Electropolishing Service for Aluminum

Aluminum is used more and more today due to the reasonable cost, ease of machining and light weight. The only negative issue that arises with aluminum is the limited metal finishing options. Unlike stainless steels, you cannot passivate aluminum in order to remove the contaminants on the surface. In addition, there are few options for improving microfinish after machining. Electropolishing is an effective means for providing a part that has an enhanced surface finish and clean surface. Many companies use the electropolishing for parts that are assembled in a clean room, such as laser components.

Aluminum Alloys & Electropolishing

Aluminum is generally separated two main categories: casting and wrought alloys. Casting alloys are comprised of high amounts of silicon. This lends the casting alloys their low melting points and decent fluidity. But at the same time, lessens their desirable smooth finish.

Wrought alloys have significantly different compositions and microstructures from casting alloys. A wrought aluminum part that has been electropolished will exhibit an improved surface and will be contaminant-free. The surface will also display a shiny finish.

Common aluminum alloys and the results that can be achieved through electropolishing:

ALUMINUM COMMENT
1008 Good Bright Finish After Electropolishing
1100 Excellent Mirror Type Finish After Electropolishing
2014 Satin-Pitted Finish – Not Suited for Electropolishing
2024 Bright Finish After Electropolislhing (Slight Pitting)
3003 Good Reflective Finish After Electropolishing
4032 Gray Finish – May Come Out Better With More S/R
5052 Good Reflective Finish After Electropolishing
5086 Good Bright Finish After Electropolishing
5350 (Cast) Bright Finish After Electropolishing (Pitted)
5657 Good Bright Finish After Electropolishing
6061 Good Bright Finish After Electropolishing
6082 Good Bright Finish After Electropolishing
6105-T5 Excellent Finish After Electropolishing
6463 Bright Finish After Electropolishing (Some Pitting)
7050 Good Bright Finish After Electropolishing
7073 Good Bright Finish After Electropolishing
7075 Good Bright Finish After Electropolishing
Al Cu 31 Bright Finish After Electropolishing (Pitted & Rough)
Al EA70-2 Very Bright Finish After Electropolishing
ALUZINC Good Finish After Electropolishing (Some Pitting)
2011 (Bright Finish After Electropolishing (Slight Pitting)

Advantages of Electropolishing Aluminum

Why electropolish aluminum? Corrosion always begins on or near the metal’s surface. Unfortunately, all handling and fabricating procedures will eventually degrade the surface integrity and properties. Surface contaminants, including metallic particles, iron, dirt, and grease are a fundamental part of welding, machining, and other fabrication procedures. Mechanical polishing, cutting, handling, and polishing tend to result in extraneous iron and other abrasive particles that are embedded within the surface of the material. These surface contaminants break down the aluminums’ naturally occurring corrosion resistant oxide layer and are often the site where corrosion begins. The electropolishing process dissolves a minute layer of surface material and contaminants, thus freeing embedded particles and increasing the part’s lifespan.

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Additional Benefits of Electropolishing Aluminum

  • Increased Resistance to Corrosion
  • Improved Surface Finish
  • Reduced Product Adhesion & Ease of Cleaning
  • Deburring
  • Attractive Appearance

Ultimately, electropolished aluminum will increase the part’s resistance to pitting, localized galvanic corrosion, surface corrosion, crevice corrosion, cracking, stress corrosion, and microbiological corrosion.

At Able Electropolishing, we perform our signature electropolishing treatment on a variety of metal alloys, including aluminum. Following our treatment, parts have an enhanced corrosion resistance, improved microfinish, and are clean and free of harmful contaminants. Along with the commonly used 6061 aluminum, our process is suitable with other alloys such as 1100, 3003, 5002 and 7075.

Able: Your Aluminum Electropolishing Suppliers

Contact us to see how we can utilize our metal finishing capabilities for your aluminum parts.

Contact us to learn more about aluminum electropolishing

Learn About the Electropolishing Difference


Electropolishing 101 Webinar

Electropolishing 101
Lunch & Learn 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. Lunch will be provided!

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Try Electropolishing for Free: Sample Request

Try Electropolishing for Free:
Sample Request

Send us your parts/prototypes and we’ll electropolish them for free – we’ll even pay for the shipping! Samples are processed in 24-48 hours.

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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 withelectropolishing 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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