Summary for electrolytes used in electropolishing Discussion
Electrolytes used in electropolishing of SS-304 is the core question here: Anurag M., a design engineer making condensers for the sugar industry, asked which electrolyte and electrodes would give a better finish on SS-304 after phosphoric and sulfuric acids did not produce good results. The only answer in the thread did not give a specific electrolyte recipe. Instead, Ted Mooney, P.E. pointed the reader to the Electroplating Engineering Handbook for guidance on electropolishing methods. Because no detailed process parameters, electrolyte composition, or electrode recommendation were provided in the thread, the page mainly serves as a pointer to a reference source rather than a direct solution.
Q. I am working as a design engineer, we are in search of electropolishing methods for specifically SS-304, since we are manufacturing condensers for sugar industry. We had used some electrolytes phosphoric and sulfuric acids, but not getting finishing well. So, kindly guide me by which method of electropolishing we can perform means which electrolyte and electrodes will give good finishing. Looking forward to your reply.
Anurag M [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
Design Engineer – Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, India
2004
A. Hi, Anurag. Please see the
Electroplating Engineering Handbook ⇦ this on
eBay,
AbeBooks, or
Amazon [affil link]
for details on the various possible electrolytes, and try to express what process(es) you tried and what problems you encountered in terms of the solutions and methods shown there,. More detail can be found in
The Electrolytic and Chemical Polishing of Metals by Tegart (although I don’t have that volume myself).
All of the solutions mentioned in the EEH are workable, including straight sulfuric and sulfuric-phosphoric, so it’s probably a little unrealistic to try to cover such a broad subject as what electropolishing solution formulations might be better in the few paragraphs commensurate with an internet dialog; but if you have some highly specific questions I think our readers can help. Thanks, and good luck!
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
2004