Why Does Titanium Make Rainbow Colors?

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

I've been anodizing titanium for years. The grade of ti affects the colour as well as the surface polish. Fun stuff! 👍

[@glaucomflecken]

Cool

[@mitchel90mcnee]

Are there big differences anodizing Gr2 vs Gr5 titanium?

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

@@mitchel90mcnee Yep. Grade 4 seems to work best.

[@dr.candyflip4854]

@@jamesbarisitz4794 Thank you for the info, now I know what to do at work today!🥸

[@GestOfAll]

Does it come off easily?

[@veryblocky]

I never considered that it was weird how snow is a different colour to ice.

[@delzabrown]

😂 He glanced over that like I knew that

[@polarweis]

Or translucent soap and white bubbles.

[@contraband1543]

I mean, ice is solid. Snow is not. It's not surprising that they reflect light differently

[@ShAd0wE1337]

@@contraband1543 Snow is a solid... So is sawdust.

[@wernerhiemer406]

@@ShAd0wE1337 And now tell me sawdust has a grain structure. ;) At least none of both (the lignin etc. stuff) is translucent. But HIPS if injection molded is translucent, and at the same time expanded styropor is white. As long there is no colouring additive, but just virgin plastic is used. Well some different additives are also in both forms I think.

[@DANGJOS]

Ah thin film interference. One of my favorite things. I've actually plotted out the colors you should get in Kaleidagraph, based on the wave theory. For normal triphosphor fluorescent light, you get a very distinctive color pattern that can be seen at 3:53. This order of colors is specific to the light source and would look different if you used an LED light or an incandescent light instead. The first few colors tend to stay the same though, as long as it's normal white light.

[@notabot5878]

Cool

[@glaucomflecken]

Cool

[@clintsrandomchannel5301]

Cool

[@andrewthag]

Honestly, cool

[@Benthehuman]

Cool

[@TurinTuramber]

I used to Tig weld stainless steel, you can get great colours.

[@masterbullets3105]

Forger

[@Donnerwamp]

Hey, I want to turn some stainless steel screws goldish-yellow, do you know how I can do that somewhat easy and reproducable?

[@Bpf1893]

@@Donnerwamp nickel plating, plenty of DIY videos in it

[@berner]

I really do love titanium and how "unique" it is (from the process used to make it, how "strong" it is, how it's more complex to form, how heat resistant it is etc.). To me it's the most fascinating thing in metallurgy when you first discover it. Also Action Lab, I know that we all have a right to make money off our services and I understand that ad revenue is a good source of it, so I just wanted to say that I'm glad you openly disclosed your sponsor at the end of the video. It's my favourite way content creators advertise for other companies' products and I hope to see more of it presented this way.

[@johnsmithe4656]

100%, you get an A+.

[@greatPretender79]

Very interesting, didn't realize this was caused by the wave properties of light! Good stuff, one of my favs from you.
COME ON 4 MILLION

[@terryenby2304]

Titanium is great for piercings, and being able to anodise it to make pretty colours means it’s more appealing to people too!
It’s also great for jewellery if you don’t want piercings :)

[@joehorecny7835]

You didn't mention it, but microcenter carries other fun things like 3D printers, drones, Raspberry Pi (and tons of accessories) simple robot kits, electronics and much more - they do have a lot of tech in the store. One of my favorite stores!

[@practicalguy973]

Yeah a cool store foe sure! A much better sponsor than sitting through some of the other sponsors he's had.

[@westonding8953]

Oh nice!

[@sheepthevampire5413]

When you look at metal shavings from a CNC mill, you can see that it takes on a very strong pinkish/purple color due to the strong heat generated when shaving the pieces off. My instructor at work used to collect the metal shavings from the lathes and mills down in the shop to explain heat treatments to us.

[@profdc9501]

There is also titanium nitride as well forming in the air which of course is a beautiful gold color and is seen on drill bits.

