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Electrolytic deflashing

1999

I am a chemical engineer in a company and facing some problem of understanding electrolytic deflashing process.

Anyone know about this process, it is anodic or cathodic process?, formula of how the process is working. For your info, we used alkaline solution in the electrolytic deflash bath.

Besides that I also want to know more about the electroplating process.

Chiang Choon Lai
- Malaysia

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Electrolytic deflashing means absolutely nothing to me. It sounds like you are removing a flash plate by reversing the charge on the part, thereby making the part (+) = anodic.

This is often done with decorative chromium in an alkaline solution.

To learn more about electroplating, consult a plating manual. The AESF here in the Americas puts out training material, for a fee, but there are many other sources. Briefly, electroplating occurs when a part is made cathodic in an appropriate electrolytic solution. This solution contains positively charged metallic ions which migrate to the negatively charged part. There are so many other factors to consider such as solution replenishment- replacement of plated out metal, constituents lost by drag-out or through reactions with air- process efficiency, generation of gas, plate characteristics, choice of anode material, etc... that cannot be briefly explained.

Megan Pellenz
- Syracuse, New York
1999

My guess is that he is referring to electropolishing, which does a nice job of removing burrs. If that is the case, contact a vendor like Metal Coating Process Corp.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
1999