless steel can act as an anode in some electrolytic systems.

Titanium, however, has strong corrosion resistance and chemical stability. Its surface quickly forms a dense, stable oxide film. This oxide film prevents further oxidation and electron loss of titanium, resulting in high resistance and poor conductivity when titanium is used as an anode. Therefore, titanium metal is also called a unidirectional current-carrying valve-type metal during electrolysis.

## What is a unidirectional valve-type metal?

Unidirectional current-carrying valve-type metals are characterized by an obvious directional limitation in current conduction: they are non-conductive when used as anodes but conductive when used as cathodes. This unidirectional conductive property makes them very useful in specific applications, such as electrochemistry. This characteristic comes from the difference in electrical conductivity caused by the oxide film formed on their surfaces.

Take titanium as an example. When the metal is anodically polarized (a positive potential is applied), a dense, stable oxide film forms rapidly on the surface. Like a one-way valve, the film passes current in only one direction and effectively blocks it in the reverse direction.

## Titanium anode production process and procedure

The manufacturing process of titanium anodes mainly includes the following ten steps.

- **Material selection:** The anode substrate is typically Grade 1 (Gr1) titanium. Based on the drawings, we choose the appropriate semi-finished form — sheet, plate, rod, wire, tube, strip, or mesh.
- **Forming and machining:** The selected titanium stock is cut, formed, and machined into the required anode dimensions and geometry.
- **Welding:** The finished titanium material is welded using argon arc (TIG), resistance, or arc welding to ensure sound welds with high mechanical strength.
- **Roughening treatment:** The processed substrate is sandblasted or acid-etched to improve adhesion between the substrate and the coating and to enlarge the anode's effective surface area.
- **Flattening annealing:** After machining and sandblasting, the substrate may be deformed due to processing stress. High-temperature annealing eliminates internal stress and makes the material flatter.
- **Pickling and etching:** After annealing, a dense layer of titanium dioxide forms on the product surface. This oxide layer must be etched away before coating: the substrates are boiled in an oxalic acid bath, which dissolves the blue annealing oxide and leaves a uniformly roughened surface.
- **Coating solution preparation:** Precious-metal loading is tailored to each industry and application; the ratio and order in which raw materials are added must be strictly controlled.
- **Coating processing:** The prepared coating solution is evenly applied to the substrate surface, dried, and then sintered. This process is repeated 18 to 22 times to meet the corresponding industry requirements for precious metal content.
- **Inspection:** Every anode is inspected for coating appearance, uniformity, porosity, and accelerated service life to verify compliance with industry and customer standards.
- **Packaging:** Qualified anodes are carefully packed, with protection to keep the coated surfaces free from scratches and damage.

## Application fields of titanium anode

Titanium anodes are used across many industries.

### Chlor-alkali industry

Titanium anodes are widely used in the production of caustic soda by the traditional diaphragm method and the ion-exchange membrane method. They resist corrosion by both chlorine and caustic solutions. Compared with graphite anodes, their service life increases significantly — the service life of graphite anodes is generally 8 months, while titanium anodes can last more than 6 years. They can work at a high current density to improve production efficiency. Due to the fine bubbles generated on their surface and their rapid detachment, the resistance between the electrodes and the cell voltage are reduced. This avoids pollution of the electrolyte and cathode products, improving both chlorine purity and caustic concentration.

### Hydrometallurgy

Titanium anodes are used in the electrolytic extraction of non-ferrous metals such as copper and nickel. They remain stable in relatively harsh electrolyte environments, overcome the corrosion and dissolution problems of some traditional electrode materials, can be reused multiple times, and reduce production costs. They also improve current efficiency and the purity of the extracted metals without causing secondary pollution to the products.

### Electroplating industry

Titanium anodes serve as insoluble anodes in various electroplating processes, such as nickel plating, gold plating, chromium plating, zinc plating, and copper plating. Their surface carries a coating of precious metal oxides with high electrochemical catalytic performance. The oxygen evolution overpotential is lower than that of traditional lead alloy insoluble anodes, which is energy-saving and highly stable, and the coating does not contaminate the plating solution. It can reduce the cell voltage and save power consumption under the same conditions, and it maintains good chemical and electrochemical stability throughout the electroplating process.

### Electrolytic copper foil

In the production of electrolytic copper foil, titanium anodes operate stably in the electrolytic solution, provide a uniform current distribution, and contribute to the formation of electrolytic copper foil with uniform thickness, a smooth surface, and excellent performance.

### Sewage treatment

- **Industrial wastewater treatment** (such as cyanide-containing wastewater in electroplating plants): Titanium anodes oxidize or reduce heavy-metal ions and other contaminants so that they precipitate out or convert into harmless species. They use strongly oxidizing substances, such as the hypochlorite generated in situ, to decompose organic pollutants.
- **Hospital sewage treatment:** Titanium anodes can kill microorganisms such as pathogens in hospital sewage, effectively purifying the wastewater.

### Aluminum foil formation

During the aluminum foil formation process, titanium anodes help improve the formation quality and enhance the performance of the aluminum foil. They work stably in the specific electrolyte, providing suitable electrochemical conditions for the formation reaction, enabling the formation of a uniform, dense oxide film on the aluminum foil surface, and thereby enhancing its corrosion resistance, insulation, and other properties.

### Environmental protection

- **Disinfection of swimming pool water and domestic water:** Titanium anodes generate powerful oxidants such as hypochlorous acid in situ, which breaks down organic pollutants — making them ideal for disinfecting and purifying drinking and domestic water without chemical residues. When used for the disinfection of food utensils, they avoid the chemical residue problems brought by traditional disinfection methods.
- **Treatment of cooling circulating water:** Titanium anodes effectively control the growth of microorganisms and algae in cooling circulating water, reduce scaling and corrosion, ensure efficient and stable operation of the cooling water system, and reduce the discharge of high-salinity water.
- **Degradation of organic wastewater:** Titanium anodes oxidatively degrade organic pollutants such as dyes and auxiliaries in dyeing and finishing wastewater, reducing indicators such as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).

### Electrolytic organic synthesis

Titanium anodes serve as electrodes in organic synthesis, providing a specific electrochemical environment that promotes reactions in a more efficient, green, and controllable manner and reduces side reactions.

### Cathodic protection

As auxiliary anodes, titanium anodes form a circuit with the protected metal structure and provide electrons to it, keeping the protected metal at a relatively stable potential and avoiding or reducing corrosion.

### Electrolytic hydrogen production

As efficient electrode materials, titanium anodes promote the water electrolysis reaction and improve the production efficiency and purity of hydrogen.

### Electrolytic phosphating

Through electrolysis, the components in the phosphating solution undergo a chemical reaction on the metal surface to form a phosphate conversion coating. This coating typically offers good corrosion and wear resistance as well as strong adhesion, improving the protective performance and coating effect of the metal surface.

### Energy storage batteries

Energy storage batteries store electrical energy in the form of chemical energy and release it when needed. Common types include lithium-ion batteries, lead-acid batteries, and flow batteries. Titanium anodes are used in flow batteries and can support large-scale, long-term energy storage needs, such as energy storage for large wind farms and solar power stations.

## Why choose us?

Our products offer stable quality, excellent performance, and a high degree of customization.

**Deep technical expertise:** Since our founding in 2006, we have continuously refined our coating formulations, production processes, and electrode structural designs, building a mature core technology platform and hands-on experience across many industries.

**Professional R&D team:** Over the past 20 years, we have built a team of seasoned R&D engineers with deep expertise spanning materials science and electrochemistry.

## Precautions for the use of titanium anodes

### Installation and connection

When installing, ensure a firm and reliable connection between the electrode and the power supply to avoid poor contact, which leads to increased resistance and local overheating. For example, when connecting wires, ensure sufficient contact area and use appropriate fastening screws. Avoid causing mechanical damage to the electrode surface during installation, which could affect the integrity of the coating. For instance, it is strictly prohibited to touch the coating surface with sharp tools.

### Electrolyte environment

Select the appropriate electrolyte composition and concentration according to the specific electrolysis process and requirements. For example, in some cases, an excessively high acid concentration may accelerate the corrosion of the coating. Control the impurity content in the electrolyte, especially impurities harmful to the coating, such as fluoride ions. In an electrolyte containing fluoride ions, for example, even a trace amount can cause severe damage to the coating.

### Working current and voltage

Operate strictly within the designed current density and voltage range to avoid overcurrent or overvoltage. Exceeding the allowable current density may cause the coating to overheat and peel off, while an excessively high voltage may increase electrolytic side reactions. During electrolysis, the current and voltage should rise and fall smoothly; sudden, significant fluctuations should be avoided when starting or stopping the equipment.

### Electrolysis temperature control

Pay attention to temperature changes during the electrolysis process. Excessive temperature will affect the electrocatalytic activity and electrolysis efficiency of the coating. When working in an environment with a high electrolyte temperature, add heat exchange equipment to the electrolytic cell to ensure a normal electrolysis temperature. During electrolysis, avoid sharp temperature changes, as they create thermal stress between the precious metal coating and the titanium substrate, reducing the binding force between the coating and the substrate and shortening the anode's service life.

### Regular inspection and maintenance

Regularly inspect the coating on the titanium anode surface to check for abnormal phenomena such as coating peeling or scratching. If minor damage to the coating is found, repair or replace it in time to avoid oxidation and corrosion at the damaged areas. Regularly clean the attachments on the anode surface to prevent them from affecting the conductive performance of the electrode.

### Storage of titanium anodes

When titanium anodes are not in use during shutdown, remove them from the equipment, rinse them clean, and store them in a dry, well-ventilated environment. Avoid storing them in damp places or areas with corrosive gases. During storage, protect the anodes from mechanical impact and physical scratching to avoid damage to the coating surface.

## Titanium anode R&D

Continuous innovation drives everything we do. Our current R&D focuses on higher electrocatalytic activity, lower energy consumption, longer coating service life, and next-generation IrO₂–Ta₂O₅ coating systems — ensuring our titanium anodes keep pace with the evolving needs of electrochemical industries worldwide.

## FAQ

### What is a titanium anode (DSA anode)?

A titanium anode — also called a dimensionally stable anode (DSA) or mixed-metal-oxide (MMO) anode — is an insoluble anode made of a titanium substrate coated with precious-metal oxides such as RuO₂, IrO₂, Ta₂O₅, PbO₂, or SnO₂. Developed in the 1960s, it has largely replaced graphite, lead-alloy, and platinum anodes thanks to its dimensional stability, corrosion resistance, low overpotential, and long service life.

### Which coating type should I choose: Ru-Ir, Ir-Ta, platinized, or PbO₂?

It depends on the reaction at the anode. Ru-Ir coatings are chlorine-evolution anodes, ideal for sodium hypochlorite generators, seawater electrolysis, and brine chlor-alkali systems. Ir-Ta coatings are oxygen-evolution anodes for copper foil electrodeposition, acidic electroplating, and wastewater electrolysis. Platinized titanium (Pt/Ti) suits precious metal plating, cathodic protection, and precision electrolysis. Ti/PbO₂ is designed for recalcitrant organic wastewater degradation, hard chrome plating, and electrowinning in strong-acid electrolytes.

### Why is titanium used as the substrate?

Titanium combines outstanding corrosion resistance, high mechanical strength, low density (4.51 g/cm³), and excellent formability. It stays stable in strong acids, alkalis, and other aggressive media, withstands the stress and vibration inside large electrolytic cells, keeps the anode assembly light, and can be fabricated into virtually any shape — mesh, tube, plate, rod, or ribbon — to fit different electrolyzers.

### Can bare titanium be used directly as an anode?

No. Titanium is a valve metal: under anodic polarization its surface instantly forms a dense, passive oxide film with very high resistance, which blocks electron transfer — so bare titanium conducts poorly as an anode. (The same film makes titanium an excellent cathode/current collector.) Applying an electrocatalytic precious-metal-oxide coating overcomes this passivation and enables efficient anodic operation.

### What titanium grade do you use for anode substrates?

We generally use Grade 1 (Gr1) titanium, selected for its high purity, excellent corrosion resistance, and formability. Stock forms include sheet, plate, rod, wire, tube, strip, and expanded mesh, chosen according to your drawings.

### What does your manufacturing process look like?

A 10-step process: material selection → forming and machining → welding (argon-arc/resistance/arc) → roughening (sandblasting or acid etching) → annealing and flattening → oxalic-acid etching → coating-solution preparation → repeated brush-coating, drying, and sintering (18–22 cycles) → quality inspection (appearance, uniformity, porosity, accelerated life) → protective packaging.

### How long do titanium anodes last compared with graphite?

In chlor-alkali service, titanium anodes typically last more than 6 years, versus roughly 8 months for graphite anodes. Exact life depends on current density, electrolyte chemistry, and temperature — contact us with your operating conditions for an estimate.

### Which industries and applications are titanium anodes used in?

Chlor-alkali and chlorate production, hydrometallurgy (Cu/Ni/Zn electrowinning), electroplating (Ni, Au, Cr, Zn, Cu), electrolytic copper foil, industrial and hospital wastewater treatment, swimming pool and domestic water disinfection, cooling-water treatment, aluminum foil formation, organic synthesis, cathodic protection, hydrogen production by water electrolysis, electrolytic phosphating, and flow-battery energy storage.

### What operating precautions should I follow?

(1) Make firm, low-resistance electrical connections and never scratch the coating during installation. (2) Keep current density and voltage within design limits — overcurrent causes coating overheating and peeling. (3) Ramp current and voltage up and down smoothly when starting or stopping. (4) Avoid sharp temperature swings, which create thermal stress between the coating and the substrate. (5) Control harmful impurities in the electrolyte — trace fluoride ions can severely attack the coating.

### How should titanium anodes be stored during shutdowns?

Remove the anodes from the electrolyzer, rinse them clean, and store them in a dry, well-ventilated place away from corrosive gases. Protect the coated surfaces from mechanical impact and scratching during handling and storage.

### How often do anodes need inspection and maintenance?

Inspect the coating regularly for peeling, scratches, or other damage, and repair or replace the anode promptly if defects are found — exposed substrate will oxidize and corrode. Clean deposits off the anode surface periodically so they do not impair conductivity.

### Do you offer custom titanium anodes?

Yes. Since 2006, we have designed and manufactured custom-coated titanium anodes — coating formulation, precious-metal loading, substrate geometry, and size can all be tailored to your electrolyzer and process. Send us your drawings or operating conditions for a technical proposal.

## Contact
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/contact/
> Don’t Hesitate to contact Us anytime with questions.

#### Email

[info@mmo-anode.com](mailto:info@mmo-anode.com)

#### Call Us

+86-917-3803535

#### Address

No. 66, West Chanfeng Road, High-Tech Zone, Baoji, Shaanxi, China

## FAQ
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/faq/
> Frequently asked questions on MMO titanium anodes: coating selection, service life, and high-current-density operation.

## FAQ – Titanium Anodes

Browse our frequently asked questions to learn more about [titanium anodes,](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product-tag/titanium-anode/) including product features, selection guidance, application solutions, maintenance, customization and after-sales service. If you have further inquiries, feel free to contact our professional team for tailored support.

### Basic Product Knowledge

#### What are titanium anodes, and what are their core advantages?

Titanium anodes are high-performance electrochemical electrodes composed of pure titanium substrate (Grade 1/Grade 2) and precious metal [mixed metal oxide (MMO)](https://www.mmo-anode.com/coated-titanium-anode/) catalytic coatings. Compared with traditional lead, graphite and magnesium anodes, they feature excellent corrosion resistance, low cell voltage, low power consumption, high current efficiency and long service life. They also produce no pollution during operation, ensure high purity of electrolytic products, and their titanium substrate can be reused after recoating, greatly reducing overall operating costs.

#### What are the main types of titanium anodes you provide?

We offer a full range of titanium anode products, including plate type, mesh type, tube type, rod type and strip type titanium anodes. All specifications can be customized according to customer drawings and working conditions. Common coating types cover ruthenium-iridium, iridium-tantalum, platinum and other composite coatings to adapt to different electrolyte environments.

#### What is the typical service life of MMO titanium anodes?

The service life depends on working current density, electrolyte composition, temperature and operating environment. Under standard industrial working conditions, conventional ruthenium-based coated anodes last 1–3 years, and high-performance iridium-based coated anodes can serve 3–20 years, far longer than conventional sacrificial anodes. Stable operation and standardized maintenance can further extend their service life.

### Selection & Application Guidance

#### How to choose the right titanium anode coating for my working condition?

The coating selection is based on your electrolyte environment: 1) **Ruthenium-iridium coating:** Ideal for chloride-containing environments (seawater desalination, brine electrolysis, wastewater dechlorination) with high catalytic activity and cost performance; 2) **Iridium-tantalum coating:** Suitable for strong acidic, high-temperature and high-corrosion environments (sulfuric acid electrolysis, industrial wastewater treatment) with ultra-strong corrosion resistance; 3) **Platinum coating: **Applied in high-precision electroplating and ultra-pure water preparation scenarios requiring stable performance.

#### What industries and scenarios are titanium anodes widely used in?

Titanium anodes are widely applied in all electrochemical industries, including wastewater treatment (organic wastewater degradation, heavy metal removal), electroplating industry (copper, nickel, zinc electroplating), seawater desalination and anti-fouling, brine electrolysis, chemical electrolysis, cathodic protection of ships and pipelines, as well as swimming pool water disinfection and electrolytic sterilization.

#### Can titanium anodes work in high temperature and high current density environments?

Yes. Our high-quality MMO titanium anodes support stable operation within a temperature range of 10–60℃ and can adapt to high current density working conditions. Custom high-temperature resistant coatings are available for extreme high-temperature and high-load industrial scenarios to ensure continuous and efficient operation.

### Customization & Technical Support

#### Do you support customized titanium anodes?

Absolutely. We provide one-stop customized services, including personalized customization of anode shape (plate, mesh, tube, special shape), size, substrate thickness, coating type and coating area. We can produce according to customers’ drawings, samples and actual working condition parameters to meet the needs of special industrial scenarios.

#### What technical parameters can you provide for reference?

We can provide detailed technical data including anode size specifications, coating thickness, current density range, working voltage, service life parameters, electrochemical performance test reports, and corrosion resistance test data. We also provide professional parameter matching suggestions according to customers’ electrolytic tank size, electrolyte formula and production requirements.

#### What is a titanium anode and what is it used for?

A titanium anode is an electrochemical electrode made from a titanium substrate coated with mixed metal oxide (MMO) or platinum. It is widely used in electroplating, water treatment, electrowinning, and cathodic protection due to its excellent corrosion resistance, dimensional stability, and long service life. The coating catalyzes the desired electrochemical reaction while the titanium base provides structural integrity and corrosion resistance.

