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Refractory Metal

Electropolishing & Deburring Service for Niobium

Electropolishing for superconducting RF cavities, particle accelerators, implants, and aerospace.

SuperconductorRF Cavities

BiocompatibleImplant

In-HouseElectrolytes

#1Largest Electropolishing Specialist

Niobium is a soft, ductile refractory metal known for excellent corrosion resistance and superconducting properties.

Electropolishing is critical for superconducting RF cavities, where surface quality controls the accelerating gradient.

Able’s in-house electrolytes are formulated to handle niobium and other refractory metals, consistently removing .0002″–.0005″ measured from thickness or diametrical.

Try Able Electropolishing for free. Send us your niobium sample parts, we pay shipping and return your samples in 2–3 days.

Benefits of Electropolishing Niobium

RF
⚡

Superconducting RF

Ultra-smooth for cavity performance.

Biocompat
🏥

Implants

Improved biocompatibility.

Clean
🧹

Contaminant Removal

For high-purity superconductors.

Deburr
🔬

Complex Deburring

Without distorting thin walls.

Jewelry
💎

Consumer Products

Bright for anodized niobium.

Nuclear
🛡️

Nuclear Grade

Accelerator and nuclear requirements.

Before & After

Electropolishing Results: Niobium

BEFORE EP
→
AFTER EP

Niobium, Visual Finish

Ultra-smooth finish for superconducting cavities.

Before: 16–32 µin RaAfter: 12–24 µin Ra
SEM: BEFORE ELECTROPOLISHING
SEM: AFTER ELECTROPOLISHING

Niobium, 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

Niobium Components We Electropolish

RF Cavities

Accelerator performance.

Medical Implants

Biocompatibility.

Jewelry

Anodizable surfaces.

Aerospace

Niobium superalloy components.

Capacitors

High-reliability anodes.

Nuclear Research

Nuclear-grade clean.

Niobium 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 Niobium 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