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Electropolishing of Tungsten Carbide

Q. Hello,
We make precise tungsten carbide parts which are finished by lapping with diamond paste. We achieve finishes of Ra value of around 0.03 microns with this process, starting with an EDM microfinish of 0.1 microns.

I was wondering if it is possible to electropolish tungsten carbide parts (we have both nickel and cobalt binder based WC)

Geometrically, our parts are already in tolerance, and lapping is being done only to improve the surface finish, so if electropolishing can be done, then lapping may be eliminated.

We have already tried small experiments with NaOH electrolyte but it leaches the tungsten and leaves a dark/dull finish, which looks carbon based.

Any help or pointers will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Gaurav Jain
- Gurgaon, Haryana, India
March 7, 2022

Q. Hello Gaurav,
I need info about Carbide Electro polishing
Please contact asap, send mail on my id.

Thanks & Regards

Vaishnav Pol
- Kolhapur
August 9, 2023

Hi Vaishnav,
If you want to privately hook up with others, Facebook has a number of plating groups which don't seem to be of much value for anything but that and spam :-)

Sorry, but this site can't offer a private matchmaking service; rather, we operate a public forum. Apologies but please post details of exactly what you are trying to do, and what successes and failures you have met with, and there is a good chance that one of our thousands of daily readers will be able to help ... but Gaurav's complaint of leaching does seem common.

Google.com and scholar.google.com quickly showed me four technical articles on the subject, but all were behind paywalls. Luck & Regards,

pic of Ted Mooney
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey

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