Removes iron impurities from the stainless steel alloys restoring the surface integrity of the chrome/nickel with considerably improved corrosion resistance.
Electropolishing the surface of stainless steel, removes embedded particles and inclusions. Electropolishing dissolves iron from the material leaving the surface with a higher concentration of chromium. When the smooth electropolished surface is naturally exposed to oxygen it will form a thicker and more uniform oxide layer further improving its corrosion properties.
Electropolished stainless steels resist pitting corrosion, crevice corrosion and stress corrosion cracking when subjected to hostile environments.
Surface smoothness improves by rounding the peaks and troughs on the surface resulting in more effective cleaning and sterilisation of the surface of medical, food and beverage, vacuum and semi-conductive manufacturing equipment.
Improved smooth surfaces do more than enhance the appearance of a component. Superior surface finishes will lower friction, increase effectiveness of seals and the overall reduction of surface area will be more effective in the reflection of heat and light.
The surface roughness can be measured with a meter that measures by passing a diamond tipped stylus across the surface reading the roughness in either micro-inches (µin) or micro-meters (µm). Electropolishing will significantly improve a surface finish because it is not a surface coating, therefore reducing the risk of surface variation or peeling over time.
Considerably improves the surface passivation of stainless steel alloys.
Electropolishing removes surface material and surface impurities, the process will in most cases dissolve iron inclusions and embedded particles from the surface.
Electropolishing improves the surface integrity of stainless steel. Removing embedded particles also improves the physical properties of the material alloy elements. The electropolishing process dissolves iron leaving more surface chromium. With exposure to oxygen the surface oxide layer will be thicker and more uniform further improving its corrosion resistance properties.
Electropolishing maximises corrosion resistance in stainless steel and resists pitting corrosion, crevice corrosion, stress corrosion cracking and environmental hostile corrosion.
Burrs are removed during the electropolishing process.
Electropolishing will deburr precision parts. During the process the current density is more effective at the high points and lesser at the low points of the surface profile. The reaction is directly proportionate to the current density. The raised points (i.e the burrs) dissolve faster levelling the surface of the material whilst polishing at the same time.
Other forms of deburring are too harsh for detailed and fragile parts, controlled electropolishing being a non mechanical process means no risk of distortion and is also more cost effective. Burr removal by electropolishing is limited to burrs 0.051mm or less, burrs larger will require longer process time, this may affect other critical dimensions of the component part. Trial sampling is advised.
Lower surface friction results in reduced adhesion making cleaning easier and less time consuming.
Improves surface disruption introduced by cutting or mechanical finishing.
Improved surface brightness and reflectivity.
Cost effective polishing of large numbers of small parts that make mechanical polishing impractical.
Removes impurities unavoidably introduced during manufacturing.
Cutting, machining, forming, punching and polishing will leave iron and abrasives embedded in the material surface. These contaminates disrupt the formation of stainless steels and are the source of future corrosion. Electropolishing removes surface material and, with it, surface contaminants, dissolving free iron inclusions and embedded particles from the surface.
Substantial cost savings for small irregular shaped parts that are impractical to mechanically polish.