#### What are the advantages of MMO coated titanium anodes?

MMO coated titanium anodes offer superior corrosion resistance, high dimensional stability, long operational life (1-5 years depending on application), low overpotential, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness compared to traditional graphite or lead anodes. They maintain consistent performance over time, can operate in harsh environments including seawater and acidic solutions, and are environmentally friendly as they do not introduce contaminants into the electrolyte.

#### How do I choose the right titanium anode coating for my application?

The coating selection depends on your electrolyte environment: Ruthenium-Iridium (RuIrO2) coatings are ideal for chloride-rich environments like seawater electrochlorination; Iridium-Tantalum (IrTaO2) coatings are best for oxygen-evolving applications like electroplating and electrowinning; Platinum-coated anodes are preferred for high-purity electroplating applications. Factors to consider include current density, electrolyte composition, temperature, and desired service life. Contact our technical team for application-specific recommendations.

#### What is a titanium filter and what are its benefits?

A titanium filter is a porous titanium component used for precision liquid filtration. Benefits include excellent corrosion resistance (suitable for acids, alkalis, and seawater), high temperature tolerance (up to 300°C), mechanical strength, uniform pore size distribution, and the ability to be regenerated through backwashing or ultrasonic cleaning for repeated use. They are ideal for filtering electroplating baths, chemical solutions, and process water in harsh environments where polymer filters would degrade.

#### Do you provide custom titanium anode manufacturing services?

Yes, we offer fully customized titanium anode manufacturing services. We can produce anodes in various shapes (mesh, plate, rod, tube, wire, basket) and dimensions, with customized coating formulations (RuIrO2, IrTaO2, Pt) and thicknesses to meet specific application requirements. Our engineering team works closely with clients from design through production, including prototype development, testing, and optimization. Typical lead time for custom orders is 2-4 weeks depending on complexity.

## Product
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/
> Qixin Titanium is a professional manufacturer of MMO coated titanium anodes, titanium filter elements and electroplating consumables.

## Technical
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/technical/
> Qixin Titanium manufactures DSA-coated titanium anodes. Coating R&D and production for Ru-Ir and Ir-Ta systems, with full material traceability.

## Services
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/services/
> Custom titanium anodes, sintered filter elements, and electroplating consumables, built to your drawings and duty.

## Our Products & Services

### The company was founded in 2006.
Titanium anode Titanium anodes is the core part of the electrochemical industry, and is divided into chlorine evolution anodes and oxygen evolution anodes.
Titanium materials Titanium materials, thanks to their unique properties, play an important role in the chemical industry, medical equipment, high-end manufacturing and other fields.
Titanium filter element Titanium filter cartridges have excellent corrosion resistance and can operate reliably in harsh environments such as strong acids, strong alkalis, and strong oxidants.
Electroplating Consumables Titanium consumables for the electroplating industry are made of pure titanium (Gr1/Gr2) and categorized into anode baskets, plating racks and conductive components.
Titanium Flange Titanium flanges are detachable pipe connectors manufactured by forging ommercially pure titanium or titanium alloy followed by machining.
CNC and others The use of titanium machined parts continues to grow across diverse fields, driving technological advancement.

## About
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/about/
> Founded 2006 in Baoji, China's Titanium Valley. 6,000 m² factory, 300+ clients in 25+ countries, ISO 9001 certified with 10+ patents. Meet our coating R&D team.
Our Story

## From Titanium Valley to the World

Founded in 2006 in Baoji, China's renowned "Titanium Valley," Baoji Qixin Titanium Co., Ltd. began as a specialized manufacturer of mixed metal oxide (MMO) [coated titanium anodes](https://www.mmo-anode.com/category/coated-titanium-anode/). Over the past 20+ years, we have expanded our product portfolio to include platinized [titanium anodes](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product-cat/titanium-anode/), porous titanium filters, and a comprehensive range of electroplating consumables.

Our strategic location in Baoji provides direct access to premium titanium raw materials and a mature titanium industry supply chain, enabling us to deliver high-quality products at competitive prices. Today, we serve more than 300 clients across 25+ countries, including leading companies in electroplating, water treatment, electrowinning, and cathodic protection industries.
Our Values

## What Drives Us Forward
Quality First ISO 9001:2015 certified processes ensure every product meets rigorous international standards before it reaches our customers.
Technical Innovation Our R&D team continuously develops advanced coating technologies and manufacturing processes to push performance boundaries.
Customer Focus We build long-term partnerships by understanding our customers' unique needs and delivering solutions that exceed expectations.
Global Reach With clients in 25+ countries, we understand diverse industrial requirements and provide localized support worldwide.

## About Qixin Titanium

### With over 20 years of experience

## Our Manufacturing Capabilities

Our 6,000+ square meter manufacturing facility in Baoji is equipped with state-of-the-art production and testing equipment:

- **Coating Department:** Thermal decomposition coating lines for [MMO (RuIrO2, IrTaO2) coatings](https://www.mmo-anode.com/coated-titanium-anode/) with precise thickness control and uniformity.
- **Electroplating Department:** Platinum electroplating systems for platinized titanium anode production with thicknesses from 0.5 to 5 microns.
- **Powder Metallurgy:** Sintering furnaces for porous titanium filter production with controlled atmosphere and temperature profiles.
- **Fabrication Workshop:** CNC cutting, welding (TIG), and forming equipment for custom anode and basket manufacturing.
- **Quality Testing Lab:** XRF coating thickness measurement, accelerated life testing, adhesion testing, and electrochemical characterization.
- **R&D Center:** Dedicated laboratory for new coating development, process optimization, and application-specific product customization.

## Our Mission & Vision

Provide stable and reliable metal oxide coated titanium electrodes for the electrochemical industry.

- [Ruthenium-Iridium Coated Titanium Anode](https://www.mmo-anode.com/ruthenium-iridium-titanium-anode/)
- [Iridium-Tantalum Coated Titanium Anode](https://www.mmo-anode.com/iridium-tantalum-titanium-anode/)
- [Platinum Coated Titanium Anode](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/platinum-plated-titanium-anode/)
- [PbO₂ Coated Ti Anode](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/pbo2-titanium-anode/)

## Titanium Anode Geometry
Plate Flat anodes for copper foil, strip plating, and wastewater.

### Rod

Solid and copper cored rods for ICCP and plating.

### Wire

Bendable anodes for deep well CP and woven mesh.

### Tube

Cylindrical anodes for groundbeds and flowing electrolytes.

### Mesh

High surface area for copper foil and water treatment.

## Titanium anodes
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/
> ISO 9001 certified China manufacturer of custom DSA/MMO coated titanium anodes, titanium filters & electroplating consumables.
**Professional Manufacturer of Titanium Anodes**

# Custom Titanium Anode Manufacturer for Harsh Electrochemical Environments

ISO 9001 certified manufacturer specializing in MMO coated titanium anodes, platinized titanium anodes, titanium filters, and electroplating consumables. We serve the electroplating, water treatment, electrowinning, and cathodic protection industries, with 20+ years of experience.

Years of Experience

**Countries Served**

Clients Served

ISO 9001

Certified Quality
Our Products

## Titanium Anodes, Filter Elements & Electroplating Consumables Made in Baoji, China

We manufacture titanium anodes, filter elements, and electroplating consumables, all built to perform in aggressive electrochemical environments.

### Titanium Anodes

MMO coated and platinized variants for electroplating, water treatment, electrowinning, and cathodic protection.

### Titanium Filters

Porous titanium filter cartridges and tubes for precision liquid filtration in electroplating, chemical processing, and water treatment.

### Electroplating Consumables

Titanium baskets, anode bags, mesh baskets, and auxiliary anodes for electroplating processes.

## Titanium Anode Types

### What Is an MMO Titanium Anode?

An MMO (mixed metal oxide) titanium anodes is a dimensionally stable anode (DSA): a titanium substrate carrying a precious metal oxide coating, typically ruthenium-iridium or iridium-tantalum oxide, or a plated platinum layer. Used in electroplating, cathodic protection, water treatment, and electrowinning, it combines corrosion resistance with stable cell voltage in aggressive acidic and alkaline electrolytes. Baoji Qixin has manufactured custom MMO anodes since 2006.

- [Ruthenium-Iridium Titanium Anode (CER)](https://www.mmo-anode.com/ruthenium-iridium-titanium-anode/)
- [Iridium-Tantalum Titanium Anode (OER)](https://www.mmo-anode.com/iridium-tantalum-titanium-anode/)
- [Platinum-Plated Titanium Anode (CER/OER)](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/platinum-plated-titanium-anode/)
- [PbO₂ Titanium Anode (OER)](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/pbo2-titanium-anode/)


Why Choose Us

## Why Buyers Choose Qixin

We manufacture high-performance DSA anodes in-house using proprietary precious metal coating technology developed by our R&D team.

- 20+ Years of Experience – Focused solely on titanium anode manufacturing since 2006.
- Global Export – Shipped to over 25 countries including the USA, Germany, and South Korea.
- Fast Customization – Any shape, size, or coating loading. Drawing and quote requests answered within 12 hours.
- Certified & Patented – ISO 9001 certified manufacturer with multiple proprietary patents.
Company Profile

## What 20 Years of Coating Work Looks Like

What sets us apart: batch-to-batch coating consistency backed by an in-house R&D lab and 10+ granted patents.

Founded in 2006, Baoji Qixin Titanium Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Baoji, Shaanxi: China's titanium industry hub and main titanium production base. The company manufactures titanium electrodes for electrochemical applications, titanium mill products for industrial and consumer use, and finished titanium components.
Common Applications

## Titanium Anode Applications

### Key Industrial Applications

Our DSA anodes are widely used in:

- Electroplating & Galvanizing: Zinc, nickel, copper, chrome plating baths.
- Cathodic Protection: Buried pipelines, marine structures, concrete reinforcement.
- Wastewater Treatment: Electro-oxidation of organic pollutants, disinfection.
- Chlor-alkali Industry: Chlorine and sodium hypochlorite generation.
- Electrowinning: Recovery of metals from solutions.
- Ballast Water Treatment: Onboard treatment systems for vessels.

## Featured Products

**Anode solutions matched to your application**

### Anode Geometry

**Rod**

Solid and copper cored rods for ICCP and plating.

**Plate**

Flat anodes for copper foil, strip plating, and wastewater.

**Wire**

Bendable anodes for deep well CP and woven mesh.

**Tube**

Cylindrical anodes for groundbeds and flowing electrolytes.

**Mesh**

High surface area for copper foil and water treatment.

## Coated Titanium Anode Wire
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/coated-titanium-anode-wire/
> MMO coated titanium wire anodes (ASTM B863) for deep well CP, woven mesh, and small cells. 1.0 to 6.0 mm, coils or cut lengths, 48 hour quotes.

## MMO coated titanium wire anodes

An MMO titanium wire anode is an insoluble electrode made from a Grade 2 titanium wire (ASTM B863) coated with a mixed metal oxide (MMO) catalytic layer. The wire form is specified where the anode must bend, weave, or reach into a confined space: deep well anode strings, woven mesh anodes, flexible anode loops, and small cells where a plate or tube will not fit. Coatings are ruthenium iridium oxide (RuO₂-IrO₂) for chlorine evolution and iridium tantalum oxide (IrO₂-Ta₂O₅) for oxygen evolution, applied by thermal decomposition over the full wire surface.

## Key specs at a glance

- Substrate: Grade 2 titanium wire per ASTM B863
- Coating: RuO₂-IrO₂ (chlorine) or IrO₂-Ta₂O₅ (oxygen), 5 to 20 microns
- Diameter: 1.0 to 3.0 mm standard, 0.5 to 6.0 mm on request
- Supply form: coils (50 to 100 m per spool) or straight lengths
- Continuous current density: 100 to 1,000 A/m² depending on duty
- Service life: 2 to 5 years at rated electrolysis conditions; 10+ years in low current cathodic protection

## What Is an MMO Titanium Wire Anode?

An MMO titanium wire anode is a dimensionally stable anode (DSA) in wire form. A drawn titanium wire is the conductive core, and a thin mixed metal oxide (MMO) catalytic layer covers the full outer surface. The wire is drawn from Grade 2 commercially pure titanium, which combines good formability with the corrosion resistance the anode needs in soil, seawater, and electrolytes.

Wire anodes fill a specific niche: they are flexible enough to be bent into anode loops, woven into mesh screens, or strung down a deep well. Because the coating covers the entire circumference, a wire anode presents its full surface to the electrolyte from every direction, which matters in soil backfill and in cells with complex geometry. The trade-off is a smaller cross section than a rod, so the working current per length is lower.

## Coating Systems and Selection

Coating selection follows one rule: match the coating to the reaction the anode must drive.

- **RuO₂-IrO₂ (ruthenium iridium oxide):** the standard coating for chlorine evolution in chloride-rich environments. This is the most common choice for wire anodes because deep well cathodic protection, seawater electrochlorination, and many plating baths are chloride based. The coating generates active chlorine at low overpotential and stays dimensionally stable.
- **IrO₂-Ta₂O₅ (iridium tantalum oxide), typical molar ratio about 70:30:** the standard coating for oxygen evolution in acidic sulfate media. Use it where the wire anode runs in sulfuric or mixed acid duty, such as certain electrowinning and organic oxidation applications. Ruthenium based coatings are not suitable for sustained oxygen evolution in strong acid.

The wire is degreased and etched before coating. The MMO layer is applied in multiple thermal decomposition cycles to a thickness of 5 to 20 microns with a precious metal loading of 5 to 50 g/m², set against your current density and target life. Coated wire can be supplied bare or pre-formed, such as straight lengths, coils, or woven panels.

## Technical Specifications



## Applications

- **Deep well and remote cathodic protection:** wire anodes are strung down deep well anode beds and laid in remote groundbeds for pipelines and storage tanks. The flexibility lets the string follow the well without kinking, and the full circumference coating feeds current evenly into the backfill.
- **Woven mesh anodes:** coated wire is woven into mesh panels for cathodic protection of concrete structures and for electrolysis cells where a woven structure suits the flow field. Woven mesh flexes where expanded mesh cannot.
- **Electroplating and small cells:** wire anodes serve as auxiliary anodes in plating racks, basket anodes for precious metal plating, and electrodes in small laboratory or pilot cells where dimensional flexibility matters.
- **Electrochemical synthesis:** wire electrodes in tubular or packed bed reactors for oxidant generation and organic electrosynthesis, where the wire doubles as both electrode and structural element.

## How to Specify a Wire Anode

Send us these five items and we will confirm the design within 48 hours:

- **Application and environment.** Deep well CP, woven mesh, plating, or synthesis, plus the electrolyte or backfill chemistry. This decides the coating system.
- **Current and length.** The design current per meter of wire and the total length you need, which together set the diameter and loading.
- **Diameter and form.** Wire diameter, and whether you need coils, straight lengths, or pre-formed panels and loops.
- **Connection method.** How the wire will be terminated and connected to the conductor, such as crimp, weld, or splice.
- **Target service life.** We set the precious metal loading against this number, since loading is the main cost driver.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is an MMO titanium wire anode used for?

Wire anodes are used where the anode must bend, weave, or reach into a confined space. The main applications are deep well and remote cathodic protection groundbeds, woven mesh anodes for concrete protection, auxiliary and basket anodes in plating, and electrodes in small or tubular electrolysis cells.

### How long does an MMO titanium wire anode last?

In electrolysis duty at rated conditions, expect 2 to 5 years. In cathodic protection at low current density, the anode typically lasts a decade or more, because coating consumption is measured in milligrams per year. Actual life is set by current density, environment, temperature, and coating loading.

### What wire diameters are available?

Standard diameters are 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 3.0 mm, and we produce 0.5 to 6.0 mm on request. The diameter is chosen against the working current per meter and the mechanical requirements of the installation, such as bending radius in a deep well or weave pattern in a mesh panel.

### Can coated titanium wire be formed after coating?

Forming after coating risks cracking the MMO layer, so we recommend forming first. The wire is bent, woven, or strung into its final shape, and the coating is then applied over the finished geometry. If you need to adjust a shape in the field, keep the bend radius generous and avoid sharp kinks at the coated surface.

## Qixin Titanium Industry factory real scene

Your ordered products will dispatch from Qixin Factory, Baoji, China.

### Manufacturing and testing equipment

## Need coated wire in coils, lengths, or a woven panel?

Send us your application, current per meter, diameter, and supply form. We confirm the coating spec and quotation within 48 hours.

## MMO Titanium Mesh Anode
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/mmo-titanium-mesh-anode/
> MMO titanium mesh anodes on Grade 1 expanded metal (ASTM B265). Ir-Ta for oxygen evolution, Ru-Ir for chlorine. Panels up to 1,200 x 600 mm.

## MMO coated titanium anode mesh for electrolysis

An MMO titanium mesh anode is an insoluble electrode made from an expanded titanium mesh, normally Grade 1 (ASTM B265), coated with a mixed metal oxide (MMO) catalytic layer. The mesh form multiplies the active surface area per unit of projected area, which lowers the real current density on the coating and lets the anode run at higher cell currents in a compact footprint. Coatings are iridium tantalum oxide (**IrO₂-Ta₂O₅**) for oxygen evolution and ruthenium iridium oxide (RuO₂-IrO₂) for chlorine evolution, applied by thermal decomposition.

## Key specs at a glance

- Substrate: Grade 1 titanium expanded mesh per ASTM B265
- Coating: IrO₂-Ta₂O₅ (oxygen) or RuO₂-IrO₂ (chlorine), 5 to 20 microns
- Continuous current density: 500 to 1,200 A/m² of projected area in electrolysis duty
- Standard mesh openings: 6 × 3 mm and 12.7 × 6.5 mm (SWD × LWD)
- Panel size: up to 1,200 × 600 mm, cut to your cell dimensions
- Service life: 2 to 5 years at rated electrolysis conditions

## What Is an MMO Titanium Mesh Anode?

An MMO titanium mesh anode is a dimensionally stable anode (DSA) built on an expanded metal mesh. A solid titanium sheet is slit and stretched to form a diamond pattern of strands and openings, which increases the surface area by roughly 1.5 to 2 times the projected area while keeping the structure open for electrolyte flow and gas escape. The mesh is then coated with a mixed metal oxide (MMO) catalytic layer on both faces.

The open structure matters in electrolysis. Bubbles of oxygen or chlorine escape through the openings instead of blanketing the electrode, so the active surface stays wetted and the cell voltage stays stable. In filtration style applications such as electrocoagulation, the mesh also lets water pass through the anode plane, which plate or solid anodes cannot do.

## Coating Systems and Selection

Coating selection follows one rule: match the coating to the reaction the anode must drive.

- **IrO₂-Ta₂O₅ (iridium tantalum oxide), typical molar ratio about 70:30:** the standard coating for oxygen evolution in acidic sulfate media. It drives the oxygen evolution reaction with a low overpotential and resists dissolution at high anodic potentials. Use it for copper foil formation, copper electrowinning, acid copper plating, electrolytic water treatment, and electrochemical oxidation of organics.
- **RuO₂-IrO₂ (ruthenium iridium oxide):** the standard coating for chlorine evolution in chloride-rich electrolytes. Use it for sodium hypochlorite generation, seawater electrochlorination, swimming pool disinfection, and electrocoagulation in saline water. Ruthenium based coatings are not suitable for sustained oxygen evolution in strong acid.

