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Electrolytes used in electropolishing of SS-304

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 [on AbeBooks or eBay or Amazon] 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
2004

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