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Aluminum

Electropolishing Service for Aluminum

Wrought aluminum alloys electropolished to bright, mirror-type finishes — the only electrochemical finishing option for aluminum, where passivation cannot be used.

Superior Surface Finish
Resistance

Enhanced Corrosion
Resistance

Improved Cleanliness

Consistent & Reliable

Able can electropolish a wide variety of aluminum parts. Aluminum divides into casting and wrought alloys, with wrought grades, including 1100, 3003, 6061, and 6105-T5, producing significantly better electropolishing results.

Passivation cannot be performed on aluminum, so electropolishing is the only electrochemical finishing process available to improve the microfinish and remove embedded contaminants after machining.

Handling and fabrication embed metallic particles, iron, dirt, and oils in the surface. Electropolishing removes these contaminants and removes 0.001″ to 0.0015″ of material, measured from thickness or diameter, uniformly reaching recessed areas and complex geometries that mechanical polishing cannot.

Send us your aluminum samples to electropolish free of charge. We’ll even pay for shipping. Samples processed and returned in a few days.

Benefits of Electropolishing Aluminum

Mirror
💎

Mirror-Type Finishes

Wrought grades such as 1100 electropolish to an outstanding mirror-type finish — the best result achievable on aluminum, ideal for reflectors and decorative parts.

Only Option
🛡️

The Only Electrochemical Option

Passivation cannot be performed on aluminum. Electropolishing is the only electrochemical finishing process available to brighten, clean, and deburr aluminum parts.

Up to 50%
✨

Microfinish Improvement

Electropolishing dissolves surface peaks and removes oxides, improving Ra values by as much as 50% for a smoother, brighter aluminum surface.

Ultraclean
🧹

Contaminant Removal

Handling and fabrication embed iron, dirt, and metallic particles. Electropolishing strips embedded contaminants — critical for cleanroom and semiconductor aluminum components.

No Distortion
⚙️

Deburr Without Distortion

Removes .001"–.0015" measured from thickness or diameter and dissolves micro-burrs with no mechanical distortion or change to part geometry.

Reflective
🔬

Enhanced Reflectivity

A brighter, smoother surface increases reflectivity for optical reflectors, lighting, and decorative aluminum applications.

Before & After

Electropolishing Results: 6061 Aluminum

BEFORE EP
→
AFTER EP

6061 Aluminum — Visual Finish

Good, bright reflective finish after electropolishing. Embedded contaminants and machining marks are removed, leaving a clean, smooth aluminum surface.

Before: 16–20 µin RaAfter: 8–10 µin Ra
SEM — BEFORE ELECTROPOLISHING
SEM — AFTER ELECTROPOLISHING

6061 Aluminum — SEM Surface Topography (500×)

Scanning electron microscopy reveals how electropolishing dissolves surface peaks, eliminates machining marks, and removes embedded contaminants.

Rough: peaks, burrs, inclusionsSmooth: uniform passive layer

Aluminum Components We Electropolish

Aerospace Structures

Skin panels, brackets, and interior structural components in 6061 and 6105-T5 — electropolished to remove machining marks and improve fatigue resistance.

Semiconductor & Vacuum Equipment

Gas-handling components, chambers, and fittings — electropolished to an ultraclean surface that minimizes particle entrapment and outgassing.

Electronics & Consumer Housings

Enclosures, housings, and heat sinks — electropolished for a bright, attractive finish and improved corrosion resistance.

Optical Reflectors

Mirrors, lighting reflectors, and solar concentrators in 1100 — electropolished to a mirror-type finish for maximum reflectivity.

Automotive Trim & Heat Shields

Decorative trim and heat shields — electropolished to brighten the surface and remove burrs without mechanical distortion.

Medical Device Components

Instrument housings and imaging hardware — electropolished for clean, smooth, easily sterilized aluminum surfaces.

Aluminum Alloy Finish Results

Expected finish quality from Able's electropolishing process based on extensive production experience.

Alloy Able Finish Quality EP Benefit Typical Parts Ra Before → After

Our Electropolishing Process

1

Part Evaluation

Alloy grade, geometry, heat treat condition, and finish specifications assessed by our experts.

2

Cleaning & Prep

Oils, oxides, and machining contaminants removed. Custom racking for optimal current distribution.