The mesh is degreased, sandblasted, and acid etched before coating. The MMO layer is built up in multiple thermal decomposition cycles to a thickness of 5 to 20 microns with a precious metal loading of 5 to 50 g/m², set against your current density and target life.

## Technical Specifications



## Applications

- **Electrolytic copper foil:** mesh anodes distribute current uniformly across the drum surface in copper foil cells, and the open structure releases oxygen without trapping gas. IrO₂-Ta₂O₅ coating is standard for the sulfate bath.
- **Electrowinning and electroplating:** copper, nickel, and zinc recovery plus rack and barrel plating lines. The mesh keeps the deposit uniform at the edges where solid anodes tend to throw uneven current.
- **Water treatment:** electrochemical oxidation of refractory organics, electrocoagulation, and disinfection. RuO₂-IrO₂ coating generates active chlorine in saline and brackish water; IrO₂-Ta₂O₅ handles direct oxidation of organics in sulfate media.
- **Cathodic protection:** mesh anodes embedded in concrete for rebar protection and laid in backfill for tank bottom protection, running at low current density for decades.

## How to Specify a Mesh Anode

Send us these five items and we will confirm the design within 48 hours:

- **Application and electrolyte.** Copper foil, plating, water treatment, or cathodic protection, plus the electrolyte chemistry. This decides the coating system.
- **Current density and total current.** The design current in A/m² of projected area and the total current per panel.
- **Panel dimensions.** Width, height, and mesh opening. If you have a cell drawing, send it.
- **Connection type.** Welded lug, threaded bolt, or a bus bar arrangement to your specification.
- **Target service life.** We set the precious metal loading against this number, since loading is the main cost driver.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why choose a mesh anode over a plate anode?

A mesh anode carries more active surface per unit of projected area, roughly 1.5 to 2 times for standard expanded metal, so the real current density on the coating is lower at the same cell current. The open structure also lets gas bubbles escape and, in flow-through cells, lets electrolyte pass through the anode plane. Plates are simpler to machine and handle, but meshes win where surface area and gas release matter.

### How long does an MMO titanium mesh anode last?

In electrolysis duty at 500 to 1,200 A/m² of projected area, expect 2 to 5 years at rated conditions. Actual life depends on current density, electrolyte composition, temperature, and coating loading. In low current cathodic protection service, the anode can last a decade or more. The mesh form lowers the real surface current density, which generally extends life compared with a solid plate at the same cell current.

### What mesh openings are available?

Standard diamond openings are 6 × 3 mm and 12.7 × 6.5 mm (SWD × LWD), from sheet thicknesses of 1.0 to 3.0 mm. We cut panels up to 1,200 × 600 mm and can produce custom openings for specific current distribution or flow requirements.

### Can mesh anodes be used for chlorine and oxygen evolution in the same system?

Not with one coating. RuO₂-IrO₂ is the right coating for chlorine evolution in chloride-rich electrolytes, and IrO₂-Ta₂O₅ is the right coating for oxygen evolution in acidic sulfate media. A ruthenium based coating degrades quickly under sustained oxygen evolution in strong acid. If your bath carries both chloride and significant oxygen evolution, tell us the chemistry and we will recommend the coating that fits the duty.

## Qixin Titanium Industry factory real scene

Your ordered products will dispatch from Qixin Factory, Baoji, China.

## Need a mesh anode cut to your cell or protection layout?

Send us your application, electrolyte, current density, and panel dimensions, with a drawing if you have one. We confirm the coating spec and quotation within 48 hours.

## MMO Titanium Tube Anode
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/titanium-tube-anode/
> MMO coated titanium tube anodes with Ir-Ta or Ru-Ir coating on Grade 1 or 2 titanium (ASTM B338). For ICCP, electroplating, and water treatment.

An MMO titanium tube anode is an insoluble electrode made from a Grade 1 or Grade 2 titanium tube (ASTM B338) with a mixed metal oxide (MMO) coating on the outer surface. The coating is iridium tantalum oxide (IrO₂-Ta₂O₅) for oxygen evolution duty and ruthenium iridium oxide (RuO₂-IrO₂) for chlorine evolution duty, applied by thermal decomposition in multiple layers. Tube anodes are specified when the cell or protection system needs a cylindrical geometry with even current distribution, low pressure drop for flowing electrolyte, and easy gas release along the tube wall.

## Key specs at a glance

- Substrate: Grade 1 / Grade 2 titanium tube per ASTM B338
- Coating: IrO₂-Ta₂O₅ (oxygen) or RuO₂-IrO₂ (chlorine), 5 to 20 microns
- Continuous current density: 500 to 1,200 A/m² in electrolysis duty; about 100 A/m² in soil or freshwater cathodic protection
- Common diameters: 10 to 108 mm, custom sizes available
- Service life: 2 to 5 years at rated electrolysis conditions; 25+ years in low current cathodic protection
- Connections: threaded, welded, or flanged, to your drawing

## What Is an MMO Titanium Tube Anode?

An MMO titanium tube anode is a dimensionally stable anode (DSA) built on a titanium tube. The titanium tube is the structural and conductive base, and a thin mixed metal oxide (MMO) catalytic layer is baked onto its outer surface. "MMO" refers to the coating chemistry: a blend of precious metal oxides such as iridium dioxide (IrO₂), tantalum pentoxide (Ta₂O₅), and ruthenium dioxide (RuO₂).

The coating does the electrochemical work and the titanium stays passive underneath. That is why the anode holds its dimensions over years of operation, unlike sacrificial anodes that are consumed and graphite or cast iron anodes that erode. The tube form adds two practical benefits: electrolyte flows evenly around the tube with a low pressure drop, and gas bubbles generated on the surface rise along the tube wall instead of collecting on a flat face.

## Coating Systems and Selection

Coating selection follows one rule: match the coating to the reaction the anode must drive.

- **IrO₂-Ta₂O₅ (iridium tantalum oxide), typical molar ratio about 70:30:** the standard coating for oxygen evolution in acidic sulfate media. Iridium dioxide catalyzes oxygen evolution with a low overpotential and resists dissolution at high anodic potentials. Tantalum pentoxide stabilizes the coating and slows cracking. Use this coating for copper electrowinning, copper foil formation, acid copper plating, persulfate synthesis, and organic oxidation.
- **RuO₂-IrO₂ (ruthenium iridium oxide):** the standard coating for chlorine evolution in chloride-rich electrolytes. Use this coating for sodium hypochlorite generation, seawater electrochlorination, swimming pool disinfection, and brine electrolysis. Ruthenium based coatings are not suitable for sustained oxygen evolution in strong acid, where iridium tantalum is the defensible choice.

The coating is applied by thermal decomposition: the tube surface is degreased, sandblasted, and acid etched, then coated and fired in repeated cycles until the target thickness of 5 to 20 microns and precious metal loading of 5 to 50 g/m² are reached. Loading is set against your current density and target service life.

## Technical Specifications



## Applications

- **Impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP):** deep well anode strings, buried pipelines, storage tank bottoms, marine structures, and rebar protection in concrete. The tube is threaded into strings or set in coke breeze backfill, running for decades at about 100 A/m² in soil or freshwater and up to 600 A/m² in seawater.
- **Electroplating and electrowinning:** copper, nickel, zinc, and precious metal deposition where a cylindrical anode improves throwing power in barrel and rack lines. IrO₂-Ta₂O₅ coating keeps the bath free of lead contamination.
- **Water treatment and disinfection:** electrochlorination of seawater or brine for cooling water treatment and ballast water, with RuO₂-IrO₂ coating generating active chlorine on demand.
- **Electrochemical synthesis:** persulfate, perchlorate, and other oxidants produced in tubular cells, where the anode doubles as a cell wall element.

## How to Specify a Tube Anode

Send us these five items and we will confirm the design within 48 hours:

- **Application and environment.** Soil, seawater, freshwater, concrete, or an electrolyte bath. This decides the coating system.
- **Current density and total current.** The per anode current and the current density in A/m² your system is designed for.
- **Dimensions.** Tube diameter, wall thickness, length, and whether you need bare titanium end sections for connections.
- **Connection type.** Threaded, welded, or flanged, plus the conductor bar material you plan to use.
- **Target service life.** We set the precious metal loading against this number, since loading is the main cost driver.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is the difference between Ir-Ta and Ru-Ir coated tube anodes?

The coating is matched to the reaction. IrO₂-Ta₂O₅ is for oxygen evolution in acidic sulfate media, such as electrowinning, copper foil, and acid plating. RuO₂-IrO₂ is for chlorine evolution in chloride-rich electrolytes, such as sodium hypochlorite generation and seawater electrochlorination. A ruthenium based coating degrades quickly under sustained oxygen evolution in strong acid, so the two are not interchangeable.

### How long does an MMO titanium tube anode last?

It depends on current density and electrolyte. Under electrolysis service conditions of 500 to 1,200 A/m², a service life of 2 to 5 years can be expected under rated conditions. For cathodic protection operating at approximately 100 A/m² in soil or freshwater, the anode normally outlasts the project design life of 25+ years, as coating consumption is on the order of milligrams per year. Actual service life is determined by current density, temperature, electrolyte chemistry, and coating loading.

### Can MMO tube anodes be recoated?

Yes. When the coating is depleted, we strip the old oxide layer, sandblast and etch the titanium, and reapply a fresh MMO coating. Recoating costs less than a new anode and is common for cathodic protection strings where the tube itself is still sound.

### What current density can an MMO tube anode handle?

For electrolysis duty, continuous operation is typically 500 to 1,200 A/m² depending on the coating and electrolyte. For cathodic protection in soil or freshwater, the design current density is about 100 A/m², and up to about 600 A/m² in seawater. The coating loading and thickness are set to match your rated current density, so send us your number when requesting a quote.

## Qixin Titanium Industry factory real scene

Your ordered products will dispatch from Qixin Factory, Baoji, China.

## Need a tube anode built to your cell or protection system?

Send us your application, current density, dimensions, and target service life. We confirm the coating spec and quotation within 48 hours.

## Titanium Anode Rod
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/titanium-anode-rod/
> Solid titanium rods and copper-cored clad rods for impressed current cathodic protection groundbeds, plating hardware, and industrial electrolysis.

A titanium anode rod is a round dimensionally stable anode in bar form. It comes in two constructions. Solid Grade 2 titanium rod serves as plating stems, hanger bars, and bench electrodes. Titanium-clad copper rod is the workhorse of impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP), where the copper core carries current along the full length and the titanium skin resists the ground or water around it. Both forms take the same mixed metal oxide (MMO) coating used on plate and mesh anodes, applied by thermal decomposition.

## Quick Specifications



## How Titanium Anode Rods Are Made

### Bar stock and machining

Solid rods start as drawn or turned titanium bar, machined to the final diameter and cut to length. Threads, cable cavities, and flat wrenching surfaces are cut before coating, because machining an oxide coated rod later would expose bare titanium at exactly the point that needs protection most.

### Clad rod construction

For cathodic protection rods, a copper core is inserted into a titanium tube and the assembly is drawn or rolled to bond the two metals, then sealed at the ends by welding. The result conducts like copper along its length but presents only titanium to the electrolyte. Current is delivered to the rod through a cable joined to the copper core inside a machined cavity, locked with a set screw or crimped sleeve, and potted in epoxy so ground moisture never reaches the copper.

### Coating

Rods are degreased, sandblasted, and pickled exactly like plates, then coated along the active length by dip application and calcination. The connection cavity and any threaded ends are masked off, so the coating ends where the hardware begins.

## Coating Choice for Rod Anodes

Almost all cathodic protection rods run an Ir-Ta type mixed metal oxide. It evolves oxygen well in the wet, low chloride environment of a coke breeze backfill and tolerates the soil chemistry variations that a groundbed sees over decades. Platinum plated rods are used where the anode sees high chloride water directly, for example inside seawater filled tanks and condenser water boxes, and where the premium for a fully precious metal surface is justified by access cost: an anode at the bottom of a deep well is expensive to replace, so buyers pay for the most forgiving surface available.

## Where Rod Anodes Are Used

### Impressed current groundbeds

ICCP systems for pipelines, tank farms, and plant structures drive protective current through anode beds buried in coke breeze backfill. Rod anodes, usually with a center or dual cable connection so current discharges evenly along the length, are the standard format for both shallow distributed beds and deep well anode assemblies. Design discharge in coke backfill is commonly held around 20 to 50 A/m² of rod surface, which is what lets a groundbed be designed for a 20 year service life.

### Internal protection of equipment

Water boxes of condensers, pump internals, and treated water tanks use short rod or stick anodes installed through the wall or on isolators. The rod format survives flow and gives a compact active area in a small nozzle.

### Plating line hardware

Solid titanium rod, coated or bare, is the default material for anode stems, hanger bars, and cathode conductor bars in plating shops. It carries the bracket and hook hardware above the solution line and stays corrosion free for years of steam and mist exposure.

### Laboratory and pilot electrodes

A coated rod is a convenient, low cost electrode for bench scale electrolysis: easy to clamp, easy to insert through a gland, and available in diameters that suit standard glassware.

## Specifying a Rod Anode

- **Connection position:** a cable joined at one end of a long rod discharges most current near that end. Center connection, or two cables at both ends, balances the discharge.
- **Backfill quality:** in soil duty the coke breeze consumes the primary reaction, and poor backfill, not the coating, is what usually kills a groundbed early.
- **Cable sizing:** the dc cable run usually costs more to replace than the anode, so size it for the full system life, not the first year.
- **Leave threads bare:** specify masked threads. Coating a thread does nothing for the electrochemistry and cracks when the rod is torqued.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Why choose a rod instead of a tube for a groundbed?

Both work. Rods are simpler and cheaper per unit, and their solid or copper cored core handles mechanical loading in deep wells well. Tubes offer more surface area per meter and better current distribution on long anode strings, so the choice usually comes down to the groundbed design current and the installation method.

### How long does an MMO rod anode last?

Coating consumption is proportional to the charge passed, so life follows from design current density and utilization. Groundbeds designed for 20 years of continuous duty are routine practice when the discharge density is held in the normal range and the backfill is sound.

### Can rods be joined to reach deeper wells?

Deep well assemblies are usually built as strings of rods on a common cable and center pipe, rather than physically joined rods. Joining coated rods would create an uncoated weld zone in the active region, which is exactly where failure would start.

### What is the difference between a solid titanium rod and a copper-cored rod?

A solid titanium rod is the economical choice for short anodes under moderate current conditions. A copper‑cored rod features a copper core running its full length, which reduces longitudinal resistance across the entire rod. It is therefore specified for long impressed‑current anodes and deep‑well groundbeds, where the rod must conduct the full circuit current. Since the titanium sheath remains exposed to the electrolyte or coke backfill, its corrosion performance remains identical.

### Are rods used for cathodic protection in soil?

Yes. Mixed metal oxide coated titanium rods are a standard impressed current anode for buried and deep well groundbeds. They are typically installed inside a coke breeze backfill column, which extends the effective anode surface and lowers the groundbed resistance to earth.

### Why is the cable connection made at the center of the rod?

A center feed splits the current into two halves traveling in opposite directions, so every point on the rod surface sees a similar current path length. An end feed forces the full current to travel the entire rod length, which shifts the load toward the connected end and wears the coating there first. Center feeding is the difference between a rod that retires evenly and one that fails at one end while the other end is still healthy.

### Which coating is used for rods in seawater versus soil?

For seawater and brackish water, where chlorine evolution dominates, a ruthenium-iridium mixed metal oxide is the standard. For soil and coke backfill, where the reaction shifts toward oxygen evolution, an iridium-tantalum coating is preferred because it resists the acidic microenvironment that forms at the anode surface.

### Can rods be threaded or machined at the ends?

Yes. Threaded ends, tapped holes, flats, and step turns are all standard machining operations. The coating is applied after machining is complete, so machined features should be finalized before coating, and any field cutting of a coated rod will expose bare titanium that needs to be resealed or kept out of the electrolyte.

### What happens when the coke breeze backfill degrades?

The backfill is a consumable. As it ages it loses conductivity and consolidates, which drives the rod toward the oxygen evolution reaction and acidifies the interface. That is why groundbed design includes backfill quality and quantity, not just the anode itself, and why a failing groundbed often reads as rising circuit resistance long before the rod is consumed.

## Related pages

- [All titanium anode types](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product-cat/titanium-anode/) for a side by side comparison of shapes and coatings
- [Iridium-tantalum coated anodes](https://www.mmo-anode.com/iridium-tantalum-titanium-anode), the standard coating system for cathodic protection rods
- [Titanium anode tubes](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/titanium-tube-anode/) for groundbeds and flowing water systems that need more area per meter

## Titanium Anode Plate
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/titanium-anode-plate/
> How flat MMO titanium anode plates are made, which coating fits each electrolyte, and where plate geometry outperforms mesh, tube, and rod anodes.

A titanium anode plate is a flat dimensionally stable anode (DSA) cut from Grade 1 or Grade 2 titanium sheet and coated with a thermally decomposed precious metal oxide layer. Plate geometry is the right choice when a cell needs a flat, rigid electrode that carries high current across a controlled gap. Electrolytic copper foil deposition, steel strip electrogalvanizing, and the electro-oxidation of industrial wastewater are the three largest uses. This page covers how plate anodes are made, which of the four coating systems fits which electrolyte, and the specification points that decide service life.

## Quick Specifications



Values are typical industry practice. Final dimensions, loading, and current rating come from the cell drawing and the electrolyte the anode will run in.

## How Titanium Anode Plates Are Made

### Cutting and forming

Production starts from mill sheet in the thickness the drawing calls for. The outline is cut by laser, waterjet, or shear, then edges are deburred. Any stiffening bends or flanges are formed before welding, because the coating stage comes last and the finished plate cannot be reworked mechanically.

### Welding

Connection tabs, hangers, and stiffeners are joined by argon-shielded TIG welding with titanium filler. Seams that carry current are welded full penetration so joint resistance stays low and heat during operation does not concentrate at a partial weld. On high current plates the tab itself is often a titanium-clad copper strip, since solid titanium conducts roughly one twentieth as well as copper and a solid titanium tab would run hot.

### Surface preparation

Coating adhesion is decided here, not in the coating room. The plate is degreased in alkaline solution, sandblasted with quartz or alumina media to roughen and clean the surface, then pickled in a hydrofluoric and nitric acid bath to strip the native oxide and activate the metal. Between stages the plate is rinsed in deionized water and never touched by hand again.

