Pitting on Electropolished 316 Stainless Steel
Question: What are some causes for pitting of 316-SS when it is electropolished?
Share
Question:
What are some causes for pitting of 316-SS when it is electropolished? B. B.
Answer:
Two of the most likely causes for this behavior are substrate problems and cleaning of the substrate prior to electropolishing. In the former category are inclusions that can occur during the milling process or localized overheating during the machining process.
If the cleaning step is at fault, you must review your cleaning process steps and confirm that the cleaning materials are not “over the hill.” One of the most common problems of metal finishing is the lack of attention to the cleaning process. Assuming your cleaning process is satisfactory, try dipping the part in concentrated nitric acid before the electropolishing step.
RELATED CONTENT
-
Blackening of Ferrous Metals
The reasons for installing an in-house cold blackening system are many and varied.
-
Gold and Silver Plating Basics
An overview of precious metal electroplating processes.
-
Masking for Surface Finishing
Masking is employed in most any metal finishing operation where only a specifically defined area of the surface of a part must be exposed to a process. Conversely, masking may be employed on a surface where treatment is either not required or must be avoided. This article covers the many aspects of masking for metal finishing, including applications, methods and the various types of masking employed.
