With its high elasticity and biocompatibility, Nitinol is used in a wide variety of applications, with a majority of them requiring the alloy to be free of surface defects, corrosion and burrs. Electropolishing removes Nitinol imperfections, including any contaminants embedded in the alloy’s surface, leaving behind a part that is smooth, clean and suitable for use in mechanical, electrical and medical applications.
Because Nitinol is highly biocompatible, it is frequently used for medical applications like surgical implants, catheters and exploratory devices. It is also a commonly-used alloy for orthodontics. In all of these applications, embedded contaminants and surface imperfections can compromise biocompatibility and also cause unexpected part failure, corrosion and other complications.
Nitinol electropolishing services use an electrochemical process to remove a uniform amount of surface material from a part. eliminating problematic imperfections. This process eliminates burrs, jagged surfaces and contaminants embedded in the surface. Unlike other metal finishing services, it leaves behind a smooth surface, free of the micro pits and cracks that would become initiation sites for corrosion.
While electropolishing Nitinol isn’t the only method used to finish parts made of this alloy, it is superior to other metal finishing services. Plating and other types of coatings create an artificial layer on the surface that can wear over time, unlike electropolishing that leaves the base metal on the surface. Nitinol is used for a wide range of mechanical and electrical applications, such as springs, wires, antennas and more. The electropolishing gives the material the smooth finish it needs for superior longevity and performance.
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Common Surface Problems & Solutions
Read our guide to understand why so many of the world’s best-known manufacturers, including Boeing, SpaceX, Tesla, and Volvo, trust Able to electropolish their metal parts.
From unexpected costs to regulatory compliance and safety hazards, in-house electropolishing can pose significant challenges and risks.
Electropolishing is used to improve surface finish and enhance corrosion resistance, enabling critical metal parts to perform better and last longer.
When a marine and rescue hardware manufacturer started developing parts for rescue harnesses in 2018, they knew they needed to find a metal finishing partner with uncompromising standards and no tolerance for error: lives, literally, hang on the line.