### Coating and calcination

The active layer is applied as a solution of precious metal chlorides, typically ruthenium and iridium salts with tantalum or titanium additives, in an alcohol carrier. Each coat is brushed or dipped on, dried, and calcined at 420 to 450 °C, where the salts decompose into a cracked, high surface area oxide. A full loading builds up over 8 to 20 passes, with weight gain tracked per coat. A final anneal stabilizes the layer. Platinum-coated plates skip this route entirely: platinum is electrodeposited directly onto the prepared titanium.

### Quality control

Finished plates are checked for total coating loading by weight gain, adhesion by thermal shock and bend testing, surface uniformity by color inspection, and joint resistance at the tab. For critical duty, sample plates run an accelerated life test in the specified electrolyte at elevated current density to confirm the coating formulation before the batch ships.

## Coating Options



The selection logic is straightforward. First identify the anode reaction: chlorine evolution calls for Ru-Ir, oxygen evolution for Ir-Ta or PbO₂. Then check the electrolyte for fluoride, which attacks the titanium substrate itself under anodic polarization. In fluoride bearing baths a titanium substrate is the wrong choice regardless of coating, and platinized niobium is the usual substitute. Finally match current density to loading: harder duty justifies heavier loading and shorter recoat intervals.

## Where Plate Anodes Are Used

### Electrolytic copper foil

Battery grade and standard copper foil is electrodeposited from sulfate baths onto cathode drums. Insoluble Ir-Ta coated titanium anodes keep the anode gap and current distribution stable across the full foil width for the whole campaign, with copper replenished through oxide dissolution rather than anode consumption. That stability is what thin, high tensile foil specifications demand.

### Steel strip plating

High speed electrogalvanizing and electrotinning lines run oxygen evolving anodes at current densities far above what lead alloy anodes tolerate long term. Titanium plates with Ir-Ta based coatings hold their geometry, so the anode to strip gap does not drift, and they remove the lead handling and sludge disposal that comes with soluble lead anodes.

### Industrial wastewater electro-oxidation

Refractory organics such as dyes, phenols, and landfill leachate organics break down at oxygen evolving anodes. Plate packs give the reactor a large active area in a compact frame, and the same hardware serves cyanide destruction and nitrite oxidation duties.

### Brine electrochlorination

Packaged electrochlorination skids that generate sodium hypochlorite on site from brine or seawater often use Ru-Ir coated plate packs where the water flow is managed through a defined channel rather than around a tube bundle.

### General electrochemistry

Diaphragm cells, pilot plants, and research rigs use plate anodes because a flat plate is easy to fixture at a precise gap and easy to have recut or recoated when the study changes.

## Specifying a Plate Anode

- **Thickness and rigidity:** a large, thin plate flexes with flow and temperature cycling, and flexing cracks the oxide coating. Spec the thickness for rigidity, not just for corrosion allowance.
- **Tab ampacity:** size the tab or stud for the full rectifier current, not the average. Ask for copper-cored tabs above a few hundred amperes per connection.
- **One side or two:** double sided coating doubles the active area but the back face only earns its cost if the cell geometry actually uses it.
- **Masked contact zone:** the clamped or bolted area should be left bare and protected, otherwise the contact will eat the coating.
- **Reverse current:** brief polarity reversal, for example from a miswired rectifier or a tripped interlock, damages MMO coatings quickly. If the control system can reverse, say so at ordering.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Can a titanium plate anode replace a lead anode?

In oxygen evolving duties in sulfate chemistry, yes, and steel strip plating lines have been converting for exactly that reason. In hard chromium plating from chromic acid, lead alloy anodes still hold the field, because the chemistry relies on the lead dioxide film that forms on the lead surface.

### Why is the tab sometimes copper cored?

Titanium is a poor electrical conductor compared with copper. On high current plates, a solid titanium tab long enough to reach the bus would waste voltage and run hot, so a copper core inside a titanium skin carries the current while the skin survives the electrolyte.

### What limits single plate size?

Three things in practice: the size of sheet the mill supplies, the dimensions of the coating oven, and handling. Very large anode areas are usually built as several plates on a common frame instead of one oversized sheet.

### What titanium grade is used for anode plates?

Titanium Grade 1 and Grade 2 (ASTM B265) are the standard substrates. Grade 2 is the default choice for most electrochemical duty because it combines good formability with adequate strength. Grade 1 is specified where deep drawing or tight bending radii are required during fabrication.

### Can plates be cut to custom dimensions and shapes?

Yes. Plates are sheared, laser cut, or waterjet cut to drawing, including slots, holes, and irregular outlines. Typical thicknesses run from 1 to 5 mm. Send your drawing and target current density, and the fabrication method will be matched to the tolerance you need.

### Which coating should I choose for copper foil production?

Iridium-based coatings, typically iridium-tantalum oxide, are the standard for acid sulfate copper foil electrolysis. The iridium oxide layer carries the anodic load while tantalum stabilizes the microstructure, which keeps the coating dimensionally stable at high current density in low pH electrolyte.

### Why does a fluoride-containing electrolyte require a different substrate?

Fluoride ions attack the passive titanium oxide film that normally protects the substrate. Once that film dissolves, the titanium itself begins to corrode under anodic polarization, and no precious metal coating can save it. For fluoride baths, a niobium substrate is specified instead, because niobium forms a stable protective film in fluoride media.

### Do plate anodes need a fixed mounting orientation?

No, but the electrode gap must be held consistent, because current distribution follows geometry. A plate mounted closer to the cathode on one edge will carry a disproportionate share of the current on that edge and wear its coating faster. Parallel alignment with insulated spacers or rack mounting is the normal practice.

## Related pages

- [All titanium anode types](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product-cat/titanium-anode/), with the coating and geometry options side by side
- [Iridium-tantalum coated anodes](https://www.mmo-anode.com/iridium-tantalum-titanium-anode), the oxygen evolution coating most plate anodes run
- [PbO2 titanium anodes](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/pbo2-titanium-anode) for aggressive oxidation duty
- **Titanium anode tubes,** the usual alternative when the cell uses flowing electrolyte

## Titanium Anodes for Marine Electrochlorination
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/titanium-anodes-for-marine-electrochlorination/
> MMO titanium anodes for marine electrochlorination: Ru-Ir coating, 8 to 15 g/m2 loading, 3 to 7 year life. Send drawings, quote within 12 hours.

## MMO Coated Electrodes for Boat Seawater Systems

Every boat that draws raw seawater for engine cooling, air conditioning, or refrigeration faces the same enemy. Barnacle larvae, mussel spat, and bacterial biofilm enter through the seacock and begin colonizing the inside of strainers, pipes, and heat exchangers. Within weeks, flow rates drop. Pump heads rise. Compressors trip on high pressure. The traditional fix is acid descaling, a messy and corrosive procedure that takes a boat out of service.

## Why Titanium Anodes Matter in Small Boat Electrochlorination

Electrochlorination offers a cleaner alternative. A small electrolytic cell installed in the raw water line generates sodium hypochlorite on demand by passing a low DC current through titanium electrodes immersed in flowing seawater. The chlorine dose is tiny, roughly comparable to municipal drinking water, yet enough to prevent larvae from settling and biofilm from establishing. The entire system lives or dies by one component, the anode.

A marine electrochlorination anode must survive continuous immersion in aerated seawater while carrying current at a voltage low enough to run from a 12V or 24V battery bank. Graphite and lead anodes corrode and shed particles. [Platinum clad electrodes](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/platinum-plated-titanium-anode/) work but cost far more than a small vessel owner expects. The industry standard solution is a dimensionally stable anode, or DSA, built from pure titanium coated with a mixed metal oxide catalyst of ruthenium and iridium oxides.

## How the MMO Titanium Anode Works

The anode performs two jobs at once. The **titanium substrate** provides mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. Titanium naturally forms a thin, self healing titanium dioxide passivation layer when polarized anodically, which prevents the base metal from dissolving in seawater. On top of that substrate, a thermal decomposition process deposits a micrometers thick layer of ruthenium dioxide, iridium dioxide, and titanium dioxide.

This mixed metal oxide coating is the actual catalyst. When DC current flows, chloride ions in seawater lose electrons at the anode surface and form chlorine gas. The chlorine immediately reacts with water to form hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ion, collectively called free available chlorine. These species diffuse into the bulk seawater and oxidize the proteins and cell membranes of any organism passing through.

Ruthenium oxide provides the low overpotential for chlorine evolution that keeps cell voltage down, typically 3 to 5 volts at practical current densities. Iridium oxide adds chemical stability and slows coating dissolution under the oxygen evolution side reaction that always competes with chlorine generation in seawater. Titanium dioxide acts as a stabilizer and improves coating adhesion. The ratio of these three oxides is tuned for seawater service, not for chlor alkali cells or sulfate based plating baths.

## Technical Specifications



## Selecting the Right Anode for Your Vessel

Small vessel systems rarely exceed 50 gallons per minute of raw water flow. At that scale, the electrolytic cell is compact, and the anode area is measured in square decimeters rather than square meters. The first design choice is geometry.

Expanded mesh anodes are the most common choice for flow through cells because the open area lets seawater pass with minimal pressure drop while the two sided surface provides active area. Flat plate anodes suit parallel plate cell designs where the cathode is a stainless steel or titanium plate facing the anode. Tubular anodes work well in concentric cell designs where the cathode is the cell body itself.

The second choice is coating loading. For a weekend boat that runs the generator and air conditioning only a few hours per week, a standard 8 gram per square meter noble metal loading is sufficient and economical. For a liveaboard vessel or a commercial boat that runs cooling systems 12 or more hours per day, specify 12 to 15 grams per square meter. The extra coating directly translates to longer service life because the wear mechanism is gradual loss of catalyst through dissolution and spalling.

The third choice is current density. Running an anode below 500 A/m² wastes active area because the cell voltage drops only marginally and the capital cost per amp increases. Running above 1500 A/m² in continuous service accelerates coating loss and can cause local overheating at the electrode surface. Most small marine systems operate between 800 and 1200 A/m², a sweet spot that balances chlorine yield, power draw, and anode life.

A useful rule of thumb for sizing. To generate 1 gram per hour of chlorine as NaOCl from seawater at roughly 35 parts per thousand salinity, you need approximately 0.95 amp hours of current at the anode, assuming a typical current efficiency of 80 percent. A 5 amp cell therefore produces about 5 grams of chlorine per hour, enough to maintain a residual of 0.2 to 0.5 milligrams per liter in a 10 gallon per minute flow. That residual is well below the level that corrodes bronze or rubber components, yet high enough to prevent settlement.

## Installation Best Practices

The anode is the most expensive wear item in the cell, so a few installation details directly affect how long it lasts.

- Keep the anode and cathode properly spaced. A gap of 3 to 8 millimeters is typical for small cells. Too narrow and calcium and magnesium scale from hard seawater can bridge the gap and short the cell. Too wide and cell voltage climbs, wasting battery power. The gap should be uniform across the entire active area because current concentrates at the closest point.
- Isolate the anode terminal from the seawater and from any dissimilar metal. The current carrying connection is usually a titanium stud welded to the anode, with a copper cable lug fastened above the waterline. Any copper or stainless steel exposed to seawater near the anode will suffer accelerated corrosion because the anode makes the local environment strongly oxidizing. All hardware below the waterline should be titanium or a plastic that resists chlorine.
- Orient the cell so that hydrogen bubbles produced at the cathode can escape freely. Hydrogen is the other product of seawater electrolysis. If it collects in a pocket at the top of the cell, it insulates the electrode surface and raises voltage. Most marine cells are mounted with the flow moving upward or with a vent at the highest point.
- Install a strainer upstream of the cell. Even a small piece of shell or plastic can wedge between electrodes and cause a short. The electrochlorinator does not replace the raw water strainer, it protects everything downstream of it.

## Maintenance and Service Life

MMO titanium anodes are not consumable in the way a zinc sacrificial anode is. They lose catalytic activity gradually over thousands of hours. The first sign of end of life is a rising cell voltage at constant current, followed by a drop in chlorine output. When the coating is gone, the underlying titanium passivates and the cell essentially stops working. It does not suddenly disintegrate.

he single most effective maintenance procedure is periodic acid cleaning. Seawater contains calcium and magnesium ions that precipitate as hydroxide scale on the cathode and, to a lesser degree, on the anode when local pH rises. Scale insulates the surface and forces the power supply to push more voltage. A 5 to 10 percent citric acid or dilute hydrochloric acid soak, performed every 3 to 6 months depending on water hardness, restores performance. The cell should be removed from the line and soaked in a plastic bucket. Never pour acid into the installed cell.

Coating life follows a predictable relationship with current density. Doubling the current density roughly halves the service life. This is why oversizing the anode and running at a lower current density pays for itself in replacement intervals. A boat that runs 1000 hours per year at 1000 A/m² can expect 4 to 6 years from a standard coating. The same anode at 2000 A/m² might last 18 to 24 months.

Replacement is straightforward. The cell body, cathode, and power supply usually outlast several anodes. When chlorine production falls below the design setpoint and acid cleaning no longer restores it, the anode cartridge is swapped out. Some manufacturers build the anode as a removable cartridge specifically for this reason.

## Comparison with Alternative Anode Materials

Anode Type

Chlorine Efficiency

Corrosion Resistance

Cost

Typical Life in Seawater

Ru-Ir MMO titanium

High

Excellent

Moderate

3 to 5 years

Pt plated titanium

High

Excellent

Very high

4 to 8 years

Graphite

Moderate

Poor

Low

3 to 6 months

Lead alloy

Low

Moderate

Low

1 to 2 years

For small vessel owners, the Ru-Ir MMO titanium anode hits the practical balance. It costs a fraction of platinum plated electrodes while delivering most of the performance and life. Graphite is cheaper upfront but sheds conductive particles into the cooling system and requires replacement every season, which is false economy on a boat that is hard to access.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Can I run this anode directly from my boat's 12V battery?**

Yes, but you need a constant current DC power supply between the battery and the cell. The anode itself operates at 3 to 5 volts, and the current must be regulated to match the flow rate. Connecting the cell directly across 12V would drive far too much current and destroy the coating in minutes. Most marine electrochlorinator control panels include a switched mode power supply that converts 12V or 24V battery power to a regulated 0 to 10 amp DC output.

**How much chlorine does a small system produce?**

A typical 5 amp cell produces 4 to 6 grams of chlorine per hour, expressed as equivalent NaOCl. In a 10 gallon per minute raw water flow, that yields a residual of 0.2 to 0.5 milligrams per liter. This is below the threshold that damages bronze pumps, rubber impellers, or cupronickel heat exchangers, and it is comparable to the chlorine level in city tap water.

**Will the chlorine harm my engine or air conditioner?**

At the residual levels used for biofouling prevention, no. Engine manufacturers and air conditioning compressor makers routinely approve electrochlorination systems for raw water cooling. The key is keeping the residual below 1 milligram per liter and ensuring that the system does not overshoot when flow drops. A flow switch that cuts current when the raw water pump stops is an essential safety feature.

**How do I know when the anode needs replacement?**

Watch for two signs. The cell voltage at a given current setpoint climbs gradually as the coating wears. If your control panel reports voltage, a 20 to 30 percent increase over baseline indicates declining activity. More directly, you can measure free chlorine residual downstream of the cell with a DPD test kit. If the residual drops below your target after acid cleaning has been performed, the anode is at end of life.

**Can I clean the anode with muriatic acid?**

Dilute hydrochloric acid, also called muriatic acid, works but must be handled carefully. A 5 percent solution is strong enough to dissolve calcium scale. Soak time is 15 to 30 minutes. Do not use full strength acid, and do not soak for more than an hour, because the acid can attack the titanium substrate at defects in the coating. Citric acid at 10 percent is safer for the user and slightly gentler on the coating, though it takes longer to dissolve scale.

**What happens if the raw water pump stops while the cell is energized?**

Without flow, the chlorine produced in the cell has nowhere to go. Concentration builds rapidly, hydrogen accumulates, and the cell can overheat. Every properly designed marine system includes a flow switch that interlocks with the power supply. If flow stops, current cuts off within a few seconds. This is not optional, it is a safety requirement.

**Do I need a separate cathode, or can the pipe act as the cathode?**

You need a dedicated cathode. Using a stainless steel or bronze pipe as the cathode seems convenient, but the cathodic protection effect can cause hydrogen embrittlement at high current densities, and the pipe surface will scale heavily. A dedicated titanium or stainless steel 316 cathode mounted with a fixed gap to the anode gives consistent performance and protects the piping from unintended electrochemical effects.

**Can I install this myself, or do I need a marine electrician?**

The mechanical plumbing is straightforward for anyone who has installed a raw water strainer. The electrical side requires a fused DC supply, a flow switch interlock, and proper bonding to the boat's grounding system. If you are comfortable wiring a 12V panel and reading a wiring diagram, a DIY install is feasible. If not, an authorized marine electrician should handle the electrical connections. The anode itself is a plug in component inside the cell body.

The titanium MMO anode is the quiet workhorse inside every marine electrochlorination system. It turns a few amps of DC and a flow of seawater into a continuous, low dose disinfectant that keeps barnacles and biofilm out of the cooling circuits that keep a boat running. Choosing the right coating loading, geometry, and current density from the start means years of maintenance free service. Cutting corners on anode quality means more frequent acid cleanings, earlier replacement, and the risk of a clogged heat exchanger far from home port.

For small vessel owners, the practical specification is clear. Grade 1 or Grade 2 titanium substrate, ruthenium iridium mixed metal oxide coating at 8 to 15 grams per square meter, expanded mesh or plate geometry sized for 800 to 1200 A/m² , installed in a cell with a dedicated cathode, flow switch interlock, and constant current control. That combination delivers reliable biofouling prevention at a cost that makes sense for a yacht, a sport fisher, or a commercial workboat.

## Titanium Anodizing Racks
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/titanium-anodizing-racks/
> Titanium anodizing racks in ASTM B265 Grade 2 CP titanium for Type II and Type III anodizing. No stripping, 3 to 5 year service life.

A titanium anodizing rack is a fixture that holds aluminum parts and carries the anodic current during anodizing. We build it from ASTM B265 Grade 2 commercially pure (CP) titanium, which stays passive in sulfuric, chromic, and most electropolishing electrolytes. In standard sulfuric acid anodizing, a rack with routine contact maintenance stays in service for 3 to 5 years, while an aluminum rack is typically retired after 4 to 8 weeks. Finger, spline, disc, hook, and clamp style racks are built to your tank depth and part geometry, with quotations returned within 48 hours of receiving your drawings.

## Key specs at a glance

- Material: ASTM B265 Grade 2 CP titanium (UNS R50400), Grade 5 fingers optional
- Stripping: not required between cycles
- Contact capacity: about 0.5 A per finger tip, 8 to 10 A per square inch of contact area
- Construction: TIG welded, 99.99% argon shielding
- Styles: finger, spline, disc, hook, clamp, and custom
- Factory direct, manufactured in Baoji, China

## What Is a Titanium Anodizing Rack?

An anodizing rack, also called a jig or fixture, does two jobs at once. It holds each workpiece as the flight bar moves through cleaning, anodizing, dyeing, and sealing tanks, and it delivers the DC current that grows the oxide coating on the part. Because every point where the rack touches the part blocks the coating, contact design controls both coating quality and the size of rack marks.

