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Services > Electropolishing
Electropolishing of Stainless Steel and other metals
Why Electropolish?
The surface finish of a metal component will determine its appearance, function and service life.
Electropolishing significantly improves the crucial metallic surface properties. An ultra high quality surface finish is obtained by a simple and cost effective operation.
Material removal by
Electropolishing significantly improves the crucial metallic surface properties. An ultra high quality surface finish is obtained by a simple and cost effective operation.
Material removal by
- Anodic work piece
- Direct current
- Special electrolyte
- Homogeneous surfaces in the micro area
- Smoothening and rounding in the macro area
- Material removal without any mechanical, thermal or chemical impact
- Free of burrs i.e. smooth edges and surfaces
- Metallic clean surfaces
Electropolished vessel
The Process Principle
Electropolishing is, in principle a reversal of the electroplating process. Metal is removed by applying a dc current to the anodically connected work piece submerged in a special acid electrolyte. Removal takes place without inducing stress and preferentially affects the surface micro-roughness. The surface becomes smooth and bright, with burrs, edges and corners being removed preferentially.The results can be repeated with a high degree of precision so that components with tight tolerances can also be treated in safety.
What Materials can be Electropolished?
Poligrat have electrolytes and processes which are designed to effectively process most of the common engineering materials.- Austenitic & Ferritic Stainless Steels
- Mild Steel, Tool Steel & Speciality Steels
- Copper & Copper Alloys
- Aluminium & Aluminium Alloys
- Nickel & Nickel based Alloys (Monel, Hastelloy, Inconel)
- Magnetic Alloys
- Chrome Cobalt Alloys
Electropolishing will bring out the characteristic properties of the material to maximum effect.
- Metallically clean and free from stress
- Smooth and free from microscopic cracks
- Minimum absolute surface area
- Chemically passive
- Free from burrs, fragments, particles and gas occlusions
- Bright and decorative
- Improved corrosion resistance and durability
- Reduced friction and wear
- Easier cleaning, reduced build-up of products on the surface, reduced bacterial growth
- Reduced radioactive contamination and improved decontamination behaviour
- Prevention of catalytic wall reaction
- Reduced pumping times to achieve high vacuum
- Improved high frequency conductivity
- Improved adhesion of plating deposits
- Optimum reflectivity
The Process Results
Electropolished and mechanically produced metal surfaces have fundamental differences.
Mechanical operations such as machining, drilling, grinding and polishing will all adversely affect the structure and properties of the material surface. Contamination resulting from tool abrasion and contact with coolants, can lead to corrosion and wear. Dependent upon the degree of the manufacturing forces applied, the surface structure can be affected to a depth of 50 microns.
In contrast to this, Electro-polishing will remove metal from the component without mechanical, thermal or chemical transformation. Electro-polishing will eliminate damaged surface layers and allow the original properties of the material to be fully utilised.
Mechanical operations such as machining, drilling, grinding and polishing will all adversely affect the structure and properties of the material surface. Contamination resulting from tool abrasion and contact with coolants, can lead to corrosion and wear. Dependent upon the degree of the manufacturing forces applied, the surface structure can be affected to a depth of 50 microns.
In contrast to this, Electro-polishing will remove metal from the component without mechanical, thermal or chemical transformation. Electro-polishing will eliminate damaged surface layers and allow the original properties of the material to be fully utilised.
Sharpening of cutting edge by electropolishing
The areas of Application
The POLIGRAT processes and the electro-polished surfaces produced by these processes have been employed in a wide range of varying applications in practically all fields of engineering and industry:- Chemical, biochemical, pharmaceutical industries
- Food and beverage industries
- Electrical and electronic engineering
- Plant and equipment manufacture
- Machine and tool manufacturing
- Precision engineering and associated equipment
- Textile and paper industry
- Automotive and vehicle manufacturing
- Aviation and aerospace engineering
- Nuclear research and nuclear industry
- Vacuum and cryogenic engineering
- Ornaments and fancy metal goods
- Architecture and interior decoration
- Household and kitchen equipment
