Anodized Titanium
Overview
Anodized titanium is titanium that has undergone an electrochemical process creating a thin oxide layer on the surface. This oxide layer produces vibrant, interference-based colors (blue, purple, gold, green, bronze) without dyes or pigments. When laser engraved, the laser removes the colored oxide layer, exposing the bare titanium underneath — creating a permanent, high-contrast mark. Anodized titanium is popular for premium jewelry, medical devices, aerospace components, and high-end custom items. It is biocompatible, hypoallergenic, corrosion resistant, and extremely durable. The laser mark is truly permanent as it removes material rather than depositing it.
Properties
Difficulty
expert
Pros
- Extremely lightweight
- Exceptional strength-to-weight ratio
- Corrosion resistant
- Biocompatible
- Can be anodized to various colors
- High heat resistance
Cons
- Very expensive
- Difficult to machine
- Requires specialized tooling
- Slow cutting speeds
- Fire hazard with fine particles
Best For
- Aerospace components
- medical implants
- jewelry
- high-performance racing parts
- marine hardware
Avoid For
- Cost-sensitive projects
- high-volume production
- applications where steel is sufficient
Laser Compatibility
Anodized titanium can be marked with fiber laser without removal of anodising — changes colour via oxidation. Fiber laser: 20-50W at 500-1000mm/s for colour marking (different speeds = different colours). CO2 laser: ineffective on bare titanium — requires marking spray (CerMark/TherMark). Diode laser: minimal effect without coating. No material removal — purely surface colour change. Produces no fumes. Used for serialisation, logos, and decorative marking on medical and aerospace parts.