Type II and Type III coatings per MIL-A-8625 grow at roughly 10 to 50 amps per square foot (ASF) of part surface area, and the rack has to carry that current without heating at the contacts. Titanium racks handle this duty cycle after cycle because the metal does not dissolve in the bath, which is why most high volume anodizing lines run on titanium today.

## Why Grade 2 Titanium

Grade 2 CP titanium is the standard rack material because it solves the three failures that shorten aluminum rack life.

- **It does not dissolve in the bath.** In an anodizing tank the titanium surface polarizes and forms a thin oxide film within seconds. That film protects the spine, welds, and fingers from the electrolyte. At the contact tips, spring pressure pushes through the film, so current still flows into the part.
- **It never needs stripping.** Aluminum racks anodize along with the parts, so they lose cross section every cycle and must be stripped in nitric or caustic between runs. Titanium racks go straight from the tank back to the loading station, which removes a full process step and the chemicals that go with it.
- **It keeps the bath clean.** A dissolving aluminum rack adds metal to the electrolyte and generates sludge. Titanium adds nothing, so bath chemistry stays easier to hold on spec.

The tradeoff is electrical conductivity. Titanium carries roughly one tenth the current of aluminum at the same cross section, so spines, hooks, and contact areas must be sized for your amperage rather than copied from an aluminum rack drawing.

## Rack Styles and Configurations

- **Finger racks:** spring fingers stamped from titanium strip, bent to grip small parts at high density. The workhorse for volume production of small components.
- **Spline racks:** a vertical spine with contact stations at a fixed pitch, sized for discs, plates, and saw blades.
- **Disc racks:** split fingers with two contact points per station, so if one tip loses contact during agitation the second keeps the current flowing. Fewer burn marks, fewer rejects.
- **Hook and clamp racks:** hooks, bolts, and clamps for long or heavy parts where contact area has to scale with amperage.
- **Custom racks:** built to your STEP or IGES file. Spine length is cut to your tank working depth and busbar height, and station pitch is set to avoid shadowing between parts.

Finger thickness, spring tension, and station count are set to the weight and surface area of your parts. Finger thickness of 1.0 to 1.5 mm covers most standard duties, with 2.0 mm available for heavier work.

## Technical Specifications



## How to Specify Your Racks

- **Send the part data.** Part drawings in STEP or IGES, or samples, plus material and total surface area per load. Surface area drives everything downstream.
- **Confirm the electrical duty.** Multiply surface area by your current density, typically 10 to 50 ASF depending on whether you run Type II or Type III. That number sets the finger count, contact area, and spine cross section. Remember that titanium needs about ten times the contact area of aluminum for the same current.
- **Give the tank data.** Working depth, busbar height, flight bar type, and agitation. The spine is cut to these dimensions, so a few millimeters of accuracy here saves a remake later.
- **Set station pitch.** Weight per station and the gap between parts decide pitch. Too tight and the parts shadow each other, leaving thin spots in the coating.
- **Prototype first.** Order one rack, run it through a full cycle, and check rack marks and contact performance before committing to a fleet.

## Care, Cleaning, and What to Avoid

Titanium racks ask for little maintenance, but the little they ask for matters.

- **Contact tips:** after hundreds of cycles the tips can build a thicker film. A wipe with an abrasive pad restores conductivity. Stubborn tips respond to a brief pickle.
- **Fingers:** check spring tension during loading. Bent fingers are straightened cold; cracked fingers are cut out and TIG replaced.

One chemistry rule overrides everything else: keep titanium racks out of fluoride-containing solutions, including hydrofluoric acid and ammonium bifluoride. Fluoride attacks the passive oxide film and will dissolve the rack quickly. High concentration hydrochloric acid without inhibitors is also off limits. In sulfuric, chromic, and standard electropolishing chemistries, the rack is safe.
Application of Titanium Anodizing Racks

## Applications

- **Type II sulfuric anodizing:** decorative and protective coatings on consumer, automotive, and electronics parts, run at high rack density.
- **Type III hard coat anodizing:** thick, wear resistant coatings at high current, where contact reliability decides burn mark rates.
- **Type I chromic acid anodizing:** aerospace structures, where bath purity matters and a dissolving rack is not acceptable.
- **Electropolishing:** titanium racks and fixtures hold parts through phosphoric and sulfuric electropolishing electrolytes.
- **Electroplating lines:** the same fixtures carry cathodic current through plating tanks where a passive, non contaminating rack is preferred.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is a titanium anodizing rack?

A fixture that holds aluminum parts and carries the anodic current during anodizing. It is built from ASTM B265 Grade 2 commercially pure titanium and moves with the parts through cleaning, anodizing, dyeing, and sealing tanks. Every point where a finger touches the part blocks the coating, so contact design controls both coating quality and rack mark size.

### Why use titanium racks instead of aluminum?

Aluminum racks anodize along with the parts, dissolve a little every cycle, and need stripping in nitric or caustic after every run, so most are retired after 4 to 8 weeks. Titanium stays passive in sulfuric and chromic baths, needs no stripping, and lasts 3 to 5 years. The tradeoff is conductivity, about one tenth that of aluminum, so contact area and spine cross section must be sized for the amperage.

### How long do titanium anodizing racks last?

3 to 5 years in standard sulfuric acid anodizing with basic care. Actual life depends on bath chemistry, handling, and contact maintenance. Keep the contact tips clean and keep the racks out of fluoride baths, and one rack outlasts dozens of aluminum replacements.

### Do titanium anodizing racks need to be stripped?

No. The thin oxide film that forms on the titanium in the bath is broken at the contact points by spring finger pressure, so current flows without removing the film. Only the contact tips need occasional attention, a wipe with an abrasive pad or a brief pickle after hundreds of cycles.

### What baths should titanium racks not be used in?

Fluoride-containing solutions such as hydrofluoric acid and ammonium bifluoride, plus high concentration hydrochloric acid without inhibitors. Fluoride attacks the passive oxide film and dissolves the titanium. Grade 2 racks are proven in sulfuric acid Type II, sulfuric oxalic Type III hard coat, chromic acid Type I, and most electropolishing electrolytes.

## Need racks built to your tank and your parts?

Send your part drawings in STEP or IGES, tank working depth, busbar height, and coating type (Type II or Type III). We will confirm the rack design and quotation within 48 hours.
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## Titanium Anodes for Wastewater Treatment
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/titanium-anodes-for-wastewater-treatment/
> IrO2/RuO2-coated titanium anodes for electro-oxidation and electro-chlorination in industrial wastewater treatment. Custom geometry, factory-direct.

## MMO Coating Systems and Specifications

Our mixed metal oxide (MMO) coated titanium anodes handle the two jobs that decide electrochemical wastewater treatment economics: oxidizing refractory organics (dyes, pharmaceuticals, landfill leachate COD) and evolving chlorine efficiently for breakpoint ammonium removal and on-site hypochlorite production. We manufacture plate, mesh, rod, and tubular geometries from ASTM B265 Grade 1/2 titanium substrate with IrO₂–Ta₂O₅, RuO₂–IrO₂–TiO₂, and Pt-based coatings, sized to your reactor — from laboratory coupon to full-scale modular racks.

Electro-oxidation and electro-chlorination anodes for refractory industrial wastewater — engineered for COD polishing, color removal, and on-site disinfectant generation.



## Why Electrochemical Oxidation Needs the Right Anode

Electrochemical advanced oxidation (EO/eAOP) destroys organics that biological treatment leaves behind — reactive azo dyes, pharmaceutical residues, phenolics, and the colored, high-conductivity effluent typical of textile, chemical, and landfill-leachate streams. The anode is the single largest cost driver in these systems: it sets cell voltage, current efficiency, oxidation selectivity, and how often your plant shuts down for electrode replacement.

Three failure modes decide anode lifetime in wastewater service:

Coating degradation at high oxygen overpotential, [IrO₂–Ta₂O₅](https://www.mmo-anode.com/iridium-tantalum-titanium-anode/) systems resist this best; this is why they dominate electro oxidation duty. Substrate passivation — oxygen generated at the coating interface can form an insulating TiO₂ layer if the coating is underspecified for the applied current density. Reverse-polarity and short-circuit damage, frequent polarity reversal (used in some electrocoagulation and anti-scaling duty) demands a dedicated coating formulation; ask us before specifying. We control all three at the source: grit-blasted and chemically etched substrate (no smooth-surface delamination), verified precious-metal loading, and lot-by-lot accelerated life testing.

## Selecting a Coating System by Wastewater Application



Not sure which system fits your stream? Send us the water analysis (COD, chloride, sulfate, conductivity, pH, temperature) and target outlet values — we will recommend coating, loading, and current density in writing.

## Quality Assurance, Verified Per Lot

- **Substrate preparation:** mechanical grit blasting + acid etching to remove the native oxide skin before coating — the step most low-cost producers skip, and the #1 cause of early delamination.
- **Coating application:** repeated thermal decomposition cycles (sol-gel / Pechini route) with interlayer adhesion control; loading verified by weight gain per area.
- **Accelerated life testing:** every production lot is sampled and life-tested under accelerated conditions (elevated current density in standard electrolyte).
- **Shipping inspection:** each anode ships with dimensional report, coating loading report, and lot traceability. Test coupons can be included with your order for incoming verification.

## FAQ

### Which coating should I choose for COD removal — IrO₂ or RuO₂?

### What current density should I design around?

### How long do the anodes actually last?

### Can these anodes handle polarity reversal?

### What titanium grade do you use, and does it matter?

### Are there streams where titanium anodes are NOT suitable?

### Can you manufacture to our reactor drawings?

Send your water analysis and target outlet limits to [info@mmo-anode.com](mailto:info@mmo-anode.com) — receive a written coating, loading, and current-density recommendation within 1–2 business days. Or request test coupons to validate performance in your own electrolyte before committing to full scale.

## Titanium Anode for Salt Chlorine Generator
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/titanium-anode-for-salt-chlorine-generators/
> MMO-coated titanium anodes for salt chlorine generators (salt cells). Ru-Ir coated Grade 1/2 titanium, 8,000–15,000 h life, custom OEM sizes.

A titanium anode for a salt chlorine generator is the MMO-coated electrode core inside a saltwater pool chlorinator (salt cell). It electrolyzes dissolved salt into free chlorine for pools and spas, and typically delivers 3–5+ years of service life — up to 10,000 operating hours.

- Mixed Metal Oxide coating **Ru-Ir MMO**
- Pure titanium substrate **Grade 1/2 Ti**
- Service life per set **8,000‑15,000 h**

## What Is a Titanium Anode for a Salt Chlorine Generator?

A titanium anode for a salt chlorine generator is a replaceable titanium plate coated with ruthenium-iridium [Mixed Metal Oxide](https://www.mmo-anode.com/ruthenium-iridium-titanium-anode/)(MMO). Mounted inside the salt cell, it converts dissolved salt (2,500–6,000 ppm) into free chlorine through electrolysis, eliminating the need to buy, store, or handle chemical chlorine.

Every salt chlorine generator relies on the same core component: a set of coated titanium electrodes. These plates are mounted inside the electrolytic cell housing, where saltwater flows between them while the control box applies a low-voltage DC current.

The pure titanium substrate provides structural strength and corrosion resistance in the aggressive chloride environment. The MMO coating — a catalytic layer of ruthenium oxide [(RuO₂) and iridium oxide (IrO₂)](https://www.mmo-anode.com/ruthenium-iridium-titanium-anode/) — is what actually drives the electrolysis. This coating is what makes the anode dimensionally stable. Unlike graphite or lead-dioxide electrodes, it neither dissolves nor passivates during operation.

>85%

Current efficiency (chlorine output)

8,000-15,000 h

Typical max service life

## How Does a Titanium Anode Produce Chlorine?

Five steps from dissolved salt to clean, sanitized pool water.

- **Salt dissolves** Pool salt raises water to 3,000–4,000 ppm NaCl (2,500–6,000 ppm operating range).
- **Water flows through** Filtered saltwater passes through the cell housing containing the titanium plates.
- **DC current applied** The controller feeds low-voltage DC (typically 5–24 V) to the MMO-coated anodes.
- **Electrolysis occurs** Salt and water split into chlorine gas, hydrogen, and sodium hydroxide at the electrodes.
- **Chlorine sanitizes** Chlorine instantly forms hypochlorous acid (HOCl) — the same active sanitizer as liquid chlorine.

**Cell reaction: **2NaCl + 2H₂O → Cl₂↑ + H₂↑ + 2NaOH. Chlorine dissolves to form HOCl (hypochlorous acid). A built‑in reverse‑polarity cycle automatically removes calcium scale, extending anode service life.

## Key Features & Benefits

### Up to 85% current efficiency

The Ru-Ir catalytic coating maximizes chlorine output per amp and keeps energy consumption low because the coating has a lower oxygen overpotential.

### Corrosion-resistant substrate

Grade 1 / Grade 2 pure titanium (ASTM B265) withstands the chloride-rich, oxidizing environment inside the cell without warping or dissolving.

### Precision MMO coating

8–20 g/m² precious-metal loading, applied in multiple thermal-decomposition layers for uniform thickness and long-term adhesion.

### Self-cleaning by design

Compatible with reverse-polarity controllers that shed calcium scale automatically, so maintenance stays minimal.

### Eco-friendly sanitation

There is no chemical chlorine to buy, store, or handle, and no stabilizer buildup. The cell makes its own sanitizer on demand.

### Cost-effective repair

Replace the anode plates only and keep the housing and electronics — typically 30–50% cheaper than a complete salt cell.

### OEM / custom manufacturing

We supply any plate size, shape, thickness, plate count, or terminal design. Low MOQ available for private-label salt cell programs.

### Certified quality

ISO 9001 facility; every plate passes conductivity, adhesion, and accelerated life testing (ALT) before shipment.

## Technical Specifications



## Applications

### Residential in-ground pools

Most common in residential saltwater pools up to 40,000 gallons (150 m³).

### Above-ground pools

Compact cells with 2–6 plates sized for small filters and pumps.

### Spas & hot tubs

Low-output cells (10–25 g/h) for portable and in-ground spa sanitation.

### Commercial & hotel pools

High-capacity cells (up to 250 g/h) with multi-plate arrays for continuous duty.

### Mineral & low-chlorine systems

Platinum-coated variant for copper/silver ion systems and low-salt operation.

### Aquaculture & water treatment

Secondary markets: RAS (recirculating aquaculture), cooling towers, and industrial disinfection.

## Customization for OEM & Replacement Programs

Every salt cell brand uses slightly different electrode geometry. We match your housing exactly — send us a drawing, a sample cell, or your original plates and our engineers will replicate the design.

- **Plate size & shape** — rectangular, curved, or blade profiles to fit any cell housing
- **Coating type** — Ru-Ir MMO (standard) or Pt-plated titanium (low-salt systems)
- **Coating loading** — tuned 8–20 g/m² for your output and lifetime targets
- **Plate count & electrode spacing** — matched to your controller's current output
- **Terminal design** — threaded stud, welded tab, screw terminal, or solder lug
- **Packaging & branding** — OEM labeling, retail blister packs, or service kits

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is a titanium anode for a salt chlorine generator?

### What does MMO coating mean on a titanium anode?

### Can I replace only the titanium anode plates instead of buying a whole new salt cell?

### How much salt do I need for a titanium anode salt chlorinator to work?

### What is the difference between MMO and platinum-coated titanium anodes?

### How does a salt chlorine generator produce chlorine from a titanium anode?

### Do you offer custom titanium anode sizes for OEM salt cell production?

## Titanium Anode for Electrolytic Copper Foil
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/titanium-anode-for-electrolytic-copper-foil/
> Premium MMO titanium anode for electrolytic copper foil production. IrO2-Ta2O5 coated DSA anodes for lithium battery & PCB copper foil lines. Long service life.

## Titanium Anode for Electrolytic Copper Foil Production

Titanium Anode for Electrolytic Copper Foil (also known as MMO titanium anode or DSA anode) is the core electrochemical component in the continuous electrodeposition production of electrolytic copper foil. Manufactured from high-purity Grade 1 titanium substrate with precision-applied iridium-tantalum mixed oxide (IrO₂/Ta₂O₅) coating, this dimensionally stable anode delivers uniform current distribution, exceptional corrosion resistance, and stable oxygen evolution performance in acidic copper sulfate electrolytes.

Our titanium anodes are engineered for both lithium-ion battery copper foil (4.5μm–12μm ultra-thin foil) and PCB/electrolytic copper foil (12μm–105μm standard foil) production lines, supporting both inlay-type (plum blossom hole) and back-tensioned (FIP — Fixed Integrated Plate) mounting structures compatible with major foil-making equipment. With optimized coating formulation and strict production controls, our anodes achieve 8–12 months of continuous service life, reduce energy consumption by over 10% compared to traditional lead anodes, and directly improve copper foil thickness uniformity, surface finish, and production yield.

### How the Anode Works in Copper Foil Electroforming

Copper foil is formed on a partially immersed, rotating titanium drum (cathode). As the drum turns through the electrolyte, DC current drives copper deposition onto its surface; the foil is continuously peeled off at thicknesses from 105 μm standard PCB foil down to 4.5 μm battery collector foil.

**Cathode (drum):** Cu²⁺ + 2e⁻ → Cu (foil deposition) **Anode (our product):** 2H₂O → O₂ + 4H⁺ + 4e⁻ (oxygen evolution)

Because the anode does not dissolve, copper concentration in the electrolyte is maintained by continuously feeding copper oxide (CuO) — giving operators independent control over current density, drum speed, and therefore foil thickness and structure. The anode bank — typically curved plates conforming to the drum radius at a fixed 8–15 mm gap — determines how uniformly current reaches every point on the drum surface. Any geometric or electrochemical non-uniformity in the anode translates directly into thickness variation and surface defects in the foil.

### Why IrO₂-Ta₂O₅ on Titanium?

The copper foil electrolyte is aggressively acidic — typically 80–150 g/L sulfuric acid, rising above 180 g/L in some HVLP processes — and the anode operates as an **oxygen-evolving electrode** at high current density. This environment rules out most coating chemistries:

**Ruthenium-Iridium MMO** (excellent for chlorine evolution in chlor-alkali) dissolves anodically in sulfuric acid and fails rapidly here. [Platinum ](https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/platinum-plated-titanium-anode/)works but is cost-prohibitive at foil-plant scale. **Iridium-tantalum oxide** is the proven choice: IrO₂ catalyzes oxygen evolution with a low, stable overpotential, while Ta₂O₅ forms a corrosion-resistant matrix that locks the active iridium in place and protects the titanium substrate from passivation.

