Material guide
Gluing Anodised aluminium
Aluminium with a thickened, often coloured and sealed oxide layer.
Also called anodising, anodized aluminium.
How Anodised aluminium behaves when you bond it
The anodised layer is porous before sealing and effectively inert after it. A sealed anodised finish behaves like a different material from bare aluminium and should not inherit its recommendations.
Anodised aluminium carries a deliberately thickened oxide that may be porous, coloured and sealed. Adhesion varies with anodising structure and pore sealer, so it cannot be treated as either bare aluminium or a single standard coating.
Material properties
- Surface energy
- Medium
- Porosity
- Semi-porous
- Rigidity
- Rigid
- Maximum service temperature
- 150C
- Normally needs abrading
- Yes
- Normally needs a primer
- No
- Requires surface treatment
- (3M states that maximum-strength bonds may require abrasion or etching depending on anodic oxide thickness, structure and pore sealer.) Manufacturer verified
Surface preparation
Degrease thoroughly with a compatible cleaner. 3M states that maximum-strength bonds may require abrasion or etching depending on oxide and sealer. Make a water-break or adhesion test suited to the process, lightly abrade only when appearance permits, clean again and validate the actual anodised batch.
Which adhesives work on Anodised aluminium
Good
Acrylic foam tape, VHB type
Acrylic foam tape, VHB type is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. The prepared surface must be sound and consistently keyed where the finish permits. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment.
Abrade the surface first.
Good
Structural acrylic
Structural acrylic is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. The prepared surface must be sound and consistently keyed where the finish permits. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment.
Abrade the surface first.
Good
Two-part epoxy
Two-part epoxy is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. The prepared surface must be sound and consistently keyed where the finish permits. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment.
Abrade the surface first.
Bonding Anodised aluminium to something else
Anodised aluminium to EPS (polystyrene foam)
Anodised aluminium to Polyurethane foam
Anodised aluminium to XPS foam board
Anodised aluminium to Anodised aluminium
Anodised aluminium to EVA foam
Last reviewed 8 October 2026.