As a hard, dense and heat-resistant metal, tungsten is used for a variety of applications. including: tools for construction, woodworking and metalworking and in particular moving parts that must be extremely sharp and wear-resistant, like drills and saws.
As with other materials we electropolish, if tungsten parts have imperfections left by the manufacturing process, such as burrs and jagged edges, they will not perform as intended. Similarly, if they retain contaminants on the surface or in sub-surface imperfections, they can harbor bacteria and moisture that lead to corrosion. A tungsten electropolishing operation removes these imperfections, making parts perform better and last longer.
Because of its density and hardness, tungsten is often used for fast-moving parts that must remain wear-resistant and sharp. If the cutting edge of a circular saw is jagged and uneven, or if a drill has burrs, the part cannot function as intended. Removing these imperfections is critical to maintaining the type of performance that is expected.
Electropolishing tungsten after a part is manufactured eliminates imperfections that develop when machining and subjecting to other cold-working steps. The electropolishing process uses an electrochemical bath to remove a uniform amount of surface material from a part, making it ideal for creating a smooth surface, stripping away burrs and smoothing out jagged edges that can snag and otherwise impede performance.
Electropolishing tungsten can also remove surface imperfections like micro cracks and contaminants that cause corrosion over time. Imperfections in the surface trap moisture and free iron that can lead to corrosion shorten the life of the component. By removing the layer of material that contains these imperfections, the part is left with a smooth, highly corrosion resistant surface.
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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.
Electropolishing provides an ultrasmooth, ultraclean surface, and improves corrosion resistance for metal fasteners.
Read Able Electropolishing’s guide on passivation, pickling, and electropolishing to learn about the benefits and drawbacks of each for your metal parts.
Across industries, electropolishing is the go-to metal finishing method for parts with no room for error. From aerospace to medical manufacturing, engineers rely on electropolishing to eliminate surface defects and create a hygienic, passive and ultra-smooth finish with improved fit, function and durability.
Electropolishing works by removing a microscopically precise layer of material from the surface of metal parts.