The result is an anode that holds its dimensions and electrochemical performance for years — where a legacy lead-alloy anode would swell, warp, shed lead sludge into the electrolyte, and demand frequent gap re-adjustment.

## Key Features & Benefits

### 1. Premium Coating Technology

- **Iridium-Tantalum (IrO₂/Ta₂O₅) mixed oxide coating** — industry-standard formulation for oxygen evolution in acidic sulfate electrolytes
- Coating thickness: 10–25 μm with uniformity deviation ≤ 8% across the entire plate surface
- Low oxygen evolution overpotential (< 1.0 V at 4000 A/m²), significantly reducing cell voltage and power consumption
- Excellent adhesion strength, no peeling or blistering under long-term high-current operation

### 2. High-Purity Titanium Substrate

- **Grade 1 pure titanium** (ASTM B265) substrate with ≥ 99.6% titanium content
- Precision surface pretreatment: sandblasting + acid etching to create micro-rough surface for superior coating bonding
- Excellent corrosion resistance in 10–30% H₂SO₄ + CuSO₄ electrolyte environment
- Dimensionally stable structure — no warping, deformation, or sagging under high temperature and high current density

### 3. Uniform Current Distribution

- Precision flatness control: straightness ≤ 3 mm along the full length
- Optimized hole pattern and plate geometry ensure homogeneous electric field between anode and cathode drum
- Eliminates edge thickness deviation, pinholes, and wavy edge defects in copper foil
- Enables consistent production of ultra-thin 4.5μm–6μm lithium battery copper foil

### 4. Extended Service Life & Recoatability

- **8–12 months continuous operation** under standard working conditions (5000–10000 A/m², 50–70°C)
- Service life rating: ≥ 40,000 kA·h/m²
- Titanium substrate is fully reusable — recoating service available, reducing total ownership cost by over 30%
- No dissolution into electrolyte, maintaining bath purity and eliminating lead contamination

### 5. Energy & Cost Efficiency

- Over 10% energy savings compared to conventional lead anodes
- Reduced maintenance frequency and production downtime
- No heavy metal pollution, compliant with environmental regulations
- Stable electrochemical performance minimizes additive decomposition and extends electrolyte service life

## Technical Specifications



## Working Principle & Application Scenarios

### How It Works

Our Ir-Ta coated titanium anode acts as an **insoluble dimensionally stable anode**, maintaining its shape and electrochemical properties over thousands of operating hours. Unlike lead anodes that gradually dissolve and contaminate the electrolyte, the titanium anode remains inert, ensuring consistent foil quality and bath purity throughout the production cycle.

In the electrolytic copper foil production process, copper sulfate electrolyte is circulated between the rotating titanium cathode drum and stationary titanium anode plates. When direct current is applied, copper ions (Cu²⁺) in the solution migrate to the cathode drum and are reduced to metallic copper, forming a continuous ultra-thin copper foil layer. At the anode surface, the oxygen evolution reaction occurs.

### Primary Applications

- **Lithium-ion battery copper foil** — 4.5μm, 6μm, 8μm, 10μm, 12μm ultra-thin foil for EV battery current collectors
- **Printed Circuit Board (PCB) copper foil** — 12μm to 105μm standard and high-temperature elongation foil
- **High-frequency high-speed PCB copper foil** — ultra-low profile foil for 5G communication substrates
- **Electrolytic copper foil for flexible circuits** and advanced electronic packaging materials
- **Retrofit and replacement** for existing copper foil production lines using lead or graphite anodes

## Structure Options

### 1. Inlay Type (Plum Blossom Hole Pattern)

- Embedded structure with 1mm plum blossom-shaped recessed holes
- Coating applied inside recesses for enhanced electrocatalytic performance
- Extremely constant inter-electrode distance with excellent edge shielding
- Ideal for high-precision ultra-thin lithium battery copper foil production
- Minimizes edge current concentration, preventing thicker edges and burr defects

### 2. Back-Tensioned (FIP) Type

- 6mm FIP structure with anode plates tensioned from the back via titanium tie rods
- Uniform stress distribution across the entire plate for superior flatness
- Open design enables smooth electrolyte circulation and rapid oxygen release
- Reduces gas accumulation and scaling on anode surface
- Easy disassembly and maintenance, suitable for high-capacity continuous production lines

## Quality Assurance & Customization

### Quality Control

- Full compliance with YS/T industry standard for titanium-based iridium oxide coated anodes
- 100% dimensional inspection and coating thickness testing before delivery
- Electrochemical performance verification via accelerated life testing
- Detailed quality inspection report provided with each shipment

### Customization Services

- Custom plate dimensions and thicknesses to match your foil machine specifications
- Tailored coating formulations for specific electrolyte conditions and life requirements
- Complete anode assembly design including conductive bars and mounting hardware
- On-site installation guidance and technical support available
- Anode recoating and refurbishment service for used titanium substrates

## Packaging, Shipping & Service

- **Packaging**: Anti-corrosion film wrapping + wooden crate with shock-absorbing padding
- **Lead Time**: 10–15 working days for standard sizes; 15–20 working days for custom orders
- **Shipping**: Worldwide export via sea freight, air freight, or express courier
- **MOQ**: 1 set (multiple plates per set, depending on machine specification)
- **Warranty**: Quality guarantee against manufacturing defects; coating life performance warranty under specified operating conditions

## FAQ

### What is a titanium anode for electrolytic copper foil?

### Why use iridium-tantalum (IrO₂-Ta₂O₅) coating instead of other coatings?

### What is the difference between inlay type and FIP type anode structures?

### How long does the titanium anode last in copper foil production?

### Can the titanium substrate be recoated and reused?

### What is the lead time and minimum order quantity?

## Titanium Anodes for Sodium Hypochlorite Generator
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/titanium-anodes-for-sodium-hypochlorite-generator/
> Ruthenium‑iridium coated titanium anodes for on‑site sodium hypochlorite generators, service life over 3 years, customizable chlorine‑evolution efficiency,

## MMO Titanium Anodes for Sodium Hypochlorite Generator — Ru-Ir & Ir-Ta Coated, 3+ Year Service Life

Factory-direct dimensionally stable anodes (DSA) for onsite electrochlorination systems. Over 90% chlorine evolution efficiency, custom OEM geometries, and worldwide shipping for water treatment, swimming pool, marine and offshore applications.

_Quick Answer: A titanium anode for a sodium hypochlorite generator is a mixed-metal-oxide (MMO) coated electrode — ruthenium-iridium on a Gr 1 /Gr2 titanium substrate — that converts chloride from brine or seawater into active chlorine with over 90% efficiency. Typical service life exceeds 5 years in drinking-water and pool disinfection duty, and 3–5 years in seawater electrochlorination._

### Key Performance Data at a Glance

Trusted by electrochlorination OEMs in 20+ countries, our anodes are engineered for stable pole spacing, low cell voltage and long coating life.

#### Chlorine Evolution Efficiency

≥85 %

High-purity Ru-Ir catalyst lowers cell voltage and cuts energy cost per kg of chlorine.

#### Service Life

5+ yrs

Verified by accelerated life testing (ASTM-style) at rated current density.

#### Max Current Density

2,000 A/m²

Handles peak loads in seawater and brine electrochlorination cells.

#### Sample Lead Time

10–15 days

Free OEM samples to your drawings before mass production.

#### What Is an MMO Titanium Anode for Hypochlorite Generation?

An MMO (mixed metal oxide) titanium anode — also called a DSA (dimensionally stable anode) — is the core working electrode inside an onsite sodium hypochlorite generator. When DC current passes through brine or seawater, chloride ions are oxidized at the anode surface to produce chlorine (Cl₂), which immediately reacts with water to form sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), a safe, controllable disinfectant produced on demand.

**Substrate:Gr1/Gr2 Titanium**

ASTM B265 Gr1/Gr2 titanium offers the best combination of corrosion resistance, conductivity and weldability. Every plate is pickled and sand-blasted before coating to maximize adhesion.

** Coating: Ru-Ir Oxide**

Thermally decomposed mixed metal oxide catalyst, 8–15 g/m² loading, applied in multiple brush-and-bake cycles for uniform activity and low overpotential.

**Geometry:Fully Custom**

Expanded mesh, perforated plate, sheet, rod, tube, ribbon and welded assemblies — matched to your electrolyzer dimensions and connection method.

#### Technical Specifications

Standard specifications below; all parameters can be tailored to your electrolyzer design. Download the full datasheet or send us your drawings for a custom solution.



#### Applications

Wherever chlorine-based disinfection is needed on site, our anodes help eliminate the hazards and logistics of transporting bulk chlorine gas or commercial bleach.

**Drinking Water Treatment**

Municipal and rural water plants dosing 0.2–2 ppm residual chlorine, brine-based skid systems.

**Swimming Pools & Water Parks**

Salt-water chlorinators (salt cells) for residential and commercial pools, spas and fountains.

**Municipal Wastewater & Cooling Water**

Disinfection of treated effluent; biofouling control in power-station and HVAC cooling loops.

**Marine & Offshore**

Seawater electrochlorination (CGA systems) for biofouling prevention on ships, platforms and intake pipes.

**Hospitals & Food Processing**

On-site generation of low-strength hypochlorite for surface and CIP sanitation.

**OEM Electrolyzer Manufacturers**

Custom anode packages engineered to your cell geometry, current density and warranty targets.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is a titanium anode in a sodium hypochlorite generator?

### What is the difference between an MMO anode and a DSA anode?

### How does an onsite sodium hypochlorite generator work?

### What is MMO coating loading and why does it matter?

### Are ruthenium and iridium precious metals?

### Why does chlorine evolution efficiency matter?

### How do I size an anode to my electrolyzer output?

### Can titanium anodes be customized to my electrolyzer?

### What shapes and connections are available?

### How do I clean and maintain the anode?

### Does polarity reversal harm the anode?

## Titanium Discs Used for Anodizing
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/titanium-discs-used-for-anodizing/
> Grade 1/2 titanium discs and contact plates for aluminum anodizing lines, electrolytic coloring, and surface oxidation. Cut to drawing.

## Titanium Discs Overview

**Titanium Discs for Anodizing** are essential auxiliary anode accessories widely used in aluminum, magnesium, titanium alloy anodizing, electrolytic coloring, and surface oxidation treatment industries. Made of high-purity industrial titanium material (Gr1/Gr2), the product features excellent acid and alkali corrosion resistance, high temperature resistance, low resistivity, and stable electrical conductivity. Unlike stainless steel or copper fixtures, titanium discs will not rust, deform, or contaminate the oxidation solution during long-term electrolysis and anodizing processes, effectively ensuring uniform oxidation color and stable film formation quality of workpiece surfaces.

Our anodizing titanium discs adopt precision cutting, smooth surface polishing and edge rounding processes, with no burrs, no scratches, and uniform thickness. They are perfectly compatible with various anodizing production lines, including manual hanging lines, automatic continuous lines, and small experimental oxidation equipment, serving as ideal conductive and bearing fixtures for anodizing processing.

### Titanium Discs for Anodizing Features & Advantages

- **Superior Corrosion Resistance: **Gr1/Gr2 pure titanium raw materials resist corrosion by sulfuric acid, oxalic acid, chromic acid and other acidic oxidation solutions, as well as alkaline electrolytes. They have a long service life and will not produce metal impurities to pollute the tank solution.
- **Stable Conductivity & Uniform Oxidation Effect:** The titanium disc has low and stable resistivity, uniform overall current conduction, which avoids local uneven current density. It effectively solves common problems such as uneven anodizing film thickness, color difference and mottled surface of workpieces.
- **High Temperature & Deformation Resistance:** It can work stably in high-temperature electrolytic environments (≤200℃) for a long time, with high structural hardness, not easy to bend or deform, and maintains flatness after repeated use.
- **Precision Processing & Easy Installation:** Customizable diameter, thickness, mounting holes and clamping positions. Smooth polished surface reduces workpiece scratch rate; standardized size design is compatible with most anodizing equipment and fixture systems.
- Reusable & Cost-Effective: Compared with disposable and easily consumable metal fixtures, titanium discs have a service life more than 10 times that of ordinary steel parts. They reduce frequent replacement costs and downtime losses for production lines.
- **Non-Polluting & Eco-Friendly**: No metal precipitation, no solution deterioration, no impact on the purity of anodizing tank solution, meeting environmental protection and high-standard surface treatment production requirements.

### Product Specifications & Material

We support standard and customized sizes to meet experimental, small-batch and large-scale industrial production needs:

- **Material Grade: **Gr1 Pure Titanium, Gr2 Pure Titanium (industrial standard)
- **Common Diameter: **100mm–500mm (customizable special sizes)
- **Thickness Range: **1.0mm–2.0mm
- **Surface Treatment: **Polished finish, matte finish, edge deburring & rounding
- **Processing Standard: **Flatness tolerance ±2mm, no burrs, no cracks, uniform texture
- **Working Environment:** Suitable for acidic/alkaline anodizing solutions, high-temperature electrolytic tanks

### Main Applications

Titanium discs for anodizing are core matching accessories for metal surface oxidation treatment, widely used in multiple industries worldwide:

**Aluminum Alloy Anodizing**

Used for conductive bearing and auxiliary anode conduction in hard anodizing, ordinary oxidation, electrolytic coloring and sandblasting oxidation of aluminum profiles, aluminum shells, aluminum accessories, ensuring uniform oxide film and consistent color of aluminum workpieces.

**Magnesium & Titanium Alloy Oxidation**

Adapt to the high-precision oxidation treatment of magnesium alloy and titanium alloy parts in aerospace, electronic equipment and hardware industries, avoiding substrate contamination and improving the yield of high-precision workpieces.

**Hardware & Electronic Accessories Processing**

Suitable for surface anodizing treatment of mobile phone accessories, computer hardware, automotive hardware, bathroom hardware and other precision parts, stabilizing production quality and improving product appearance grade.

**Laboratory & Scientific Research Experiments**

Custom small-size titanium discs are used for university laboratories, material research institutions and factory R&D departments, supporting various anodizing formula tests and process debugging.

**Industrial Automatic Production Lines**

Matched with fully automatic anodizing hanging lines and rolling lines, used as fixed conductive discs and electrode connecting parts, realizing long-term stable and continuous industrial production.

## Titanium powder sintered filter plate
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/titanium-powder-sintered-filter-plate/
> Gr1 sintered titanium filter plates for harsh industrial filtration. Controlled porosity, high-temperature and corrosion resistance, cleanable and weldable.

## Functional Characteristics of Titanium Sintered Porous Materials

- Uniform pore‑size, stable pores and high separation efficiency.
- High porosity, low filtration resistance and superior permeability.
- Excellent chemical stability, acid‑alkali corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance.
- Excellent mechanical properties, low pressure differential and large flow capacity.
- Strong microbial resistance and inert reaction towards microorganisms.
- In‑situ regenerable, easy to clean and long service life.

## Product Overview

The titanium powder sintered filter plate is a high-performance porous metal filter element specially designed for harsh industrial filtration conditions. It is produced with high-purity TA1/Gr1 industrial titanium powder (titanium purity ≥99.4%) via mature powder metallurgy technology, including cold isostatic pressing and high-temperature vacuum integral sintering. The finished product features a rigid 3D interconnected porous structure with uniform pore distribution, stable pore size and excellent overall consistency. Compared with traditional filter media such as filter paper, cotton fabric and polymer membrane filters, our sintered titanium filter plate boasts outstanding thermal stability, chemical corrosion resistance and mechanical rigidity. Unlike polymer and fiber filters, it does not tear, shed particles, or require frequent replacement., making them a proven choice for high-precision, high-temperature, and corrosive-media filtration applications.

## Key Technical Specifications

**Parameter**

**Specification Standard**

Product Name

Titanium Powder Sintered Filter Plate

Material

Gr1 Industrial Pure Titanium (Ti Purity ≥99.4%)

Filtration precision

5μm‑80μm

Porosity

25‑45% (Max 50% for Customization)

Thickness

0.5mm – 30mm (Customizable)

Max. Disc Diameter

φ500mm – φ800mm

Long‑term Operating Temperature

≤300°C

Compressive Strength

2.0MPa – 3.0MPa

Max. Working Pressure

≤0.6MPa

Permeability

3‑800M³/M²hKPa

Specific Surface Area

10 – 40 cm²/cm³

## Core Product Advantages

- **Ultra-Strong Corrosion Resistance & Wide Medium Adaptability**Made of high-purity industrial titanium, the sintered filter plate resists erosion from most inorganic acids, organic acids, alkaline solutions, salt spray and strong oxidants. It works stably in harsh media including hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, acetic acid, oxalic acid, phosphoric acid, seawater, chloride solution and various organic solvents, with no corrosion or performance attenuation.
- ** High Precision & High Efficiency Filtration with Stable Performance**With adjustable filtration accuracy from 0.22μm to 100μm and ultra-high filtration efficiency over 99.99%, the titanium filter plate can effectively intercept suspended solids, fine particles, bacteria and microorganisms. The uniform three-dimensional pore structure ensures consistent filtering effect and avoids pore blockage deviation, realizing long-term stable high-precision filtration.
- ** Excellent Thermal Stability & Thermal Shock Resistance**The filter plate maintains complete structural stability and filtering performance under long-term working temperature ≤300°C, and can withstand short-term high temperature up to 600°C. It resists thermal shock and rapid temperature rise and fall, with no deformation, cracking or performance degradation, making it suitable for high-temperature industrial filtration processes.
- **High Mechanical Strength, Pressure Resistant & Long Durability**The integrated vacuum sintered structure delivers high rigidity and compressive strength of 2.0-3.0MPa. The filter plate can operate under high differential pressure conditions without damage or deformation. It supports secondary processing such as welding, cutting, drilling and chamfering, featuring strong adaptability to on-site installation scenarios.
- **Reusable & Regenerable with Low Operating Cost**Different from disposable filter media, our titanium powder sintered filter plate is fully reusable. It can be completely regenerated via backwashing, ultrasonic cleaning and high-temperature sintering with a performance recovery rate of over 90%. Its service life is 3-10 times longer than traditional filter elements, significantly reducing equipment replacement and system operating costs.
- **Zero Particle Shedding & No Secondary Contamination**Titanium powder particles form tight metallurgical bonding after high-temperature vacuum sintering, resulting in no particle shedding during filtration. It effectively eliminates secondary contamination of filtrate, fully meeting the sterile and high-purity filtration requirements of pharmaceutical, food and biological industries.
- **High Permeability, Low Pressure Drop & Large Flow Rate**The 30%-45% high porosity and uniform interconnected pore structure effectively reduce filtration resistance. The filter plate features high permeability, low pressure drop and large fluid flow rate, which improves overall industrial filtration efficiency and saves system operating energy consumption.
- **Non-Toxic & Biocompatible, Food & Pharmaceutical Grade Compliant**High-purity titanium material is non-toxic, non-magnetic and biocompatible, with no chemical reaction with biological tissues and microorganisms. It complies with GMP, food-grade and medical-grade standards, ensuring safe application for high-purity fluid filtration in medical, food and pharmaceutical fields.