[@PrateekSrivastava789]

"It doesn't have to be Trisodium Phosphate...you can just use table salt"
Had the same energy as "it's just a balloon on a cup"

[@flamencoprof]

I wear a titanium ring that has a groove around it with the blue colour at the bottom. The great thing is the stability of the colour. I like the ring because it reminds me of the grooves for the rings on a piston. Plus, when you drop it on someone's palm they are amazed at how light it is.

[@contraband1543]

My friend brought a titanium bolt to school from some new ford back in 2015. Almost everyone bet it was aluminum. He made like 60 bucks that day lol He proved it was titanium with a file

[@flamencoprof]

@@contraband1543 Cool story, but I'm not filing my ring for anyone!

[@ProlificInvention]

Awesome experiment! I'm always learning a ton from you and I appreciate it. Years ago I acquired some pure Niobium and a Ferro-Niobium alloy which I did many color change experiments on. As I remember there may be like 5 different oxides that can form which affects the color it appears. Also I think it could be achieved using chemical, heat, or electrical means...but it's been a long time.

[@pepejul]

I never wondered why soap bubbles have rainbow reflection, thank you for opening that bubble in my brain!

[@jdgower1]

Just wanted to say thank you for still doing the longer form videos.
I don't understand the push for channels like this to make more sub-minute shorts. I can see how it might be better for more mundane subject, but explaining technical and scientific phenomena isn't terribly conducive to Short Attention Span theater in the first place.
Keep up the good work!

[@jbrownson]

Excellent explanation, thanks!

[@Bobsry16]

You did not reference the many other elements that use refractive oxide microstructures and color changes ☺️. Thanks, keep making these videos.

[@LeoInterVir]

Can you list them?

[@PlasmaChannel]

Why? Because aliens **insert crazy ancient aliens dude**
This was a cool one James.

[@Snowfireblues]

I don't know why, but the fact that the key phrase in this video is "Controlling the thickness" and the way he says it, just stirrs something in me

[@Thongg]

VIDEO IDEA: buy a telescope and then disassemble and paint the walls in vantablack then test if it’s better at absorbing light

[@justfrankjustdank2538]

someone should start a company that sells titanium engravings fully in color without paint using these techniques (or smth similar)

[@HelloKittyFanMan.]

Thanks, James, this was fun!

[@Nefville]

There's a ultra-luxury watch brand called DeBethune that does this to their dials. They are absolute masters of titanium anodization.

[@thomasfplm]

I'm curious about the resistance of thing covering, like, if someone makes the handle of a knife or a tool using something like that.

[@DaamnDev]

"rainbow metal" has been my favorite thing since I was a teen. I want to get an anodizer to make my own jewelry and accessories. There's not enough of this!! Personally I'm baffled that colorful metals aren't the NORM.

[@GigTube]

you ever see those channels where they take some tool that's been rusted for decades and make it new again? Thats so cool

[@alanblay2803]

I love this channel, and have tried some of your experiments in the past.
For fun I sometimes play your videos at a slower speed to sound like a weird acid trip. Try it :)

[@stephanrosos4957]

Changing playback speed to 0.25x maximizes the LSD effect, and I am in diaphragmatic pain with the resultant laughter 😃! It's so cool that DSP can time shift the audio while preventing pitch shift. First encountered this playing with a Korg digital audio effects processor; blew my mind 😳

[@alanblay2803]

@@stephanrosos4957 the descripted words used that makes it all work. I'm glad you found it funny because I thought it was just me. Thank you for the reply. 😉

[@narendranani7424]

Excellent practical explanation 👏 👌 👍
Real people like practicals... 😊

[@westonding8953]

The layering of the titanium dioxide is what causes the light to diffuse and cancellation of wavelengths. Nice!

[@stephen_harvey]

Gotta remember to check this link, that pre-built custom pc sounds like a great tool

[@funkyshadowxd]

How would anodized Titanium react if it was in a different light surrounding it, for instance UV, IR or any other form of Light that isn´t white light. Would it show different colors?

