Services - Finishing - Electropolish

Electropolishing improves leadscrew surface quality

An electrochemical process which polishes a metal surface by removing a microscopic amount of material from the work piece. This process prepares metals for plating, anodizing or conversion coating and improves surfaces for use in sterilization.

Characteristics

In electropolishing, sometimes called reverse electroplating, the metal work piece is immersed in a temperature controlled bath of electrolyte and connected to the positive terminal (anode) of a DC power supply. The negative terminal is attached to a cathode to which the particles removed from the anode (the work piece) are attracted when electric current is applied. Often, the size, position and distance of the cathode to the work piece is controlled during the process in order to achieve the desired level of polish and to localize areas of polish.

Applications

The process also passivates the surface of some steels by enriching chromium on the surface of the steel. This surface then reacts with oxygen to create the chromium-oxide layer which is the passive layer that prevents stainless steel from rusting.

Electropolishing Benefits

• Improves appearance and reflectivity.
• Improves resistance to corrosion.
• Prepares metals for plating, anodizing or conversion coating.
• Removes edge burrs produced by mechanical cutting tools.
• Removes the stressed and disturbed layer of surface metal caused by cutting, shearing, and tearing action of mechanical stock removal and abrasive finishing.
• Removes excess material as desired for milling metal parts.
• Improves surfaces for use in sterilization in the drug industry, surgical equipment, dairy and food equipment, restaurant equipment, missile and rocket parts.
• Removes radioactive surface contamination.