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Electropolishing | |
Electropolishing
We specialize in surface treatment, surface finishing, anodizing, hardcoat anodizing, chromate conversion, electroplating, electropolishing, passivation, selective masking, abrasive blasting, chemical plating etc.
Electropolishing, also referred to as electrochemical polishing, is an electrochemical process that removes material from a metallic workpiece. It is used to polish, passivate, and deburr metal parts. It is often described as the reverse of electroplating. It differs from anodizing in that the purpose of anodizing is to grow a thick, protective oxide layer on the surface of a material (usually aluminum) rather than polish.
Commercial applications for electropolishing have been in use since the early 1950`s. Most formal research on the process occurred at that time, motivated by the growth and sophistication in electroplating technology. Today there are about 500 industrial installations nationwide, and perhaps several dozen electropolishing job shops.
Electropolishing is often referred to as a "reverse plating" process. Electrochemical in nature, electropolishing uses a combination of rectified current and a blended chemical electrolyte bath to remove flaws from the surface of a metal part.
The typical electropolishing installation is deceptively similar to a plating line. A power source converts AC current to DC at low voltages. A tank typically fabricated from steel and rubber-lined is used to hold the chemical bath. A series of lead, copper or stainless steel cathode plates are lowered into the bath and installed to the negative side of the power source. A part or group of parts are fixtured to a rack made of titanium, copper or bronze. That rack in turn is fixtured to the positive side of the power source. |
|  | | | | Other Information | | [Related Categories: Paints & Varnishes ] | [Related Keywords: Electropolishing, Passivation, Selective Masking, Abrasive Blasting, Chemical Plating, Electrophoretic Painting, Surface Treatment, Surface Finishing, Anodizing, Hardcoat Anodizing ] |
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