The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Electropolishing Plain Carbon Steel

Q. I'm interested in obtaining a smooth (LE to 1micron) finish on some spheroidized 1080 specimens. I'd also like to avoid surface damage and so would prefer electropolishing over mechanical polishing. If anyone out there has electropolished plain carbon steels I'd greatly appreciate any advice (incl. pitfalls) you'd be willing to give. Specifically:

* what type of electrolyte is preferred (I've experimented with 20 Perchloric/70 Ethanol/10 Butyl Cellosolve)?

* what improvement should I expect in RMS roughness (how strongly dependent is this on initial mechanical finish - say 240 vs 600 grit)?

Jon Almer
Northwestern University
1997

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Q. Hi!

I'm currently working upon electropolishing carbon steels using R.Edmonsons solution (75% Glycerine/@5% Hydrochloric acid ). the solution works well for "electromachining" purposes but there is no gloss imparted to the polished surface.Also sometime I have "pitting" problems..why so? and could you suggest a brightener for better results?

thanks

Ivan

Ivan Gaspari
- Italy
2000

Q. Hi,

I am trying to polish carbon steel (6%) using electroplating. I had tried from a supplier's solution with H3PO3 and their patent product, the result was not good; no shiny and blur formed on the surface.

Anyone can recommend me a better solution?

Thanks.

Eric Koh
Plating - Singapore
2004

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Q. Hi; please give me information about electropolishing process on the steel & cast iron. I need to get good surface metal before nickel & silver decorative plating. Thank you

HAMID REZVANI
- TEHRAN, IRAN
2006

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December 10, 2009

Q. Hi,
What's the best solution for electropolishing carbon steel?
One suggested Glycerine/Hydrochloric acid. But he was not sure about it.
Any idea?
Thanks,
H

Hamid S
Post-Doc - Canada

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Q. Sirs,

I would like to electropolish one of our component which require very good surface finish and should be non-sticky (fibres should not stick over it while passing). I would like to know the best process and chemicals available for electropolishing of cold rolled low carbon steel sheets.

Also would be glad if you could suggest few precautions and preparatory steps to be followed during the process to get good surface finish and best results.

Thanks in advance.

Vijayalakshmi.S.R
Design Engineer - Coimbatore, INDIA
2005

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Electropolishing AISI 1095 turns it black instead of chrome-like

Q. Our material is AISI 1095 . We want chrome-like finish how do we get it? We have tried once but it got blackened.

Gaurav Sharma
business owner - India
2007

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Electropolishing MAKE-UP solution for low carbon steel lighting reflectors

Q. Hi! I am PRIMO a technician in a simple electroplating shop here in the middle east.. I would like to be technically guided by doing "ELECTROPOLISHING". I made a make-up solution which didn't work..Here's the data: SULFURIC ACID - 15%, PHOSPHORIC ACID - 63%, CHROMIC ACID - 10%, WATER - remainder, TEMP - 52C, CURRENT DENSITY - 50-1000 ASF.

We are planning to find a process in electroplating so to lower our cost in manufacturing the lighting reflectors. Currently our fabricator is using stainless steel which is a little bit expensive so we're finding ways to electropolish a LOW CARBON FLAT SHEET if possible. My question is, can we electropolish low carbon steel or flat sheet to make it luster with this composition?

If not, please suggest another make-up solution or an alternative plating process that will cut our cost of plating and that will give the luster for those reflectors ... I'm thinking of FLASH CHROME but do I need to have the flat sheet buffed or mirror polished before the flash chrome to get the luster or how? ALL HELP will be very much appreciated

Samson Barrameda
jobshop employee - Manila, Philippines
September 6, 2010

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Electropolishing of Carbon Steel Crankshaft

Q. Hi everyone,
We are trying to have mirror surface on a carbon steel Crankshaft. I want to do this with electropolishing, so I have some questions about the electrolyte and the preferred voltage, and it will be very helpful if you know any formula because I don't find any formula in any handbooks.

salar rohani
- Iran
August 17, 2017

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Electropolishing High Strength Steel

Q. Hello, I am trying to electropolish high strength steel. I have previously experimented with a solution of phosphoric and sulfuric acid, but found that pitting was unavoidable. I am currently trying a solutions of ethanol 80%, perchloric acid 60% (6%), and water 14 mL. I find that this polished the steel extremely quickly (about 15 seconds), but I get a white milky coating on top of the steel that seems like a layer of oxides. I have been running the electropolish bath at 60V (that voltage atlas gives me an even white film), and found that at 45 V a weird brownish/red sludge appears on the surface (insoluble anode product?). Is there any advice on how I can get rid of this white film/improve the process?

Jack Forman
Student - Englewood, New Jersey, USA
September 19, 2017