Professional Documents
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Euro Inox
Cedinox
www.cedinox.es
Centro Inox
www.centroinox.it
Contents
Author
Alenka Kosmač, Brussels (B)
Acknowledgements
Euro Inox wishes to thank Mr. Siegfried Pießlinger–
Schweiger, Poligrat (D) and Mr. John Swain, Anopol
(UK) for their contributions and their critical reading
of the draft publication.
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1 Introduction
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Pickling removes oxides specifically heat This removes ferrous particles which would
tint (from welding) and other discolourations corrode if left on the stainless steel surface –
or corrosion products. It creates a clean for example when stainless steel parts have
metallic surface that provides the conditions been exposed to ferrous contaminants (grind-
necessary for the natural self-passivation of ing dust, rust particles from adjacent work on
stainless steel to take place. Typical compo- carbon steel, abrasion from tools, etc.)1
sitions involve nitric acid and hydrofluoric
acid. Treatment time depends on the tem- Electropolishing
perature of the solution and the degree of
contamination. Electropolishing is applied to clean metallic
surfaces, to reduce micro-roughness and
Passivating produce a number of other highly desirable
effects, described in this publication. The
The self-passivation of stainless steel nor- process depends on the principle of elec-
mally takes place spontaneously in the trolysis, involving a flow of current and a
presence of oxygen from air or water. solution of mostly sulphuric acid and ortho-
However, it can take a couple of days before phosphoric acid as an electrolyte. Treatment
the passive layer develops its full thickness. times are usually between 2 and 20 minutes.
Chemical passivation treatment speeds up
1 cf. CROOKES, Roger, Pickling and Passivating Stainless Steel, Luxembourg: Euro Inox, Second edition 2007 (Materials and
Applications Series, Volume 4) – http://www.euro-inox.org/pdf/map/Passivating_Pickling_EN.pdf
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2 The principle
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ElECTroPolIShING STAINlESS STEElS
rectifier
rack
Tank
Cathode
Cathode
Workpiece The workpiece being the
(Anode) anode of the electro-
chemical process, ma-
terial is removed from
heater the surface [3].
2 Given proper process control and procedures, there are no safety hazards, if competent electropolishing contractors are employed
who ensure that efficient ventilation systems are used during the process. These operators should also dispose of waste materi-
als, including spent acids, using approved, safe practices.
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3 Process steps
• Metal preparation: to remove surface Each of these major operations may involve
oils, greases, oxides and other contami- several tank stations to achieve the desired
nants that interfere with the uniformity of result.
electropolishing
• Electropolishing: to smooth, brighten
and/or deburr the metal
Rinsing
Pickling
Rinsing
Electropolishing Electropolishing
Drag-out / Neutralisation
Rinsing
Rinsing
Hot rinsing
Drying
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The purpose of cleaning in alkaline or solv- During electropolishing, the metal is dis-
ent cleaners is to remove any oil, grease, solved from the anodic electrode, passing
shop dirt, fingerprints or similar films left into the solution to form a soluble salt of
on the parts after manufacture. Surface the metal. All components of stainless
contaminants present on the parts during steel –iron, chromium and nickel – under-
electropolishing can lower the quality of go this reaction simultaneously, produc-
the resulting finish, which is particularly ing a controlled smoothing of the surface.
important for critical applications such as Several side reactions also occur, creating
medical, pharmaceutical and semi-conductor by-products that must be controlled to
products. Once the parts are removed from produce the highest possible quality of
the cleaner, care should be taken to avoid electropolishing.
unnecessary contact with hands or the
process equipment, as cleanliness should A typical electropolishing solution consists
be considered one of the cardinal principles of an equal volume mixture of 96% mass
of all metal finishing operations. Improper fraction sulphuric acid and 85% orthophos-
or inadequate cleaning is a common cause phoric acid. The operating conditions are
of parts being rejected. as follows:
A rinse tank serves two primary functions: • current density: 5 A/dm² to 25 A/dm² Specialist electropolish-
to remove the chemical residue from the • temperature: 40 °C to 75 °C ers ensure that health
and safety requirements
previous operation, by dilution and to act • time: 2 min to 20 min
are met. Photo: Anopol,
as a barrier to prevent drag-in to the follow- • cathodes: stainless steel, copper, lead Birmingham (UK)
ing operation.
