Want to Learn More About Electropolishing? Sign Up for Our Virtual Lunch & Learn!
Specialty Alloy

Electropolishing & Deburring Service for Hastelloy Alloys

Outstanding finishes similar to 316 SS — enhanced corrosion resistance for the most aggressive chemical, pharmaceutical, and industrial environments.

Like 316 SS
Outstanding Finish
Chemical
Resistance Leader
Pitting
Crevice & SCC
#1
Largest EP Specialist

Hastelloy superalloys deliver outstanding resistance to severe corrosive environments — acids, oxidizing media, and mixed chemistries that rapidly destroy conventional stainless steels. Electropolishing takes that inherent corrosion resistance and pushes it further by removing the surface layer of free iron and embedded contaminants that form during machining or fabrication.

Electropolished Hastelloy produces bright finishes comparable to 316 stainless steel while preserving the alloy’s full nickel-molybdenum-chromium corrosion performance. The process simultaneously deburrs, micro-smooths, and passivates — in a single operation.

Hastelloy is specified where other alloys fail: chemical reactors, pharmaceutical equipment, nuclear reprocessing systems, and flue gas desulfurization components. Electropolishing ensures the surface lives up to the alloy’s reputation.

Send us your Hastelloy parts for a free evaluation. We’ll electropolish them at no charge — samples returned in 2–3 days. If electropolishing is incorporated at the design stage, material removal can be factored into final part specifications.

Benefits of Electropolishing Hastelloy

Like 316 SS
💎

Outstanding Surface Finish

Electropolishing produces bright, reflective finishes on Hastelloy comparable to 316 stainless steel — premium appearance combined with maximum chemical resistance for the most demanding process environments.

Corrosion
🛡️

Pitting & Crevice Resistance

Removing surface free iron and embedded contaminants through electropolishing dramatically enhances pitting, crevice corrosion, and stress corrosion cracking resistance — critical in aggressive chloride and acid environments.

Weld
🔥

Weld Zone Cleanup

Heat-affected zones and weld oxides compromise the corrosion performance of Hastelloy. Electropolishing removes these zones and restores the full corrosion resistance of the base alloy across the entire surface.

Cleanability
🧹

Ultra-Clean CIP-Compatible Surfaces

The micro-smooth electropolished surface supports clean-in-place (CIP) and sterilize-in-place (SIP) protocols in pharmaceutical and bioprocessing equipment — meeting ASME-BPE surface finish requirements.

Flow
✨

Improved Flow Characteristics

Reduced surface roughness lowers turbulence and product adhesion in process piping, vessels, and heat exchangers — critical for fluid handling efficiency in chemical processing and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Service Life
⚙️

Extended Component Life

Electropolished Hastelloy components consistently outlast untreated parts in the most aggressive chemical environments — reducing unplanned downtime, maintenance costs, and replacement frequency in critical process equipment.

Before & After

Electropolishing Results: Hastelloy C

BEFORE EP
→
AFTER EP

Hastelloy C — Visual Finish

Electropolishing produces an outstanding bright finish on Hastelloy C comparable to 316 stainless steel — with full preservation of the alloy's exceptional chemical resistance for pharmaceutical, chemical, and nuclear applications.

Before: 8–16 µin RaAfter: 4–8 µin Ra
SEM: BEFORE EP
SEM: AFTER EP

Hastelloy C — SEM Surface Topography (500×)

Scanning electron microscopy shows how electropolishing dissolves surface peaks, eliminates grinding and polishing marks, and removes embedded contaminants — leaving a uniform, passive surface primed for maximum chemical resistance.

Rough: peaks, burrs, inclusionsSmooth: uniform passive layer

Hastelloy Components We Electropolish

Chemical Reactors & Vessels

Reactor vessels, columns, and agitators exposed to aggressive acid, mixed chemical, and oxidizing environments — electropolished to maximize corrosion resistance and surface cleanliness in critical chemical process equipment.