## Manufacturing Process & Quality Standards
Vacuum furnace for sintering titanium filters
Titanium powder sintering vacuum furnace

### Customization Services

We provide one-stop customized solutions to meet diverse application scenarios of global customers, supporting full-parameter personalized customization:

Customizable parameters include filtration accuracy (0.22μm-100μm), porosity (25%-50%), overall dimensions, irregular shapes (disc, square, rectangle and special profiles), surface treatment (polishing, platinum/ruthenium/iridium plating), deep processing (cutting, drilling, welding) and exclusive export packaging.
Sintered Titanium Porous Plate Workshop

### Standard Specifications & Order Information

Item

Details

Standard Disc Diameter

φ50mm,φ100mm,φ150mm,φ200mm,φ300mm,φ500mm

Standard Sheet Size

100×100mm,150×150mm,200×200mm,300×300mm,800×350mm

Standard Thickness

0.5mm、1.0mm、1.5mm、2.0mm、3.0mm、5.0mm

Standard Pore Size

10μm,20μm,30μm,50μm,80μm,100μm

Sample Lead Time

10–15 working days

Bulk Order Lead Time

15–25 working days

### FAQ

### What is a titanium powder sintered filter plate?

### Is the titanium sintered filter plate reusable?

### What is the temperature resistance of titanium filter plates?

### Can you provide custom titanium filter plates?

### Are your titanium filter plates food and pharmaceutical grade safe?

## Applications of Titanium‑Sintered Porous Materials

- Decarbonization filtration of medicinal liquid in the pharmaceutical industry
- Precision filtration and gas distribution for electrolytic gas‑making industry
- Fabrication of biological implants in the medical sector
- Filtration after ozone sterilization and ozone aeration within the water‑treatment industry
- Clarifying filtration during food and beverage processing
- Pre‑filtration for reverse‑osmosis systems in the electronics industry
- Terminal filtration of petroleum products and filtration of chemical alkaline‑carbon solutions in the petrochemical industry
- High‑pressure air filtration for the aerospace industry
- Filtration and recovery of precious‑metal catalysts in the fine‑chemical industry
- Electrode substrates for fuel cells
- Catalyst carriers for gas‑liquid catalytic reactions

## Why Choose Our Titanium Filter Plates

We own over 14 years of professional porous metal filter manufacturing experience, providing factory-direct sales with no middlemen and cost-effective pricing. Equipped with advanced CIP pressing and vacuum sintering equipment, we implement strict quality inspections in line with ISO and national standards. We offer global one-stop customization, professional technical support and fast delivery services, supporting worldwide export business.

## Get Free Custom Quote

Contact our professional technical team to customize the most suitable titanium powder sintered filter plate solution for your filtration project. We provide fast responses, competitive export prices and comprehensive after-sales service.

## Sintered titanium filter plate
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/sintered-titanium-filter-plate/
> Titanium powder sintered porous metal filters are advanced filtration elements manufactured by sintering high-purity titanium powder under controlled conditions. This process forms a three-dimensional, interconnected porous network that integrates titanium’s inherent chemical stability with the

Titanium powder sintered porous metal filters are advanced filtration elements manufactured by sintering high-purity titanium powder under controlled conditions. This process forms a three-dimensional, interconnected porous network that integrates titanium’s inherent chemical stability with the permeability of porous materials. Widely recognized for their durability, precision, and resistance to harsh environments, these filters are indispensable in industries requiring high-performance separation—from water treatment to aerospace.

## Advantages Over Traditional Filters

Compared to conventional filters (PP cotton, activated carbon, ceramic, or polymer membranes), titanium powder sintered porous metal filters offer irreplaceable benefits:

### No Secondary Pollution

Titanium is biochemically inert (no dissolution of heavy metals, plasticizers, or binders into the filtered medium). The sintered structure is monolithic (no loose particles), meeting strict hygiene standards for food, pharmaceuticals (GMP compliance), and drinking water.

### Exceptional Durability & Reusability

Unlike disposable PP/ceramic filters (service life: 1–3 months), titanium filters can be reused for 2–8 years (depending on application).

### Broad Environmental Adaptability

Resists corrosion from seawater, acids (hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid), alkalis (sodium hydroxide), and oxidants (chlorine, hydrogen peroxide)—a capability unmatched by stainless steel (corrodes in strong acids) or polymer membranes (swell in organic solvents). Withstands extreme temperatures (from cryogenic to high-heat) and pressure shocks, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor (e.g., marine) applications.
Vacuum furnace for sintering titanium filters
Titanium powder sintering vacuum furnace

### Customizable Design

**Sheet filters:** Used for plate-and-frame filtration systems (food processing). **Tubular/cartridge filters:** For pipeline filtration (water treatment, oil & gas). **Multi-channel filters: **High-flux designs for large-scale industrial processes (power plant cooling water).

### Application Fields

Titanium powder sintered porous metal filters are used in industries requiring high filtration performance, chemical stability, and reliability. Key applications include:

- **Water & Wastewater Treatment** Drinking Water/Mineral Water: Precision filtration to remove rust, sediment, bacteria (≥0.22μm), and colloids; used as pre-filters for reverse osmosis (RO) systems. Seawater Desalination: Pre-filtration to remove algae, suspended solids, and sand, protecting RO membranes from fouling. Industrial Wastewater: Filtration of acidic/alkaline wastewater (e.g., electroplating, pharmaceutical, textile) and recovery of valuable solids (e.g., catalyst particles, metal oxides).
- **Pharmaceutical & Biomedical** **Injection Water/Purified Water:** Sterile filtration (0.22μm) compliant with GMP standards; can be steam-sterilized repeatedly without deformation. **Bioprocessing:** Filtration of cell cultures, vaccines, and biopharmaceuticals (biocompatible, no adsorption of active ingredients).
- **Food & Beverage** **Beverage Filtration:** Clarification of wine, beer, fruit juice, and dairy products (removes yeast, bacteria, and pulp without affecting taste). **Edible Oil Processing: **Filtration to remove impurities, free fatty acids, and particulate matter, improving oil quality and shelf life.
- **Chemical & Petrochemical** **Catalyst Recovery: **Filtration and recycling of solid catalysts (e.g., in petrochemical cracking processes) to reduce material waste. **Gas Purification: **Filtration of process gases (e.g., hydrogen, nitrogen) to remove dust, oil mist, and liquid droplets.

## Sintered titanium filter element
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/sintered-titanium-filter-element/
> Sintered titanium filter elements: Gr1 titanium (Ti ≥99.4%), ratings 0.22 to 100 μm, 300 °C service, backwash regenerable.

A sintered titanium filter element is a rigid porous metal filter built from Grade 1 titanium powder, pressed and vacuum sintered into tubes, candles, and cartridges. The sintered body is a three dimensional network of fixed pores with no binders, no glue, and no fibers to shed into the product stream. Standard filtration ratings run from 5 to 80 μm, custom grades from 0.22 to 100 μm, and the element regenerates by backwashing instead of being discarded after a single campaign.

## Key specs at a glance

- Material: Grade 1 commercially pure titanium, Ti content ≥99.4%
- Filtration rating: 5 to 80 μm standard, 0.22 to 100 μm custom
- Continuous service to 300 °C, short excursions to 600 °C
- Regenerable: over 90% performance recovery after backwash and ultrasonic cleaning
- Manufacturer: ISO 9001 certified, 14+ years in porous metal filters, exports to 25+ countries

## What a Sintered Titanium Filter Element Is

A sintered titanium filter element is made by powder metallurgy. High purity titanium powder is cold isostatically pressed into the required form and sintered at high temperature in a vacuum furnace, where neighboring particles bond metallurgically into a rigid, porous body. Pore size is set by the powder grade and the pressing schedule, so the filtration rating is fixed into the metal itself. There is no membrane to puncture, no weave to unravel, and no polymer to swell, soften, or hydrolyze in service.

## Technical Specifications

**Parameter**

**Value**

Material

Grade 1 commercially pure titanium, Ti content ≥99.4%

Filtration rating

5 to 80 μm standard

Porosity

25 to 45%, up to 50% on request

Continuous operating temperature

up to 300 °C, short term to 600 °C

Max working pressure

0.6 MPa

Compressive strength

2.0 to 3.0 MPa

Permeability

3 to 800 m³/(m²·h·kPa)

Forms

Tube, candle, cartridge, and welded assemblies

Regeneration

Backwash, ultrasonic cleaning; over 90% performance recovery

Sample lead time

10 to 15 working days

Bulk order lead time

15 to 25 working days

## Where Titanium Beats Polymer and Fiber Media

Four failure modes of conventional filter media do not exist in sintered titanium:

- **Chemical attack.** Titanium resists hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, acetic, oxalic, and phosphoric acids, seawater and chloride brines, and common organic solvents. Polymer membranes swell, hydrolyze, or dissolve in the same service.
- **Heat.** Continuous service to 300 °C and short excursions to 600 °C. Most polymer membranes are limited below 100 °C.
- **Structural failure.** A compressive strength of 2.0 to 3.0 MPa holds the element in shape under full differential pressure, where felt and paper media blind, tear, or collapse.
- **Media migration.** Particles are locked in place by metallurgical bonds, so nothing sheds downstream into the filtrate. That is what qualifies the material for sterile and high purity duties in pharmaceutical and food plants.

## Applications

Typical duties for sintered titanium filter elements:

- **Pharmaceutical:** decarbonization of medicinal liquids and clarification of intermediates
- **Water treatment:** filtration after ozone sterilization and in ozone sparging contactors
- **Food and beverage:** clarifying filtration of syrups, oils, and process water
- **Electronics:** pre-filtration ahead of reverse osmosis in ultrapure water lines
- **Petrochemical:** terminal filtration of petroleum products and filtration of alkaline-carbon solutions
- **Fine chemicals:** filtration and recovery of precious metal catalysts

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is a sintered titanium filter element?

A rigid porous metal filter made by pressing Grade 1 titanium powder into shape and sintering it in a vacuum furnace. The particles bond metallurgically into a fixed pore structure with no binders or fibers. Filtration ratings run from 5 to 80 μm as standard, with custom grades from 0.22 to 100 μm.

### Can sintered titanium filter elements be cleaned and reused?

Yes. Backwashing and ultrasonic cleaning recover over 90% of original performance, and heavily fouled elements can be returned for re-sintering. Service life runs 3 to 10 times that of disposable filter media, which is what makes the element economical despite a higher purchase price.

### What chemicals can a titanium filter element handle?

Most inorganic and organic acids, including hydrochloric, sulfuric, acetic, oxalic, and phosphoric acids, plus seawater, chloride brines, and common organic solvents. Titanium is non-toxic, non-magnetic, and biocompatible, so it meets food and pharmaceutical grade requirements.

### What temperatures can a sintered titanium element take?

Continuous operation to 300 °C, with short excursions to 600 °C and no loss of pore structure or strength.

## Need a custom filter element for your plant?

Send the medium, operating temperature and pressure, flow rate, and required rating. We will recommend a configuration and quote within 12 hours.

## Titanium Plating Rack
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/titanium-plating-rack/
> Elastic titanium plating racks and fixtures for anodizing and electroplating. Grade 2 CP titanium, corrosion-proof in acid baths.

Titanium Plating Rack is an anodized fixture made of elastic titanium plate. Titanium is a strong, lightweight metal with excellent durability and corrosion resistance. Titanium Plating Racks are commonly used in a variety of industries for holding, guiding, or positioning objects during manufacturing processes, assembly operations, or testing.

## The Application of Titanium Plating Rack in Anodizing

- Firstly, their excellent corrosion resistance ensures that the jigs themselves do not deteriorate or react adversely during the anodizing process. This helps maintain the integrity and stability of the jig structure over multiple uses. For example, in the anodizing of aluminium components, titanium alloy jigs can securely hold the workpieces without being affected by the electrolytic solutions commonly used in the process.
- Secondly, the strength of titanium alloys allows the jig to withstand the mechanical stresses and forces involved in handling and positioning the parts during anodizing. This prevents deformation or failure of the jigs, ensuring consistent and reliable processing.
- Moreover, the lightweight nature of titanium alloys makes it easier to manipulate and handle the jigs, especially in setups where frequent movement or repositioning is required.

_The combination of corrosion resistance, strength, and lightweight properties makes Titanium Plating Rackan ideal choice for achieving efficient and high-quality anodizing processes in various industries._

### How Titanium Plating Rack Enhance the Quality and Efficiency of Anodizing

- **Uniform Contact and Current Distribution:** The precise design and construction of Titanium Plating Rack ensure uniform contact with the workpiece. This leads to a more even distribution of electrical current during anodizing, resulting in a uniform oxide layer thickness and improved surface finish. For instance, in the anodizing of complex-shaped parts, a well-designed jig can prevent areas of low or excessive current density, reducing the occurrence of defects like uneven color or thickness.
- **Reduced Contamination:** Titanium's inert nature means it is less likely to introduce impurities or contaminants into the anodizing bath. This helps maintain the purity of the electrolyte solution and reduces the risk of defects or impurities in the anodized layer.
- **Enhanced Stability and Durability:** The strength and durability of titanium alloys enable the jigs to withstand the rigors of the anodizing process over an extended period. They do not deform or wear easily, ensuring consistent performance and reducing the need for frequent jig replacements.
- **Precise Positioning and Alignment:** Titanium plating racks can be engineered to hold the workpieces precisely in the desired position and orientation. This ensures that the anodizing process is carried out accurately, minimizing errors and rework.
- **Improved Heat Dissipation:** In some anodizing processes where heat is generated, the good thermal conductivity of titanium alloys helps dissipate heat more effectively. This helps maintain a stable processing temperature, which is crucial for achieving consistent anodizing quality.
- **Easy Maintenance and Cleaning:** The smooth surface of Titanium jigs make them relatively easy to clean and maintain. This helps prevent the accumulation of residues or contaminants that could affect the anodizing quality in subsequent runs.

#### Titanium Plating Rack FAQ

How to ensure the product quality?

All products make 100% inspection before shipment also we can provide the MTC Material Test Certification.

Can you print our Logo on the products?

Sure, and we welcome the customerized products.

What about the payment terms?

T/T, L/C, Paypal, Western Union, Escrew and MoneyGram etc are all accepted.

What is the necessary information for an inquiry?

Product name, specification, material grade and quantity.

## Titanium Anode Basket
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/titanium-anode-basket/
> Engineered titanium anode baskets for demanding electroplating environments. Grade1/Grade2 pure titanium, multiple mesh options, custom dimensions for PCB & metal finishing.

## Custom Titanium Anode Basket for Electroplating

### Titanium Anode Basket Overview

Engineered for the most demanding electroplating environments, our Titanium Anode Baskets serve as the critical link between the power source and your anode material. Constructed from commercially pure Grade 1 or Grade 2 Titanium, these baskets deliver exceptional corrosion resistance, ensuring bath purity and long service life. Whether you are running an acid copper, nickel, zinc, or precious metal plating line, our baskets provide the optimal current distribution needed for a flawless finish.

#### Core Features

- **Superior Material Composition (GR1/GR2 Titanium)**Unlike stainless steel alternatives, our pure titanium frames form a stable, protective oxide film that resists attack from aggressive acidic electrolytes. This eliminates contamination, preserving the chemical integrity of your plating bath.
- **Excellent Electrical Conductivity** The copper hook core design ensures minimal resistance at the bus bar contact point, drastically reducing heat buildup and energy consumption. This leads to stable voltage operation and lower long-term operational costs.
- **Precision Mesh & Expanded Metal Options**Choose from various hole patterns to optimize dissolution rates: Fine Mesh: Ideal for containing small-diameter anode balls, chips, or nuggets, maximizing the surface area without material loss. Expanded Metal: A cost-effective solution for standard applications, offering excellent rigidity and drainage. Perforated Sheet: Best for materials like Nickel squares, ensuring uniform current distribution while maintaining structural strength.

**Feature**

**Specification**

Material

Pure Titanium Grade 1 or Grade 2

Mesh Types

Expanded metal, perforated sheet, woven wire mesh

Shape Options

Round (Cylindrical), Rectangular (Slab), Oval, Disc

Anode Compatibility

Copper, Nickel, Zinc, Tin, Brass, Precious Metals (Gold/Silver)

Max Basket Length

Up to 2 meters (Custom lengths available)

Operating Temp

Withstands up to 60°C (150°F) continuously

#### Application Industries

- **Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Manufacturing:** Ensuring uniform copper plating in high-aspect-ratio through-holes.
- **General Metal Finishing:** Continuous bright nickel and decorative chrome plating for automotive parts.
- **Precious Metal Plating:** Secure containment of small gold/silver pellets in jewelry and electronics industries.
- **Electroforming:** Long, narrow baskets designed for mandrel plating processes.

#### Why Choose Our Titanium Anode Baskets

- **Fast Lead Times:** Stock available for standard rectangular and round baskets; custom orders processed within 7-15 days.
- **Clean Welds:** Full penetration TIG welding ensures no trapped solution, preventing cross-contamination.
- **Engineering Support:** We assist in calculating basket cross-section area relative to your tank depth to prevent “shadowing” and “edge buildup.”

#### Titanium Anode Basket-FAQ

Q: Why does the titanium hook have a copper core?

A: Pure titanium has higher electrical resistance than copper. To prevent overheating at the bus bar connection, we insert a highly conductive copper rod inside the titanium hook, keeping your circuit efficient and cool.

Q: Can I use these baskets in a fluoride-containing bath?

A: Not recommended. Pure titanium is susceptible to attack by fluoride ions. Please contact our technical team for alternative materials for fluoride-based electrolytes.

Q: How do I maintain the basket bags?

A: We recommend routine bag changes. While our titanium will not corrode, anode slime can clog the bags, increasing voltage requirements. We also supply custom-fit polypropylene (PP) anode bags.

