The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
  

  -----

Mechanical finishing before electropolishing a 316SS tank

August 30, 2011

Hello,

I am designing a small open top mixing tank, 1000 liters working volume, SS316 to be used for washcoat slurry. I am thinking of electropolishing the inside to reduce product sticking to the tank wall but I need to know what is the best finish to do before electropolishing and what is the best recommended electropolishing to do.

Thank you,

Ghazi Toutounji
design engineer - Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

---

Hi, Ghazi.

For this particular application, where you're not concerned with waviness or with optical or aesthetic properties, I don't think mechanical pretreatment is required. The tank should be alkaline cleaned (preferably electrocleaned), thoroughly rinsed, and then electropolished. However, proper electropolishing requires a water-free solution plus careful control of current density to avoid etching, and is not as easy as falling off a log. I think you should send the tank out for electropolishing if you have no experience with it. Good luck.

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
August 31, 2011

Thank you for the feedback and sorry for the late response.

Ghazi Toutounji
- Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
October 4, 2011