Electropolishing stainless steel is a “reverse plating” process that uses an electrochemical solution to remove the outer skin of a metal part. By stripping away a uniform layer of surface material, the electropolishing process also removes embedded contaminants, heat tint and oxide scale, burrs, micro cracks, pits, and other surface imperfections that can compromise the performance and longevity of a part.
Electropolishing stainless steel significantly, especially 300 and 400 series stainless steel, improves a part’s corrosion resistance, leaving it with a lasting bright finish. Electropolishing can be performed on all varieties of stainless steel unlike passivation, and gives stainless steel parts of all kinds corrosion resistance superior to passivation alone—electropolished parts are 30x more corrosion resistant than those that are passivated. The process of dissolving a uniform layer of surface metal is more aggressive and more effective, and because it is highly controlled, it can be used to remove as little as .0002″ of surface material.
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From implantable devices to surgical instruments, electropolishing is a single-process treatment that results in biocompatible, safe and ultra clean parts.
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.
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.
Corrosion resistance and microfinish improvement are essential for critical automotive parts, making electropolishing an increasingly beneficial option for automakers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you’re manufacturing parts with 440C stainless steel and relying on passivation to get the finish you need, you may be overlooking an opportunity to dramatically improve the corrosion resistance of your parts.
While electropolishing is best known for the results it achieves as the last step in the process for finishing critical metal parts, it can also be an interim step for improving the results of parts that will undergo plating.
The biocompatibility of medical devices, implants and instruments to ensure that every part that comes into contact with the human body poses no risk of irritation or harm is a fundamental requirement for medical manufacturers.
For every successful project at Able Electropolishing, there is a meticulous, high-quality process at work behind the scenes. Our clients rely on us for precise and consistent results, customized to the demanding needs of industries like medical device manufacturing, food and beverage production – and industries like yours.