Pharmaceutical & Bioprocessing Equipment

ASME-BPE process vessels, piping, heat exchangers, and fittings requiring ultra-clean, CIP-compatible surfaces — electropolished to meet pharmaceutical-grade surface finish requirements for drug manufacturing facilities.

Flue Gas Desulfurization Components

Scrubber liners, ductwork, dampers, and spray headers exposed to hot sulfuric acid condensate and chloride-rich scrubbing liquors — electropolished for maximum pitting and crevice corrosion resistance.

Nuclear Reprocessing Hardware

Critical components in high-radiation, concentrated nitric acid reprocessing environments — electropolished to remove surface contaminants and ensure the highest possible corrosion resistance in nuclear service.

Pulp & Paper Bleach Plant Equipment

Bleach plant vessels, piping, and fittings handling chlorine dioxide, hypochlorite, and other highly oxidizing bleaching agents — electropolished for extended service life in this demanding corrosion environment.

Waste Treatment Systems

Components exposed to mixed acids, caustics, oxidizing waste streams, and high-temperature corrosive media — electropolished to maintain surface integrity and extend service intervals in industrial waste processing facilities.

Heat Exchangers & Piping

Hastelloy heat exchanger tubes, shell components, and process piping — electropolished to improve heat transfer efficiency, reduce fouling, and maximize corrosion resistance in aggressive chemical process streams.

Valves, Fittings & Pump Components

Valve bodies, seats, stems, pump impellers, and fluid-handling fittings — electropolished for improved flow characteristics, reduced corrosion attack, and extended service life in the most demanding chemical environments.

Hastelloy 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, and specification requirements assessed by our experts.

2

Cleaning & Prep

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

3

Electropolishing

Proprietary electrolyte dissolves surface peaks. Uniform passive layer forms.

4

Passivation

Uniform corrosion-resistant oxide layer formed and verified per specification.

5

QC & Delivery

Inspected per specification, packed and shipped.

Contact us to learn more about Hastelloy 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

Pharmaceutical

Pharmaceutical

Our strict adherence to industry standards ensures that pharmaceutical components are electropolished in accordance with ASTM B912 and ASME BPE specifications.

Learn More  

Food & Beverage

Food & Beverage

Electropolishing eliminates the buildup of bacterial biofilms and keeps equipment free of contaminants, delivering the level of sanitation required by regulatory agencies.

Learn More  

Aerospace

Aerospace

We offer aerospace vendors and original equipment manufacturers our signature metal finishing services to increase fatigue-resistance for their metal parts.

Learn More  

Hydraulics & Pneumatics

Hydraulics & Pneumatics

From robotics to mobile equipment, electropolishing helps prevent premature part failure, reducing downtime and increasing the life cycle of hydraulic and pneumatic components.

Learn More  

Electropolishing, Passivation and Metal Surface Analytics Blog

High-Quality Electropolishing for Small and Intricate Parts

Metal fabrication for parts used in the medical and electronics industries can involve dimensions as small as a grain of rice — or even a strand of hair. At that scale, surface defects may be invisible to the naked eye,…

Read More

When is Stainless Steel Passivation Required?

While stainless steel is known for its corrosion resistance, it contains iron, which is susceptible to corrosion, especially if parts are frequently exposed to moisture or harsh environments. Contamination left behind by machining processes can also impede the corrosion resistance…

Read More

Electropolishing Specialist vs. a Local Metal Finishing Company

Electropolishing is a highly controlled electrochemical process that directly impacts surface integrity, corrosion resistance, cleanliness, and performance.

Read More

Why Electropolishing is the Aerospace Solution for EDM Recast

In aerospace manufacturing, electrical discharge machining (EDM) is often the only practical way to create the intricate shapes, micro-features, and tight-tolerance geometries required in high-performance parts. From fuel-system components to actuator housings, landing-gear hardware, and propulsion assemblies, EDM enables precision…

Read More

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.