By submerging metal parts in an electrochemical bath, the electropolishing process dissolves a uniform layer of surface material. This strips away embedded contaminants, heat tint and oxide scale, leaving parts with a bright, corrosion resistant finish. Improving corrosion resistance isn’t the only benefit of this process, though.
Because electropolishing removes a uniform layer of material and not just embedded contaminants, it also dissolves surface imperfections in the part itself. This may include cracks, pits, burrs, and other micro imperfections too small to be seen by the naked eye. Eliminating them doesn’t just eliminate initiation sites for bacterial growth and corrosion—it prevents them from getting bigger over time and inhibiting part performance.
Consequently, electropolishing is good not just for improving corrosion resistance, but for improving part performance and longevity. Metal parts may be less susceptible to premature failure and fatigue stress, and without burrs and jagged edges, they may perform better, as well.
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.