- **What mesh size is suitable for nickel anode balls?** A 6‑12 mm mesh opening is the commonly used specification. Fine mesh (6–8 mm) stops tiny nickel‑anode‑ball debris from leaking out, while 10–12‑mm coarse‑mesh brings better solution circulation. The 8‑10‑mm mesh size is the most balanced and widely used choice for nickel anode balls.
- **Can titanium anode basket work with gold‑silver precious‑metal plating?** Yes, GR2 pure‑titanium anode baskets are perfectly applicable for gold‑silver precious‑metal plating. Titanium features outstanding corrosion resistance against most plating‑bath electrolytes. It holds gold‑silver anode pellets steadily, improves anode‑current distribution and reduces precious‑metal waste. Surface passivation treatment can further extend its service life in precious‑metal plating bath.
- **How to clean and maintain titanium mesh anode basket?** After plating operations, take out the basket and rinse its surface thoroughly with clean water to remove residual plating‑solution sediment.Soak severely‑polluted baskets in dilute‑acid pickling liquid to dissolve metal oxide scale and deposits, then rinse completely.Inspect the titanium mesh regularly for cracks, deformation and corrosion holes; repair or replace damaged mesh in time.Dry the basket fully after cleaning, store it in a dry environment, and avoid prolonged contact with strong corrosive chemicals.Avoid sharp‑object scratches on the titanium passivation film during installation and use.
- **What shapes can custom‑made titanium anode basket provide?** Custom‑available shapes mainly include cylindrical, rectangular, square, oval, semicircular, strip‑type and irregular special‑shaped baskets. Common styles are vertical cylinder baskets for hanging anodes, flat rectangular baskets for horizontal‑arrangement plating tanks, and curved baskets adapted to special‑shaped plating‑work pieces. Customers can also customize wall thickness, mesh size, handles, hanging lugs and opening‑and‑closing structures.
- **What is the working life of GR2 titanium anode basket?** Its service life depends on plating‑bath acidity, working temperature, current density and daily maintenance. Under conventional electroplating environments with proper operation and routine maintenance, the service life of GR2 pure‑titanium anode baskets generally ranges from 3‑5 years. Baskets used in high‑corrosion strong‑acid baths have a shorter service life around 2‑4 years; well‑maintained baskets under mild‑condition plating can serve over 5 years.

Ready to Upgrade Your Plating Line?

Stop battling contaminated baths and voltage drops. Get custom-drawn titanium baskets that fit your existing bus bars perfectly.

## PbO₂ Titanium Anode
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/pbo2-titanium-anode/
> PbO₂ titanium anodes for electrowinning, wastewater electro-oxidation, and ozone generation. Dual layer alpha/beta lead dioxide coating on Grade 1 or 2 titanium.

A PbO₂ titanium anode is an insoluble electrode with a lead dioxide coating electrodeposited on a titanium substrate. The titanium base, usually Grade 1 or Grade 2 per ASTM B265, provides the strength and corrosion resistance. The lead dioxide layer is the working surface where oxidation takes place. Our anodes carry a two layer coating of alpha PbO₂ and beta PbO₂ and are rated for 2 to 3 years of service under normal operating conditions.

## Key specs at a glance

- Oxygen evolution overpotential: about 1.8 V vs SHE
- Current efficiency: above 90%
- Service life: 2 to 3 years at rated conditions
- Shapes: plates, rods, tubes, mesh, and custom geometries
- Factory direct pricing, manufactured in Baoji, China

## What Is a PbO₂ Titanium Anode?

A PbO₂ titanium anode, also called a lead dioxide coated titanium anode, is an insoluble electrochemical electrode. It is made by electrodepositing a lead dioxide (PbO₂) catalytic layer onto a titanium substrate. The titanium base, typically Grade 1 or Grade 2 (ASTM B265), provides mechanical strength and corrosion resistance. The PbO₂ coating acts as the active electrocatalytic surface that drives oxidation reactions.

Lead dioxide stands out for its high oxygen evolution overpotential, around 1.8 V vs SHE. This lets the anode oxidize organic compounds and other pollutants that would passivate conventional anodes. That is why PbO₂ titanium anodes are used in electrochemical wastewater treatment, electrowinning of non ferrous metals, and electrochemical synthesis.

## Dual Layer Coating Architecture

PbO₂ anodes perform best with a two layer coating structure:

- **Inner layer (alpha PbO₂):** a dense, fine grained deposit that bonds the coating to the titanium and absorbs mechanical stress.
- **Outer layer (beta PbO₂):** a thicker, large crystal deposit with high electrical conductivity and strong catalytic activity. This is the main working surface where the reactions take place.

The two layers adhere more firmly and resist delamination better than a single coating. In practice this extends service life from the 2 to 3 years typical of single layer parts to 3 to 5 years in milder service conditions.

## Key Performance Advantages

- **High oxygen evolution overpotential (about 1.8 V vs SHE):** enough to mineralize most organic pollutants and support efficient ozone generation. Outperforms MMO and graphite anodes in these duties.
- **Corrosion resistance:** the titanium substrate stays passive in acidic, neutral, and mildly alkaline electrolytes, so the anode keeps its structure over years of operation.
- **Current efficiency above 90%:** lowers energy use in electrowinning and electrochemical synthesis, typically cutting power draw by 15 to 30% compared with lead alloy anodes.
- **Service life of 2 to 3 years at rated conditions:** fewer change outs and less downtime than traditional lead anodes.
- **Light weight:** the titanium substrate weighs about 40% less than a comparable lead alloy anode, which simplifies installation and handling.
- **Lower cost than BDD:** performance in the same range as boron doped diamond (BDD) anodes at a much lower price, which is why industrial users choose it for large scale installations.
Lead Dioxide Coated Titanium Anode

## Technical Specifications



## Applications

- **Electrowinning:** zinc, copper, and manganese. PbO₂ anodes replace lead alloy anodes, cutting energy use by 15 to 30% and keeping lead out of the cathode deposit.
- **Wastewater treatment:** electrochemical oxidation of refractory organic pollutants such as dyes, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides. The high overpotential allows complete mineralization to CO₂ and H₂O.
- **Ozone generation:** on site electrochemical ozone production for water disinfection and food processing, with ozone current efficiencies of 15 to 25%.
- **Electrochemical synthesis:** persulfate, perchlorate, and other strong oxidants, plus selective organic electrosynthesis that needs high anodic potentials.

## How to Select and Maintain

A five step guide to specifying and maintaining your PbO₂ anode:

- **Define your requirements.** Note the electrolyte, current density, temperature, and the anode shape your cell needs.
- **Choose the specs.** Select the substrate grade, coating type (dual layer recommended), dimensions, and coating thickness.
- **Install properly.** Ensure solid electrical contact, keep anode to cathode spacing at 10 to 30 mm, and avoid impact on the coating.
- **Monitor operation.** Run the cell within the rated current density, check temperature and pH during operation, and inspect the coating surface at regular intervals.
- **Clean and maintain.** Clean periodically with dilute acid. Recoat or replace the anode when coating wear exceeds 30%.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is a PbO₂ titanium anode?

An insoluble electrode made by electrodepositing a lead dioxide (PbO₂) coating onto a titanium substrate. The titanium provides structural strength and corrosion resistance, and the PbO₂ coating is the active electrocatalytic layer. Because of its high oxygen evolution overpotential, about 1.8 V vs SHE, it is widely used in electrowinning, wastewater treatment, ozone generation, and electrochemical oxidation.

### What are the advantages of PbO₂ titanium anodes over other anode types?

PbO₂ titanium anodes combine a high oxygen evolution overpotential with a relatively low price. They cost far less than boron doped diamond (BDD) anodes, resist corrosion better than graphite or lead alloy anodes, and last longer than traditional lead anodes. The lighter titanium substrate is also easier to handle. Current efficiency stays above 90% in most applications.

### How long does a PbO₂ titanium anode last?

Under normal operating conditions, with a current density of 500 to 1,000 A/m², a temperature below 60 °C, and a pH of 1 to 7, a PbO₂ titanium anode typically lasts 2 to 3 years. Actual life depends on current density, electrolyte composition, temperature, and maintenance. Regular cleaning and avoiding current overload will extend it.

### What applications use PbO₂ titanium anodes?

Zinc and copper electrowinning, industrial wastewater treatment, especially organic pollutant degradation, ozone generation, synthesis of perchlorate and persulfate, seawater electrolysis for chlorination, cathodic protection systems, and chromium and other metal electroplating.

### What is the difference between alpha PbO₂ and beta PbO₂ coatings?

Alpha PbO₂ has a compact structure with small crystals, so it bonds well to the titanium substrate and serves as the intermediate layer. Beta PbO₂ has larger crystals, higher conductivity, and stronger catalytic activity, so it forms the outer working layer. High performance anodes use both, with alpha PbO₂ inside for bonding and beta PbO₂ outside for catalysis.

## Need a PbO₂ anode built to your tank and duty cycle?

Send us your electrolyte, current density, temperature, and required dimensions. We will confirm the coating spec and quotation within 48 hours.
Request a Quote
info@mmo-anode.com

## Platinum plated titanium anodes
Source: https://www.mmo-anode.com/product/platinum-plated-titanium-anode/
> Platinum plated titanium anodes (0.5 to 5 µm) for electroplating, cathodic protection, and water electrolysis. ASTM B265 Gr1/Gr2, ISO 9001:2015, custom shapes.

A platinum plated titanium anode, also called a platinized titanium anode or Pt/Ti electrode, is an insoluble electrode with a platinum coating electroplated onto a commercially pure titanium substrate. The titanium base, Grade 1 or Grade 2 per ASTM B265, provides strength, weldability, and corrosion resistance. The platinum surface carries the electrochemical reaction. At a coating thickness of 0.5 to 5 µm, these anodes run at up to 2,000 A/m² and typically last 1 to 5 years before the substrate is re-plated.

## Key specs at a glance

- Platinum thickness: 0.5 to 5 µm
- Max operating current density: 2,000 A/m²
- Operating pH range: 3 to 12
- Substrate: reusable after re-plating
- ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturing
- Samples shipped in 10 to 15 working days

## What Is a Platinum Plated Titanium Anode?

A platinum plated titanium anode, also called a platinized titanium anode or Pt/Ti electrode, is an insoluble electrode in which a platinum coating is deposited onto a titanium substrate by electroplating. The titanium substrate provides mechanical strength, weldability, and a self-healing passive oxide film that prevents corrosion. The platinum surface is the active electrocatalyst. It transfers electrons efficiently with minimal electrode consumption.

Unlike soluble anodes, such as copper or nickel balls that dissolve during plating, platinum plated titanium anodes keep their geometry through the full service life. The anode to cathode spacing stays constant, the current distribution stays uniform, and the cell voltage stays stable. Those three factors matter most in high precision electroplating and long term electrolysis.

Platinum plated titanium anodes can be fully coated or partially coated, with selected areas masked to allow electrical contact. The substrate can also be a composite such as copper-clad titanium, which raises conductivity for high-current applications. Other coating methods exist, including thermal decomposition of platinum precursors, but electroplating remains the industry standard for dense, adherent platinum layers.

## Key Features & Advantages

### Corrosion Resistance

The platinum layer stays chemically inert in most acidic and alkaline electrolytes, including sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and chloride solutions. The titanium substrate below forms a protective TiO₂ passive film, so the anode has a second line of defense against chemical attack.

### High Current Efficiency

Platinum has low overpotential for both chlorine evolution (CER) and oxygen evolution (OER). Most of the applied current drives the intended reaction instead of being lost to side reactions.

### Long Service Life

At a platinum thickness of 2 to 5 µm, a Pt/Ti anode typically operates for 1 to 5 years, depending on current density and electrolyte chemistry. Platinum dissolves very slowly in most process solutions, on the order of micrograms per ampere-hour.

### Reusable Substrate

When the platinum layer is consumed, the titanium substrate can be cleaned, resurfaced, and replated. Re-plating costs much less than a new anode, because the substrate is the most expensive structural component and it is reused.

### Zero Electrolyte Contamination

Platinum is insoluble in most process solutions, so no metal ions leach into the electrolyte. This matters for high purity electroplating of gold or palladium, for pharmaceutical-grade water treatment, and for food-contact applications.

### Fluoride Tolerance

Platinum plated titanium anodes run in fluoride-containing electrolytes, where MMO (mixed metal oxide) coated anodes fail. The platinum layer shields the titanium substrate from fluoride-induced passivation. That is why Pt/Ti anodes are used in chromium plating baths that contain fluoride catalysts.

## Technical Specifications



## Manufacturing Process

Each platinum plated titanium anode goes through a controlled multi-stage process at our ISO 9001:2015 certified facility in Baoji, China. Every step is documented and inspected to keep coating quality and adhesion consistent.

- **Substrate fabrication.** Titanium sheet, mesh, tube, or rod is cut, bent, and welded to customer drawings with precision CNC equipment and TIG welding. Connection points such as bolts, lugs, and threaded rods are added at this stage.
- **Surface preparation.** The substrate is degreased, acid-etched, and sandblasted to remove oxide layers and increase surface roughness. A roughened surface gives the platinum a mechanical grip that prevents coating delamination during electrolysis.
- **Platinum electroplating.** The prepared substrate goes into a platinum plating bath and is plated under controlled current density. Coating thickness is monitored in real time and verified by XRF (X-ray fluorescence) measurement. Multiple plating cycles are used for thicker coatings of 3 to 5 µm.
- **Quality inspection.** Every finished anode gets a visual check for coating uniformity, XRF thickness measurement at multiple points, an adhesion test (tape test), and electrical conductivity verification. A coating analysis report ships with every order.
- **Packaging and shipping.** Anodes are wrapped individually in anti-static film, cushioned in foam inserts, and packed in export-grade plywood crates. Worldwide shipping by DHL, FedEx, air freight, or sea freight.

## Applications

Platinum plated titanium anodes are used wherever an inert, long-life electrode is required.

### Electroplating: Precision Metal Deposition

Gold, silver, palladium, and rhodium plating for electronics, jewelry, and decorative finishes. The anode does not contaminate the bath, so deposits stay pure and plating thickness stays consistent across complex geometries.

### Cathodic Protection: ICCP Systems

Auxiliary anodes for impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) of ship hulls, offshore platforms, steel docks, bridge trusses, and buried pipelines. Platinum consumption is about 0.4 g per ampere-year, so the anodes run for decades without maintenance in seawater and soil.

### Water Electrolysis: Hydrogen Production

PEM and alkaline electrolyzer anodes for on-site hydrogen generation. Platinum's high catalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction lowers cell voltage and improves overall energy efficiency.

### Electrochemical Synthesis: Chemical Manufacturing

Production of persulfates, perchlorates, ozone, and other strong oxidants. Platinum anodes hold up in aggressive chemical environments and at high anodic potentials.

### Water Treatment: Electrochlorination & Disinfection

On-site generation of sodium hypochlorite for drinking water, swimming pool, and cooling water disinfection. Pt/Ti anodes are the practical choice in low-salinity electrolytes, where MMO coatings have a shorter service life.

### Electrowinning: Metal Recovery

Recovery of copper, nickel, and cobalt from leach solutions and electrowinning circuits. Platinum anodes resist acid corrosion and hold stable performance in high-acid, high-temperature electrolytes.

### Not sure which anode type fits your process?

If your electrolyte contains fluoride ions, or if you need minimal contamination for high purity plating, a platinum plated titanium anode is likely the right choice. For large-scale chlorine evolution or electrowinning, [Ru-Ir coated anodes](https://www.mmo-anode.com/ruthenium-iridium-titanium-anode/) or [Ir-Ta coated anodes](https://www.mmo-anode.com/iridium-tantalum-titanium-anode/) may give better cost efficiency. Contact our engineering team for a recommendation based on your application.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is a platinum plated titanium anode?

A platinum plated titanium anode is an insoluble electrode with a thin platinum layer, 0.5 to 5 µm, electroplated onto a commercially pure titanium substrate, Grade 1 or Grade 2. The titanium carries the mechanical load and resists corrosion. The platinum surface is the active electrocatalytic layer. Because the anode keeps its geometry through the full service life, it is classified as a dimensionally stable anode (DSA), unlike consumable graphite or soluble metal anodes.

### How long does a platinum plated titanium anode last?

Service life depends on the platinum thickness, operating current density, and electrolyte chemistry. At a platinum thickness of 2 to 5 µm and moderate current densities of 500 to 2,000 A/m², the anode typically lasts 1 to 5 years. Thinner coatings of 0.5 to 1 µm in high-current applications may last 6 to 18 months. After the original platinum layer is consumed, the titanium substrate can be stripped and re-plated, which extends the total service life.

### What is the difference between platinum plated and MMO coated titanium anodes?

Platinum plated titanium anodes carry a pure metallic platinum layer applied by electroplating. They offer high catalytic activity and a very low dissolution rate. MMO (mixed metal oxide) coated anodes carry thermally decomposed oxide layers, such as RuO₂-IrO₂ or IrO₂-Ta₂O₅, and are generally more cost-effective for oxygen evolution. Pt/Ti anodes are the right choice for fluoride-containing electrolytes, high-purity applications, and processes that need minimal contamination. MMO anodes are the right choice for large-scale chlorine evolution and electrowinning.

### Can platinum plated titanium anodes be used in fluoride-containing solutions?

Yes. Unlike MMO coated anodes, platinum plated titanium anodes run in electrolytes that contain fluoride ions. The platinum layer protects the titanium substrate from fluoride attack, which would otherwise cause rapid passivation and failure of an MMO coating. That is why Pt/Ti anodes are used in chromium plating baths with fluoride catalysts and in certain electrochemical synthesis processes.

### What platinum thickness should I choose for my application?

For light-duty work such as laboratory cells or low-current cathodic protection, 0.5 to 1 µm is enough. For standard electroplating and water treatment, 2 to 3 µm balances cost and longevity. For demanding duty such as seawater electrolysis or high-current electrowinning, 3 to 5 µm is recommended. A thicker coating extends service life but costs more, because platinum is a precious metal priced by weight.

### Can the titanium substrate be reused after the platinum wears out?

Yes. Substrate reusability is a key advantage of platinum plated titanium anodes. When the platinum layer is depleted, the titanium substrate can be cleaned, surface-prepared, and re-plated with fresh platinum. Re-plating costs much less than manufacturing a new anode, because only the platinum material and the plating labor are needed.

## Why Choose Qixin Titanium?

- **20+ years of specialization.** Founded in 2006 in Baoji, China's Titanium Valley, we have focused exclusively on titanium electrode manufacturing for two decades. Our engineers average 15+ years of hands-on experience in precious metal coating and electrochemical applications.
- **ISO 9001:2015 certified.** Every production step, from substrate fabrication to final XRF inspection, is documented and controlled under our quality management system. Coating thickness reports accompany every shipment.
- **Fully custom geometries.** Send us your drawings or describe your electrolyzer dimensions. We manufacture expanded mesh, perforated plate, solid sheet, rod, tube, ribbon, and complex welded assemblies to your exact specifications.
- **Re-plating service.** When your anode's platinum layer is consumed, send it back. We strip, re-surface, and re-plate the substrate for much less than the cost of a new anode, so the titanium substrate can keep working for decades.
- **Global export experience.** We have shipped to 25+ countries, including the USA, Germany, South Korea, and Japan. Export-grade packaging, worldwide shipping, and fast customs clearance are standard.
- **Rapid response.** Drawing inquiries are answered within 12 hours. OEM samples are delivered in 10 to 15 working days. Bulk orders ship in 15 to 25 working days.

## Need a platinum plated titanium anode built to your cell geometry and duty cycle?

Send us your electrolyte, current density, temperature, and required dimensions. We will confirm the coating spec and quotation within 48 hours.
