Recent developments in electropolishing standards  | Limat | 29.01.09


It is well known that metal polishing and surface finishing, especially when it comes to stainless steel, are crucial factors in determining long-term metal durability against corrosion.

Nevertheless, both clients and polishing companies alike need the occasional remainder as to correlation between the quality of a metal surface's finish and its ability to resist rust and corrosion.

While it was customary in the past to polish mostly metals which were used as external architectural features, today – and after numerous studies have concluded that quality polishing not only improves  the appearance of a metal surface, but enhances  its durability as well – such polishing is a part of any industry which uses stainless steel components.

Basic polishing is likely to leave striations on the metal at the end of the process. These grooves can potentially house various chloride ions which will eat away at the passivation, causing it to rust within a short period of time. In industries that stress both appearance and hygiene, this may results in severe financial losses, as the metal would have to be replaces often. In other words, the resistance metal surfaces which have undergone mechanical or old-fashion polishing offer against rust, simply isn't sufficient.

Metal polishing standards are updated whenever technological advancements allow it and when traditional polishing methods fail to deliver the needed results. Basic metal polishing, for instance, was preformed in various industries throughout the 1980s, and was a growing trend in the interior design and furniture industries, as the high-gloss look was considered luxurious, but it was soon discovered that the shiny exterior alone was not enough to protect the surface from wearing down and corroding. This problem was particularly evident in featured which were left exposed to the elements.

New ways to polish metal surfaces usually derive form existing methods, as part of the effort to constantly strive for better results.

To read more on electropolishing innovation over recent years click here