Electropolishing & Microfinishing for the Semiconductor Industry

Semiconductors are essential components in today’s electronics and technology industry. Electropolishing is commonly used as a final step for metal parts utilized in these applications to create an ultraclean surface that resists corrosion and adheres to strict dimension requirements.

How We Work with Semiconductor Clients

SEMI F19-0185 and Quality Assurance for the Semiconductor Industry

Electropolishing’s ability to remove a microscopically precise layer of surface material – with consistent and repeatable results – is a key reason it is so often specified as the final step in finishing metal parts for industries with no room for error.

Learn More

Whitepaper: Electropolishing for Significantly Improved Corrosion Resistance

Learn why enhanced corrosion resistance is one of the most common reasons engineers across a variety of industries rely on electropolishing to finish their critical metal parts, especially for parts made of stainless steel. Three included case studies show the difference electropolishing makes.

Download whitepaper

Whitepaper: Advantages of Electropolishing for Deburring Metal Parts

Electropolishing, with its ability to remove a microscopically precise layer of surface material with consistent results, is the finishing process of choice for such parts, for many reasons. Learn why electropolishing is more effective than other methods for removing burrs.

Download Whitepaper

Technical Guide: Your Solution to Metal Surface Problems

Whether you are an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), a part manufacturer or a metal working shop looking to solve these common surface problems, it's critical to find a solution to adequately address these surface problems in a cost-effective method.

Download Guide

FINISH FIRST: Electropolishing in the R&D Process

Our Finish First methodology enables world class design and manufacturing engineers to approach metal finishing challenges from the beginning, as an advantage in the design and prototyping stage.

Explore finish first

Meeting Specifications for Semiconductors with Electropolishing

The semiconductor industry has some of the most demanding surface finish requirements of any industry that uses our services. Due to the corrosive nature of the liquids and gases used in the manufacturing processes, the industry has developed rigid specifications for acceptable finish quality. Able’s processes meet these specifications, including SEMI F19, which defines the wetted surface characterization requirements and finish acceptance criteria for electropolished 316L stainless steel components.

Able Electropolishing works with companies who manufacture components for the semiconductor industry. One of our customers sends a family of custom 316L SS fittings used in the chemical distribution systems of semiconductor manufacturing facilities. The wetted surfaces require a 10 Ra microinch finish, or better, after electropolishing. In addition, the chromium to iron ratio must be a minimum of 1.5:1 and a chromium oxide enrichment of a minimum chromium oxide to iron oxide ratio of 2:1. The results are verified through optical examination, ESCA, Auger and SEM analyses.

Compared to passivation alone, electropolishing is 30 times more effective for improving corrosion resistance. Send your samples for electropolishing and we will evaluate both finish and dimensional changes. If electropolishing is planned during the design stage, the material removal can be factored into your final size specifications.

Optimize Surface Finish, Part Life & Corrosion Resistance

Ultracleaning for Metal Parts
View >

Benefits of Microfinishing Metal Parts
View >

Improve Corrosion Resistance of Stainless Steel & Aluminum Parts
View >

Benefits of Electropolishing | Metal Deburring for Microburrs
View >

Electropolishing Blog

Getting to Know ASTM, SAE, and ISO Standards

In an undertaking as meticulous and methodical as electropolishing and passivation, it’s important to get the details right. That includes meeting the criteria established by outside standard-setting bodies that ensure the highest-quality materials and parts for critical industries like pharmaceuticals,…

High-Quality Passivation for Medical Parts

Passivation is an essential finishing process enhancing the durability and efficacy of metal parts in industries with no room for error, such as medical device manufacturing. Critical to ensuring that medical devices perform reliably over time, passivation uses a specialized…

Quality Assurance in the Semiconductor Industry

Among the most demanding surface finish requirements of any industry, the specifications, standards and quality assurance processes that cover components used by the semiconductor industry impose metal finishing criteria that leave nothing to chance.

Optimizing Aerospace Components with Passivation

Crafting aerospace components demands precision down to the microscopic level. Through meticulous removal of contaminants and enhancement of corrosion resistance, metal finishing techniques such as passivation help ensure part performance and longevity.