Electropolishing Services for Superior Surface Finish & Performance
MIL provides precision electropolishing for stainless steel and specialty alloys, enhancing corrosion resistance, improving micro-finish, removing burrs, and delivering a clean, bright, uniform surface ideal for aerospace, medical, and industrial applications.
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High-Performance Electropolishing for Stainless Steel & Critical Alloys
Electropolishing—often referred to as “reverse plating”—is an electrochemical process that removes a controlled amount of material from a metal surface. This results in a smoother, brighter finish while improving corrosion performance, surface cleanliness, and dimensional accuracy.
MIL performs electropolishing to strict aerospace, medical, and commercial specifications with precision control over removal thickness and surface finish refinement.
Electropolishing Highlights
- Improves corrosion resistance
- Enhances micro-finish and smooths surface irregularities
- Removes burrs from machined or cut surfaces
- Supports tight tolerance requirements (removal as low as ~0.00005″)
- Reduces contamination and improves cleanability
- Often contributes to enhanced passivation
- Ideal for internal passages, fine details, and complex geometries
How the Electropolishing Process Works
Step 1 — Cleaning & Pre-Treatment
Parts are cleaned to remove oils, oxides, and particulates that can disrupt the electrochemical reaction or result in uneven material removal.
Step 2 — Electrochemical Polishing
Parts are submerged in an electrolyte bath and connected as the anode in a DC circuit.
Controlled electrical current removes high points on the surface first, producing a uniform micro-finish.
MIL controls:
- Temperature
- Current density
- Time in solution
- Agitation and part positioning
These parameters ensure predictable, uniform results.
Step 3 — Rinsing & Neutralization
After polishing, parts undergo thorough rinsing and neutralization to stop the electrochemical action and prepare for final inspection.
Step 4 — Inspection & Validation
MIL verifies:
- Dimensional changes
- Surface finish improvement
- Visual quality and cleanliness
- Spec-driven acceptance criteria
Full documentation is provided for regulated industries.
Why Work With MIL for Electropolishing Services?
Precision Control for Aerospace & Medical Applications
Electropolishing requires tight control over material removal and uniformity. MIL’s experienced technicians and process controls ensure repeatable outcomes for high-value, close-tolerance parts.
Enhanced Corrosion Performance & Cleanability
Electropolished surfaces resist corrosion more effectively and retain fewer contaminants—ideal for components exposed to fluids, chemicals, or high-pressure environments.
One-Stop Integration With Additional Finishing Services
Electropolishing is often paired with:
- Passivation
- Anodizing (for aluminum parts requiring pre-treatment on mixed assemblies)
- Chemical cleaning
- NDT
MIL consolidates these processes under one roof to minimize handling time and lead time.
Consistent Results for Complex Geometries
MIL’s process is effective for small, intricate, or hard-to-clean parts where mechanical finishing is impractical or risks surface damage.
Applications & Industries Served
Component Types
- Stainless steel hardware and fittings
- Fluid system components
- Aerospace brackets, housings, & precision parts
- Medical and laboratory instrumentation
- Complex machined components
- Parts requiring improved micro-finish or deburring
Industries
- Aerospace & defense
- Medical devices and laboratory systems
- Industrial machinery
- Semiconductor and cleanroom environments
- Specialty manufacturing & R&D
Frequently Asked Questions About Electropolishing
Electropolishing is most commonly used on stainless steels, but select nickel alloys and specialty metals may also be suitable depending on the specification.
Removal is highly controlled—typically 0.00005″ to 0.0003″ per surface, depending on the material and finish requirement.
Yes. By smoothing the surface and removing embedded contaminants, electropolishing enhances corrosion resistance and often supports improved passivation.
Yes—when process parameters are carefully controlled. MIL ensures predictable removal to maintain dimensional requirements.
Often, yes. Electropolishing refinishes surfaces without introducing mechanical stresses, scratches, or embedding abrasive materials.
Yes. Electropolishing can reach surfaces that mechanical polishing cannot, making it ideal for complex internal geometries.
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Fast, accurate estimates for electropolishing and integrated finishing workflows.
Need help evaluating material removal, surface finish requirements, or compatibility? Our technical team can assist.
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