3

Electropolishing

Proprietary electrolyte dissolves surface peaks uniformly. A clean, passive oxide layer forms simultaneously.

4

Rinse & Dry

Thorough multi-stage rinse and controlled drying to preserve the electropolished surface quality.

5

QC & Delivery

Inspected per specification, documented, packed and shipped promptly.

Contact us to learn more about Aluminum electropolishing

Learn About the Electropolishing Difference


Electropolishing 101 Webinar

Electropolishing 101
Webinar

Learn everything you need to know about electropolishing as part of a private, interactive webinar. Let us know your availability and your part issues and our electropolishing experts can get you on our schedule.

Schedule Your Private Webinar
Try Electropolishing for Free: Sample Request

Try Electropolishing for Free:
Sample Request

Send us your parts and we'll electropolish them for free – we'll even pay for the shipping! Samples are processed and returned in a few days.

Request a Sample

Medical Device Manufacturing

Medical Device Manufacturing

From implantable devices to surgical instruments, electropolishing is a single-process treatment that results in biocompatible, safe and ultra clean parts.

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Aerospace

Aerospace

We offer aerospace vendors and original equipment manufacturers our signature metal finishing services to increase fatigue-resistance for their metal parts, rendering them capable of withstanding the stress and corrosion that comes with long-term use.

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Pharmaceutical

Pharmaceutical

Our strict adherence to industry standards ensures that pharmaceutical components are electropolished in accordance with ASTM B912 and ASME BPE specifications. These products are clean and smooth, corrosion resistant and contaminant free.

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Automotive

Automotive

Corrosion resistance and microfinish improvement are essential for critical automotive parts, making electropolishing an increasingly beneficial option for automakers.

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Consumer Appliance

Consumer Appliance

Our metal finishing services help increase corrosion resistance for these parts, and by removing the outermost layer of metal with electropolishing the durability and longevity of these appliance components is increased.

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Food & Beverage

Food & Beverage

Electropolishing materials for this industry eliminates the buildup of bacterial biofilms, as well as keeping the equipment free of contaminants like Salmonella. Electropolishing delivers the level of sanitation required by a number of regulatory agencies.

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Hydraulics & Pneumatics

Hydraulics & Pneumatics

From robotics to mobile equipment, the uses of electropolishing in the hydraulics and pneumatics industry are many. By helping prevent premature part failure, electropolishing reduces downtime and increases the life cycle of these components.

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Electronics

Electronics

Improving conductivity and performance is just one benefit electropolishing offers for electronics parts. The surface finish is improved by as much as 50%, removing imperfections from the material without material removal.

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Electropolishing, Passivation and Metal Surface Analytics Blog

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Frequently Asked Questions

What services does Able Electropolishing provide?

We provide electropolishing, nitric & citric passivation, and vacuum vapor degreasing.

What are the maximum part sizes that can be processed for electropolishing, passivation, and vapor degreasing?

Electropolishing:

  • 300 & 400 series stainless steel: 108” Length x 41” Width x 42” Height
  • Copper, brass, aluminum, steel, and nickel alloys: 72” Length x 14” Width x 17” Height (best results are achieved on parts that are no larger than 12” square)
  • Titanium, Nitinol, tungsten, and niobium, etc. (refractory metals): 26” Length x 8-3/4” Width x 9-3/4” Height

Passivation:

  • Standard nitric acid passivation: 72” Length x 30” Width x 30” Height
  • Nitric acid/sodium dichromate: 20” Length, 20” Width x 20” Height
  • Citric acid: 26” Length x 18” Width x 15” Height

Vapor degrease:

  • Vapor degrease (vacuum): 23” Length x 16” Width x 10” Height

Note: If there is a question regarding our capabilities, please email a print for review to sales@ableelectropolishing.com.

What information do you require in order to receive a quotation?

We need a copy of the drawing, service needed, lot and annual quantities, process specification and packaging requirements.

What is your standard lead-time?

Standard delivery is 3 to 5 working days after receipt of order. Next day and same day services are offered at an additional cost. Please contact our sales department for further details.

What is the difference between passivation and electropolishing?

Passivation is a chemical process designed to remove free iron and other contaminants from the part surface. Electropolishing is an electro-chemical process that removes surface metal which improves micro finish, provides deburring and adds to the aesthetics of your part.

Contact an Electropolishing Expert Today