Electropolishing is a specialized metal plating technique which has been used for over 65 years. Now, in 2015, there are roughly 500 industrial electropolishing installations throughout the nation, as well as numerous electropolishing services shops.
The process is of electropolishing is often labeled as “reverse plating” because, electrochemical in nature, it combines rectified current with chemical electrolytes to remove flaws from the surface of a metal part. The installation process is actually incredibly similar to a plating line.
A power source converts AC to DC at very low voltages, ran through a rubber-lined tank fabricated from steel which holds the chemical mixture. A series of plates are lowered into the mixture and installed to the negative side of the power source. A part, or grouping thereof, is fixed to a rack which is affixed to the positive side of the power source. The part which is to be electropolished is then charged anodic and immersed into the chemical mixture. When the current is applied, the electrolytes act as conductor to allow metal ions to be eliminated from the part which is to be polished. The electrolyte maintains the dissolved metals in the solution as the ions are drawn to the cathode. Gassing of oxygen occurs at the metal surface, furthering the cleaning of the part.
Once this is done, the part is run through various cleaning and drying phases to remove any clinging electrolyte. When finished, the surface of the part is clean and bright. It is this brightness which earned the procedure the name of “electropolishing.”
In 1972, companies such as General Metal Finishing expanded on the electropolishing procedure. General Metal Finishing began supplying rack and barrel gold electroplating services to stamping, machining, and glass-to-metal seal companies. The company deals exclusively with ‘specification plating’ for functional applications. Their customer design engineers typically specify precise ASTM or military standards, and their products pass high-reliability tests.
If one is need of world-class electropolishing services, General Metal Finishing is going to be the best option available.
