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Pickling
It has been proven that electrochemical pickling is the most efficient and cost-effective method of cleaning steel details from corrosion-promoting impurities. Mechanical cleaning is typically unsuccessful, particularly for complex shapes, and therefore not a viable option from a business perspective. Pickling is a process that enhances the corrosion resistance of components made of stainless steel, thereby extending their service life and ensuring they remain fit for purpose. It also improves the visual appeal of the surface, eliminates sharp edges, removes colour stains from welds or cuts, and prepares the surface for subsequent processing steps, such as passivation or electropolishing. Pickling is an effective method for cleaning and activating metal surfaces by removing a thin layer of the material being processed. The result is a surface that is free of oxides and contamination from other metals, and that is of a high degree of purity. The primary effect of pickling is to affect the grain boundaries of the metal structure, resulting in a matte to satin gloss finish.
In practice, it turns out that chemical or electrochemical etching is the most effective and economically justified process of cleaning surfaces from the remains of corrosion promoting contaminants. In addition, etching improves the appearance of the surface: it smoothes scratches and sharp edges, removes discoloration in places of welding, cutting or welding, ensures the proper degree of surface preparation for more advanced final product processing processes, such as passivation or electropolishing.
Types of steel
We sell installation, pharmaceutical and food pipes in six-meter sections.
The pipes we sell are internally and externally electropolished and made of acid-resistant stainless steel.
Passivation
Quite frequently the default level of steel corrosion resistance is too low for given usage. Spontaneously created firm barrier layer of oxides protecting against steel corrosion is very thin and vulnerable to mechanical damage. In case of unfavourable conditions like high moisture or contact with saltwater or other aggresive media there is a good risk of protection layer damage and consequently - corrosion. Electrochemical passivation is economically efficient and exceptionally effective method of improving natural corrosion resistance of metals. It is possible to increase the thickness of steel protection layer tenfold and provide its appropriate hardness and firmness. Such a protection layer is an excellent barrier against most common environmental corrosion factors. Electrochemical passivation has no impact on shape of processed detail - only its surface proprieties are modified in a positive manner.
Chemical passivation of steel leads to a tenfold increase in the thickness of the protective oxide layer on the surface of the product. If the process was carried out correctly, this layer is hard and tight, does not prone to flaking and permanently isolates the live metal from the corrosive influence of the environment. Passivation does not modify the shape of the treated surface, but only changes its properties, increasing its resistance to corrosion.
We achieve passivation by electropolishing and etching the detail
Electropolishing
Besides galvanisation (plating), electropolishing is undoubtly the most advanced technique of electrochemical processing of metals. The main purpose of electropolishing is fine smoothing of the detail's surface but in practice this goes together with deep anodal passivation resulting in excellent corrosion resistance of steel. In case of chromium-nickel steel alloys, electropolishing treatment has additional positive effect: concentation of chromium on the surface layer increases significantly (iron and nickel are being etched with a faster rate), so the surface becomes much harder.
Electropolishing is a very good process - etching is only limited to these fragments of the surface what are elevated above the average in a microscopic scale while macroscopic structure remains completly unaffected. Consequently, all fine details and contours remain unaltered while the surface gains aesthetic glossy look. Such a surface provides very easy cleaning what is essential for food, pharmaceutical or electronical industry for instance. Because actual hardness of steel has no impact on the process of electropolishing, the cost of electropolishing treatment does not depend on surface hardness reached on preceding steps of the processing chain - unlikely to traditional mechanical methods of steel polishing. The chemical composition of media used for electropolishing and appropriate control of physicochemical parameters of the process are critical for its efficiency and final results. No wonder, know-how is a secret and fundamental asset for companies involved in electropolishing besides machinery and people. Exceptional experience, proprietary know-how, skilfull engineering and high motivation stand behind ELEKTROPOL-R. You may trust the quality of our service!
As a result, the treated surface acquires an aesthetic appearance and is easier to keep clean, which is especially important in the case of medical instruments, household, food, pharmaceutical, electronic and agricultural industries. Since the mechanical hardness of steel does not affect the electropolishing efficiency, the cost and time of the process do not depend (unlike traditional methods) on the degree of surface hardening achieved in the previous stages of the technological process. The correct selection of the chemical composition of the electrolyte and the physicochemical parameters of the electropolishing process is essential for the quality of the final effect. This knowledge is the most valuable know-how of companies providing electropolishing services and, apart from technical equipment, constitutes their basic capital. ELEKTROPOL-R, thanks to many years of experience, diversified orders and qualified technical staff, has acquired this knowledge to an exceptionally deep degree.
Electropolishing of pipes
What is this?
Elektropol-R is the first company in Poland which has been using a unique process of internal electro-polishing of acid-resistant pipes in the industry. Over twenty years of our activity has allowed us to achieve the leading position in the field of electrochemical steel processing, in particular in the internal electro-polishing of pipes.
Due to the diligence and maximum control of the process, we obtain excellent results, Ra even up to 0.1 micrometers (0.4 um standard), the process is 100% repeatable and allows you to achieve the highest purity where it is necessary.
The pharmaceutical, food, chemical and nuclear industries - internally electro-polished pipes are used there, when there is a need for the highest cleanliness of the surface, increased corrosion resistance, high smoothness of the surface protecting it against media deposition. Thanks to us, you can improve the quality of your projects, and the prices we offer are competitive in relation to the offers of foreign companies.
We process diameters from 12mm to 250mm in sections up to 6m long.
Information soon
Shot blasting
What is this?
At the beginning of 2018, we launched a new operation - shot blasting of stainless steel. This procedure will allow all our clients to obtain a more comprehensive service, which in turn will reduce costs. We decided to blast stainless and acid-resistant steel with stainless steel shot, because it is a more durable abrasive than, for example, a glass ball and we obtain a more uniform surface without any foreign inclusions. Shot-blasting gives a homogeneous surface with a low degree of gloss, even matt, called satin.
We do not use ordinary iron or carbon steel shot as it contaminates the surface of stainless steel. Sand can also contain ferrous materials.
The surface of austenitic grades of stainless steel is hardened in the shot blasting process. By adding electro-polishing after shot blasting as another technological process, we obtain a product that is one hundred percent resistant to all external factors, both chemical and mechanical, at the same time achieving a very high aesthetic quality.
We encourage you to use the comprehensive service in our STAINLESS STEEL PROCESSING CENTER.
Fast contact
| Adress: | |
| ELEKTROPOL-R Electrochemical services Wagonowa 14 53-609 Wrocław |
| Contact details: | |
| +48 71 356 73 19 | |
| k.janowski@elektropol-r.com.pl |