[@priyabratasadhukhan6435]

If its a monochromatic light then the titanium coin will look either dark or bright for destructive and constructive interferences respectively depending on the thickness of the oxide layer. If its UV or IR, the same thing will happen but we humans won't see it.

[@winckler100]

Very cool video!!

[@thehyperscientist1961]

Interesting, I've always thought that the titanium dioxide layer was refracting light in some way, but it's actually wave interference. Nice! Maybe I'll get a chance to try this myself

[@kookkookkookkook8863]

i wondered years ago if there's colours that we don't know or we can't see because we don't have those things that make us see specific colours like red green and blue, and how would we notice if the colours are there but just that we are blind to those colours like dogs are colourblind to some colours (I can't recall which)
i heard that a species of animal (i also can't recall which, maybe it's flies or maybe not) can see ultraviolet light (?) or some other frequencies

[@tunaan80]

How light works and different effects of it is the most interesting topic to me

[@Valentinesvalentineses]

This video inspired an art project for me

[@ToxicZombieZ888]

this was really fascinating

[@goharala]

I love Micro Center!!!

[@JoeBorrello]

Very interesting. Does the color depend on the angle of the incident light and/or the angle of viewing?

[@shedinjask]

i think it does sometimes? oil slicks can have a dramatic shift in color depending on angle

[@Suspiciously_Specific_Sam]

Quite a while ago, I got rainbow utensils, they were mostly magenta, but some parts were yellow, or blue, and now I know why they are that color.

[@felixguimb.harder2083]

Très intéressant ! Merci ! 👍🙂

[@diytwoincollege7079]

Cool. That’s the way we color code medical products, specifically implants.

[@GuillaumeLT]

"40 volts that's a pretty color"

[@lonw618]

These videos deserve way more views

[@hihithisishihi]

*Snow looks white* ~ _Action_ _Lab_
meanwhile:
_snow_ _white_ : -white-

[@A.Netizen.Since.2010]

..Very very interesting!!!
..Thank you so much for explaining it to us... 👏🏼👌🏼👍🏼💙

[@wyattfriend7360]

Glee! Titanium exhaust leggooooo

[@overlook77]

If I never see another Zaxbys commercial it will be too soon.

[@smithtorreysmith]

Grade 2 (commercially pure) is the prettiest of the Ti options in my experience. Grade 5 is sexier as a material but responds less vibrantly.

[@abiyyufh1566]

Titanium, Metroman's weakness

[@Starrs_mods]

i applied for the coupon only to realize its an instore only item and there arent any stores like that in WA

[@Natureindica]

Good work always by you

[@martinrosschou]

Snow is clear... I had no idea, honestly lol

[@prashantrathod2331]

Awesome. Super interesting. When/how does the color fade away?

[@SparkeyAvalon]

Great! Now I just need confirmation that this method can be reliably used to turn copper green.
So far I managed to turn it blue by dipping it in vinegar+salt.

[@joewebster903]

Well done!

[@cowboyrome731]

Love you even more, seeing that VW bus on your shirt!!

[@hanleypc]

Also titanium dioxide insulates which is why you don't want to use it as an anode, it works great as a cathode though.

[@001aayush]

*Really, this man has coins of titanium*

[@selfworthy]

Can you find a different solution to non stick your iron pan? The standard procedere is heating it amd burning it in with oil, but many people fail to create an even surface with the non stick carbonised oil.

[@timramich]

When welding stainless steel it gets pretty vibrant to me.

[@aphish_n_flips]

You can ano Ti with 9 volt batteries and there are some crazy patterns you can make! Toxic anos are definitely the best imo

[@fastpack6130]

Bismuth is another really cool metal. It's colors change depending of the oxidation state of the surface of the metal. Also liquid bismuth makes cool crystals when it hardens and crystalizes.

[@harleyfilho8087]

Thin film interference would predict a rainbow pattern reflection, with all colors showing at some definite angle, but the oxide surface clearly shows just one color. Any simple explanation for the supression of the other colors?

