Letter 39084

Electropolishing: History facts wanted  

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When was electropolishing discovered and who was it? Where did it happen?

I only know that it was in America and the proces was discovered "by accident" because of changing the electric poles during the galvanic process.

Where can I read, how electropolishing works? What is the acid made of?

I know that electropolishing works only with material with highly Cromium- and Ni-percentage (but I don't really understand WHY). What mechanisms are running while the electric power is on?

I am a HVAC-engineer and additional welding engineer and work in the pharmaceutical industry (obeyeing building new plants for WFI (water for injection), Purified Water and clean steam). These plants are made of 316L-material (mechanical polished or electropolished). This material is nearly the same as 1.4404.

Thank you and best regards.

Marc Warzawa, Welding Engineer, Germany
pharmaceutical industry (engineer) - Stuttgart, Germany

Try to find Eugen G.Leuze Verlag book on history of electroplating (Geschichte der Galvanotechnik)-I think that very good German book on this subject is old Detnner/Elze(Hrsg) Handbuch der Galvanotechnik (in four books).English Translation of one very good Russian book exist too.Visit Eugen G.Leuze Verlag website! Good luck!

Goran Budija
- Zagreb, Croatia

Very good book on that subject is Electropolishing, Anodizing and Electrolytic Pickling of Metals by N.P,Fedot'ev,S.Ya.Grilikhes(Robert Drapper,Teddington).Good Luck!

Goran Budija
- Zagreb, Croatia