What Does Anodized Mean? A Guide to Anodized Medals

When you're on the hunt for a particular medal to celebrate or recognize a significant achievement, every detail counts. You want it to be durable, look fantastic, and stand the test of time. In your search for the perfect finish, you may have come across the term "anodized." But what does anodized mean, and how does it compare to a regular medal?

Understanding the anodizing process can help you decide if it's the right choice for your awards. This guide will walk you through the science behind anodizing, its benefits, and how anodized medals stack up against their traditional counterparts. By the end, you'll have a clear picture of how to create a medal that not only looks stunning but also offers superior durability.

What does anodized mean?

Anodizing is an electrochemical process used to create a strong, protective, and decorative oxide layer on the surface of certain metals, most commonly aluminum. Think of it as a way to supercharge the natural process of oxidation.

Here's how it works:

Preparation: The metal piece, in this case a medal, is thoroughly cleaned and rinsed to remove any surface impurities, oils, or dirt.

The Bath: The medal is then submerged in an electrolytic solution, which is typically an acid bath (like sulfuric acid).

The Current: The medal is made into an "anode" (the positive electrode) in an electrical circuit. A cathode (negative electrode) is also placed in the bath. When an electric current is passed through the solution, it causes oxygen ions to be released from the electrolyte.

Oxide Layer Growth: These oxygen ions bond with the aluminum atoms on the medal's surface, creating a highly durable and structured layer of aluminum oxide.

Unlike painting or plating, which are coatings applied on top of the metal, the anodized layer is fully integrated with the underlying aluminum. It grows from the metal itself, making it incredibly resistant to chipping, peeling, or flaking. This integrated layer is porous, which allows it to be dyed in a wide spectrum of colors before it's sealed.

Anodized Medals vs. Regular Medals

So, how does an anodized medal differ from a "regular" or standard medal? Regular medals are often made from materials like zinc, brass, or iron and are typically finished with plating, such as gold, silver, or bronze.

Let's compare them across a few key categories and further clarify what does anodized mean?

Material and Weight

Anodized Medals: Anodizing is most effective on aluminum, which is a very lightweight metal. An anodized aluminum medal will feel significantly lighter than a traditional medal of the same size. This can be a positive attribute, especially for service personnel who have a large number of medals because they have been in the military for a long period of time or they have been decorated because they have achieved considerable success in the ranks. 

Regular Medals: Traditional medals made from zinc alloy, iron, or brass have a more substantial weight and a classic, hefty feel. This "heft" is often associated with quality and value, making it a preferred choice for prestigious awards. 

Most military medals are made from metal alloys, most commonly brass which is a copper-zinc alloy.

Durability and Longevity

Anodized Medals: This is where anodizing truly shines. The aluminum oxide layer is extremely hard—second only to diamond on the Mohs hardness scale. This makes anodized medals highly resistant to scratches, corrosion, and fading from UV exposure. They will maintain their color and finish for years, even in harsh conditions. What does anodized mean, in this case, it means durability.

Regular Medals: Plated medals can be susceptible to scratches that reveal the base metal underneath. Over time, the plating can wear down, especially with frequent handling, and they can be prone to tarnishing or corrosion if not properly cared for.

Color and Finish Options

Anodized Medals: The porous nature of the anodized layer allows dyes to seep into the surface before sealing, resulting in rich, vibrant, and metallic colors. You can achieve brilliant hues of red, blue, green, black, and more. Because the color is part of the metal itself, it won't chip or peel. The finish is typically a sleek, modern, and metallic sheen. What does anodized mean from the standpoint of appearance? It means that anodized looks far better and brighter than the standard medals.

Regular Medals: Regular medals offer a wide range of finishes through plating (gold, silver, bronze, nickel) and enamel coloring. Soft or hard enamel can be used to fill recessed areas with color, allowing for intricate, multi-colored designs. This process is excellent for detailed logos or imagery. While plating offers classic metallic looks, the color application with enamel is different from the all-over color effect of anodizing.

Design and Detail

Anodized Medals: Anodizing creates a smooth, uniform surface. It's best suited for designs that rely on bold shapes and striking, single-color backgrounds. The process isn't ideal for capturing extremely fine textures or the kind of multi-level relief (2D or 3D effects) that die-casting allows. What does anodized mean for intricate medals? Take a look for yourself. USAMM has many elaborate awards and decorations in stock that are anodized and the detail in these items is striking.

Regular Medals: Die-cast regular medals excel at reproducing fine details, complex textures, and 3D reliefs. If your design features intricate logos, detailed text, or a sculpted portrait, a traditional die-cast and plated medal is often the better choice to capture that level of complexity.

What Does Anodized Mean for Cost?

Anodized Medals: The cost can vary. While aluminum is generally an affordable material, the multi-step anodizing process can add to the production cost. For certain designs, especially those requiring high durability and vibrant color, it can be a cost-effective option.

Regular Medals: The price of regular medals is heavily influenced by the base material, size, thickness, and complexity of the design (e.g., 3D elements, enamel colors). Plating with precious metals like genuine gold will also increase the cost compared to imitation finishes. That's not really something that military personnel need to think about, but it is worth mentioning.

When Should You Choose an Anodized Medal?

Anodized medals are an excellent choice in several scenarios:

For Outdoor or High-Durability Needs: If the medals will be used for outdoor functions, like Honor Guard, Old Guard or other functions where personnel might be exposed to sweat, sun, and moisture, anodizing provides superior protection against corrosion and fading.

When Vibrant, Lasting Color is Key: If you squad or team are strongly associated with a specific color, like the Old Guard, anodizing can deliver a stunning, metallic finish that becomes a core part of the medal's identity and part of the unit's fabric.

For a Modern, Lightweight Feel: If you're looking for a sleek, contemporary aesthetic or if the medals are for veteran members of a unit, the lightweight nature of anodized aluminum is a significant advantage as previously mentioned because veterans with more time in service might have more awards and the weight of anodized racks might be preferred.

To Prevent Chipping or Peeling: For awards might be exposed to the elements, and therefore will be handled frequently, anodized medals eliminate the risk of the color or finish chipping off, ensuring they look pristine for longer.

When is a Regular Medal the Better Option?

A traditional die-cast and plated medal might be more suitable if:

You Want a Heavy, Classic Feel: The substantial weight of a zinc or brass medal often conveys a sense of prestige and value.

The Design is Highly Detailed: If one of your medals includes intricate lines or small text, the die-casting process used for regular medals will capture that detail more effectively.

Making the Right Choice for Your Award

Choosing between an anodized and a regular medal comes down to your priorities. Do you value unbeatable durability and modern, vibrant color, or is the classic weight and intricate detail of a traditional medal more important for you, your unit or uniform? By knowing what does anodized mean and how it enhances the properties of a medal, you can confidently select a finish that honors your achievements and represents your organization with distinction.

No matter which path you choose, anodized vs regular medals, a military regulation medal like those available at USAMM are powerful symbols of recognition. Consider what works for you and the story you want your medal rack to tell, and you'll create a professional keepsake that will be cherished for a lifetime, and allow you to look really sharp when you wear them.