[@theangledsaxon6765]

Wondering that as well

[@Pitohuigrim]

What if you use different light sources that had different colors different combinations

[@TRASHGHOST666]

Always asked me this thx for explaining love your videos.

[@ShroomedMisterCraft]

Microcenter and shank mods just did something really cool with an old as heck hot wheels computer on TH-cam

[@kayneburger8789]

I actually work at an anodizing shop we anodize aluminum we use titanium to rack the aluminum parts on it and run it through

[@EatBrownRice]

Try heating polished titanium and dipping it in ferric chloride. Entropic finish

[@samzeoldik450]

This looks like magic

[@Stuntzii1]

52100 steel gets pretty colorful too

[@AS-ds4in]

can light with different wavalengths interfere??

[@animeluvr6]

I wish there was a microcenter near me :c

[@ThePeterDislikeShow]

Does it work with zinc?

[@justalittleoff-grid1180]

Different grades of carbon steel and other alloys can make some cool colors as well when anodized with different acidic or metal salt solutions… I used to have a blacksmithing business.

[@dissonanceparadiddle]

Reminds me of stained glass techniques kinda

[@neillunavat]

TAL can take any topic and make it seem interesting ❤

[@MattH-wg7ou]

Where do I get that power supply and what is it actually called?

[@memejeff]

love me some good anodization

[@uwakii2967]

Can Glass also hav the same effect if thin enough just curious?

[@ComArthur]

Does this work the same with stainless steel?

[@jrpeet]

Really cool

[@ParsMaker]

hi , can you leave me a link to your bench power supply , or shear brand deatils

[@Ultronzler]

Thanks for that explanation for light refraction I am doing a level physics and didn't understand it til noy

[@SMRKustoms]

Is it possible to change the color of titanium dioxide itself. I know they use it to make paint pigments and also color shifting pearl pigments.

[@bartueryigit906]

A TSP of TSP 🤣

[@whatthe2458]

Nice

[@ilikeboats0812]

One question what were to happen if you put jello in a vacuum chamber

[@peterwysoczanski9391]

quick question - if you do a electron microscope scan - is the Titanium Dioxide a ridge and valley orientation - much like butterfly wings?

[@Apollo-Computers]

My bikes full titanium exhaust is very pretty, all kinds of colors. I love it.

[@ythanL]

White powder in a bowl. Me instantly: COCAINE

[@SOL_INVICTVS_123]

No no, It's purple man.
you try to trick me man.

[@Unf0rG1Vin]

So Does that mean you can anodize a bubble in the same way?

[@doriangoff2474]

Could you do a video on whistling? It's always stumped me

[@nyancat2169]

I like cars and a lot of aftermarket exhausts have this coloration, mostly because the car spits flames. Paganis have this coloration on the exhaust tip.

[@ramanapraghee3766]

Is that reversible by reducing voltage.?

[@j5892000]

Where did you get your lab bench power supply

[@Tony-nl6pf]

Ebay

[@amethystpagan8682]

so cool!

[@synshade]

Keep growing sir

[@izzymillar4568]

Wow amazing that it does that

[@SirPhysics]

Small correction: At 3:38 you say that the titanium disc looks blue because it is absorbing red and green light. This is not true, and contradicts the explanation you gave earlier. It appears blue because the red and green light from the surface and the oxide layer are destructively interfering with themselves. This is not absorption.
When something appears a certain color to us, that means the only light leaving the object and hitting our eyes is that color, but that does not mean all other colors of light were absorbed. Absorption is just one of the mechanisms by which this can happen.

[@DontThinkSo11]

Confusingly, it actually *is* absorption, even though the destructive interference explanation is correct.
Energy is conserved in this interaction. When the waves destructively interfere, the photons still have to go *somewhere*. The waves cancelling outside of the titanium oxide boundary layer means that there is zero chance of detecting the photon outside of that layer. Which means it was absorbed by the layer.
At the end of the day, the wave-only description is just an approximation of the actual quantum mechanical phenomenon, which says that photons are also particles and they can't just disappear.