Method of anodizing valve metal derived anode bodies and electrolyte therefore

1. A method for anodizing an anode comprising the steps of:

providing a valve metal;

placing said valve metal in an electrolyte comprising:

more than about 5%, by weight, and less than about 30%, by weight, water;

about 0.1 to 20%, by weight, ionogen comprising:

phosphoric acid; and

an alkanol amine wherein the amount of ionogen is sufficient to maintain a pH of about 4 to about 9; and

an aprotic polar solvent; and

subjecting said valve metal to an anodizing voltage.

2. The method for anodizing an anode of claim 1 wherein said alkanol amine is selected from monoethanol amine, diethanol amine, triethanol amine, ethyl diethanolamine, diethyl ethanolamine, dimethyl ethanolamine and dimethyl ethoxy ethanolamine.

3. The method for anodizing an anode of claim 2 wherein said alkanol amine is selected from dimethyl ethanolamine and dimethyl ethoxy ethanolamine.

4. The method for anodizing an anode of claim 1 wherein said aprotic polar solvent comprises an N-alkyl amide.

5. The method for anodizing an anode of claim 4 wherein said N-alkyl amide is selected from a group consisting of dimethyl formamide and dimethyl acetamide.

6. The method for anodizing an anode of claim 1 wherein said aprotic polar solvent comprises dimethyl sulfoxide.

7. The method for anodizing an anode of claim 1 comprising about 0.1 to about 15%, by weight, said ionogen.

8. The method for anodizing an anode of claim 7 comprising about 0.5 to about 5%, by weight, said phosphoric acid.

9. The method for anodizing an anode of claim 7 comprising about 0.5 to about 7%, by weight, said alkanol amine.