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Electropolishing Introduction

Electropolishing streamlines the microscopic surface of a metal object. The process removes metal from the object’s surface through an electrochemical process which is similar to, but the reverse of, electroplating.

Electropolishing effectively removing stainless steel by shedding the metal peaks or high points of the treated surface. The benefits of electropolishing are numerous, including:

• Better physical appearance
• Enhanced mechanical properties
• Better corrosion resistance

Since 2015, ICS have had Western Australia’s largest Electropolish bath for the treatment of stainless steel.

ASTM standard B912 recommends, as a pre-treatment process, the pickle and passivation of stainless steel to ASTM A380. Our facility is the only facility in Western Australia able to facilitate this large-scale service.

Good and Bad Electropolishing

To achieve a high quality Electropolishing result, starting materials with superior electropolishing properties are required. If client-supplied materials are very good quality, combined with your quality procedures throughout the ICS process, the result will be excellent.

Despite our best efforts on all projects, occasionally Electropolishing doesn’t produce the desired results. This can occur if a stainless steel part has been produced from an alloy or batch which may have inherent qualities making it impossible to achieve the desired result – e.g., pits, exposed seams, grainy, dull or ‘patchy’ luster or a generally ‘unfinished’ look are some examples of problems that may be rooted in the material.

Some of these problems can be attributed to non-metallic inclusions which can trace back to:

• Hot-rolling of slabs
• Under- or over-pickling
• Excessive or undue temperature rise (during cold rolling)
• Under- or over-annealing
• Surface decarburization during annealing
• Excessive grinding prior to cold-rolling
• Burnishing action during the last stage of cold rolling
• Contamination from exposure to industrial process materials
• Pollutants, lubricants or other materials used during manufacture

Additionally, end-grade surfaces of free-machining stainless steel grades, such as Types 303 and 416, will have a ‘frosty’ appearance after the electropolishing process due to the removal of sulfide inclusions.

Stainless steel with a fine, uniform crystal homogeneous structure will provide the best electropolishing results. While some structural characteristics can exist in stainless steel without affecting the nominally specified properties, they can still influence the electropolishing results. Some of the characteristics which may influence the electropolishing result include:

• Broken down, highly oriented structures
• Grain boundary precipitation of carbides
• Other non-homogeneities

All of these characteristics can cause a lower quality electropolishing finish.

Electropolishing Dimensions

Our electropolish bath is 6.5m long, 1.5m deep and 1.3m wide. However, pieces larger than this can be treated using a double dip method, which may result in a slight demarcation line where there is overlap.

ICS Acceptance Criteria

The electropolishing process reveals imperfections in the structure of stainless steel. It will accentuate any existing welding flaws, with a non-uniform appearance indicating a high volume of inclusions or a large-grained grade of stainless steel.

Mechanical buffing may occasionally be required to achieve the desired result, but as this service is imprecise, ICS does not include it as default, as the result varies on all pieces.

ICS’ acceptance criteria includes the following:

• Overall finish to appear with maximum brightness, luster and reflectivity on required surfaces
• Surfaces free of frosting, shadows, streaks, erosion, stains, water spots and irregular patterns in the finish
• Specified surfaces are to be free of pebbly, orange peel or pitted appearance

Contact Us

Our facilities, located in Forrestdale, Western Australia are available Monday through Friday. We can be contacted on  (0)8 9497 3500 or via our website.

Introduction

The International Corrosion Services team take our environmental, health and safety commitments to both our staff and community very seriously. This includes preserving the environment and reducing our emissions footprint and ensuring our staff work safely with the dangerous chemicals required in the stainless steel industry.

Our team is committed to not only working above and beyond our Health, Safety & Environmental Policy but always ensuring we meet our statutory requirements to both people and our environment.

HSE and Stainless Steel Treatments

Many of our core business services – treating stainless steel – involve processes that use acids and alkalis which, if not handled appropriately, can be damaging to both our environment and our people.

Treatment with these products – such as cleaning, pickling and passivation or electropolishing, assist in the corrosion prevention of stainless steel. Corrosion which is left untreated can cause serious threats to both people and the environment. While stainless steel is well known for its corrosion resistance, proper post fabrication treatment and ongoing maintenance is required to uphold its corrosion resistance.

HSE and Waste Handling

Proper discharge waste management is key to ICS’ core services and whether our pickling and passivation processes are carried out on-site or in-house, all waste is treated in line with both our regulatory requirements and world’s best practice.

Our in-house facility provides the best in waste recovery systems, abiding by a Water Corporation Permit to Discharge Industrial Waste. The system filtrates byproduct, primarily consisting of heavy metals, collecting them for waste treatment which is compliant with Australian Standards. All our waste management systems and processes meet all regulatory requirements and are in line with industry best practice.

Health, Safety and Environmental Commitment

To excel in HSE performance, we proudly commit to the following:

• Providing a safe and healthy workplace, free of occupational injuries and illness.
• Creating a culture that puts HSE first through leadership, participation, training and development.
• Conducting our business in a way that protects, or enhances, community, safety, amenity and the natural environment.
• Continuous improvement in our HSE Performance.
• Compliance with all legal obligations as the minimum requirement for our Health, Safety and Environmental standards.

We strive to achieve these commitments through Identifying, Assessing and Controlling:

• Identifying, assessing and controlling hazards and risks.
• Setting, monitoring and communicating meaningful performance measures to employees and stakeholders.
• Actively identifying and implementing opportunities to improve HSE outcomes.
• Establishing and maintaining comprehensive HSE management systems, compliant with our Quality System and laws and regulations.

The following standards must be upheld by all employees, contractors and visitors, and we require they comply with the requirements of this policy and our HSE management standards at all times:

• No business objective will take priority over health, safety and the environment.
• On an individual basis, we are all accountable and empowered to ensure our actions protect ourselves; fellow workers, the public and the environment.
• Management and supervisors provide visible leadership, adequate resources, and ensure workplace standards are implemented and maintained.
• The Board ensures there is a disciplined approach to the identification and management of risks across the business.

Compliance and Commitment to Standards

ICS is compliant to the following standard operating procedures:

• ASTM A380, A967
• ASTM B912
• AS 1627.1 & AS 1627.5

Additionally, we uphold regulatory compliance to the Environmental Protection Agency for its Air Emissions, Dangerous Goods Licences through the Department of Mines and Water Disposal Permit in compliance with the Water Corporation.

We also go beyond our safety commitment to our staff by regularly performing workshop air emissions testing and our team are empowered with the tools and information needed to implement our safety policies and procedures.

At the successful completion of your project, a certificate of conformity will be provided to you.

If you have any questions regarding our Health, Safety and Environment policies and procedures, please feel free to get in touch – we would be more than happy to discuss them with you.