Patent ID: 7879217

Claim:
A method for anodizing a valve metal body, comprising the steps of: a) providing a container having an exterior surrounding a continuous passageway extending along and through a lower container region having a lower electrode, a central container region including a cavity for holding the valve metal body, and an upper container region having an upper electrode; b) providing the valve metal body as a porous structure capable of having an electrolyte flow therethrough and comprising a lower external surface and an upper external surface, the lower and upper external surfaces being spaced apart from each other by an intermediate perimeter; c) positioning the valve metal body in the container cavity in fluid flow communication with the container passageway, wherein the container is dimensioned to contact the valve metal body perimeter in a substantially sealed relationship; and d) flowing a liquid electrolyte past the lower electrode and into the valve metal body through the lower exterior surface and out the upper exterior surface and then past the upper electrode while maintaining the valve metal body at an opposite polarity with respect to the lower and upper electrodes to thereby form a dielectric oxide on the valve metal body.