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3 cf. VAN HECKE, Benoît, The Mechanical Finishing of Stainless Steel Decorative Surfaces, Luxembourg: Euro Inox, 2005 (Materials
and Applications Series, Vol. 6) – http://www.euro-inox.org/pdf/map/MechanicalFinishing_EN.pdf
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4.2 Electroplating
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• The number of the standard specifying electropolishing [8], the alloy designation
number and the test method(s) to be used to evaluate the article.
• The appearance required. Alternatively, a sample showing the required finish is sup-
plied by or approved by the purchaser.
• Those areas on the article where electrical contact is acceptable.
• The dimensional tolerances, if any, to be stated in the ordering document5.
• Any requirement for passivation testing6.
• Any requirement for the provision of a test report.
6 Typical applications
Piping and tubing addition, both pipe and tubing benefit from
In recent years, electropolishing has been the minimal-friction and maximum-purity
shown to provide the ultimate inner- and aspects of electropolishing. Major benefi-
outer-diameter finish for piping and tub- ciaries of electropolished piping and tubing
ing. Electropolishing is necessary when- include the petrochemical, nuclear, phar-
ever non-contaminating, non-particulating maceutical, semi-conductor and food and
and anti-fouling surfaces are required. In beverage industries.
Medical Applications
The medical field has benefited from elec-
tropolishing for many years. All hospital,
medical and surgical equipment (scalpels,
clamps, saws, coronary, bone and joint
implants, prosthetic devices, etc.) should
be electropolished to facilitate cleaning and
achieve low contamination levels. Metal
articles exposed to radiation and requiring
As prosthetic devices
regular decontamination are prime candi-
and surgical instruments
are in contact with dates for electropolishing.
corrosive body fluids,
they are electropolished
to optimise their sur-
5 Typically, 5 to 10 μm of metal are removed from the surface during electropolishing. However, up to 50 μm may be removed for
faces for corrosion resist-
additional smoothing. Greater amounts will be removed from corners and edges (i.e. areas of high current density) unless shields
ance. Photo: Anopol, and/or auxiliary cathodes are used.
Birmingham (UK) 6 Further information is available in ISO 15730 or ASTM B 912.
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Semi-conductor manufacturing
Clean rooms in semi-conductor manufac-
turing require non-contaminating and non-
particulating surfaces. An electropolished
finish is the ultimate finish for metal com-
ponents in a clean room, including tables,
chairs, equipment consoles, gas and fluid
distribution systems, waste containers,
light fixtures, exposed electrical conduit electropolishing offers the ultimate solu- Non-sticking properties
are a key requirement
and outlet boxes, vacuum chambers and tion for stainless steel pharmaceutical com-
in dosage devices used
manufacturing and processing equipment. ponents. in the pharmaceutical
industry. Photo: Centro
Pharmaceutical processing Energy exploration Inox, Milan / Delmet,
Gorgonzola (I).
Like semi-conductor manufacturers, pharma- The energy-exploration industry is a new
ceutical companies insist on super-clean customer for electropolishing. An expand-
metal surfaces. Today, the inside surfac- ing array of down-hole equipment is elec-
es of pharmaceutical mixers, dry-product tropolished, mainly for super-passivation
delivery systems, filters, strainers, vessels, against sour gas attack. In addition, many
dryers, choppers, cooling coils, plate coils, off-shore rig components, including pip-
heat exchangers and other important hard- ing, pumps, valves, condensers and thermo
ware are all electropolished. For microbio- wells, are electropolished for protection
logical or other contamination problems, against salt air and water.
Process tanks in the
pharmaceutical indus-
try are electropolished
to meet the highest
hygiene requirement.
Photo: Centro Inox,
Milan (I)
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7 Glossary
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Even large parts like grinding usually being the first step in pol-
polymerisation reactors
ishing operations
can be electropolished.
Photo: Poligrat, matt finish
Munich (D)
a uniform finish of fine texture, virtually
without specular reflectivity
measurement area
the surface area that is examined for con-
formity to one or more specified require-
ments
passivating
imparting passivity to a metal surface or to
electroplating
an electrodeposited coating
electrodeposition
deposing an adherent coating of a metal or pickling
an alloy upon a substrate by electrolysis, to removing oxides or other compounds from
secure a surface with properties or dimen- a metal surface by chemical or electro-
sions different from those of the base metal chemical action
grinding
polishing
removing material from the surface of a
workpiece by means of abrasives contained
in or bonded to a rigid or flexible holder,
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8 References
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ISBN 978-2-87997-310-4
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