Electropolishing

ELECTROPOLISHING

Electropolishing, also known as electrochemical polishing or electrolytic polishing (especially in the metallography field), is an electrochemical process that removes material from a metallic work piece. It is used to polish, passivate, and deburr metal parts. It is often described as the reverse of electroplating. It may be used in lieu of abrasive fine polishing in microstructural preparation.

Electropolishing has many applications in the metal finishing industry because of its simplicity and it can be applied to objects of complex shape. Typical examples are electropolished stainless steel drums of washing machines and stainless steel surgical devices. Electropolishing is also commonly applied to the preparation of thin metal samples for transmission electron microscopy because electropolishing does not cause mechanical deformation of surface layers usually observed when mechanical polishing is used. Ultra high vacuum (UHV) components are typically electropolished in order to have a smoother surface for improved vacuum pressures, outgassing rates, and pumping speed.

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BENEFITS OF ELECTROPOLISHING INCLUDE:

Removes iron from the surface and enhances the chromium/ nickel content providing the most superior form of passivation for stainless steel.

Provides a clean and smooth surface that is easier to sterilize.
Polishes areas inaccessible by other polishing methods.
Improves the surface finish by leveling micro peaks and valleys.
Removes a small amount of material from the surface of the parts, also removing small burrs.
Can be used to reduce the size of some parts when necessary.
Results are seen by many as aesthetically-pleasing.

Electroplating, the process of coating a metal object with a thin layer of another metal by means of electrolysis. Electroplating is used to give metal objects a better appearance or to protect them from corrosion, wear, or rust.

Electroplating is primarily used to change the surface properties of an object (e.g. abrasion and wear resistance, corrosion protection, lubricity, aesthetic qualities, etc.), but may also be used to build up thickness on undersized parts or to form objects by electroforming.

Tableware, trays, decorative pieces, and jewelry are plated with gold or silver to make them more attractive. Copper is coated with chromium to protect it from corrosion. For the same reason iron and steel are plated with nickel, chromium, tin, zinc, or cadmium. Tin cans, for example, are tin-plated steel, and the chrome trim on automobiles is chromium-plated steel. Platinum, palladium, and rhodium are used to coat other metals with a hard, corrosion-resistant surface.

Electroplating, the process of coating a metal object with a thin layer of another metal by means of The process used in electroplating is called electrodeposition. The most common form of electroplating is used for creating coins such as pennies, which are small zinc plates covered in a layer of copper.

Our Electroplating, Anodizing, Passivation and Coating Services Include:

Zinc, Cadmium, Aluminum Anodizing, Hard Anodizing, Nickel, Electroless Nickel, Tin, Copper, Silver, Gold, RoHS Compliant plating, Passivation, and Coatings (Chromate Conversion Coating, Zinc Phosphate, Manganese Phosphate and Dow 7).

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