ASTM B912 Electropolishing Standard for Stainless Steel Alloys
Able Electropolishing meets the high standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), including the ASTM B912 for electropolishing stainless steel.
What Is ASTM B912 Electropolishing?
The ASTM B912 electropolishing specification outlines the electropolishing process for stainless steel alloys. This type of stainless steel passivation includes 200, 300 and 400-series alloys and is superior to standard chemical passivation.
For a metal finisher to meet these standards for stainless steel passivation, they must adhere to specific protocols and ensure a particular quality of work. According to the ASTM, the electropolisher must include post-coating procedures as part of the process, as well as performance testing by means such as a salt spray test, a humidity test or a copper sulfate test. These factors and others determine eligibility for meeting this specification.
Electropolishing vs. Passivation
Passivation is useful for removing free iron and contaminants from stainless steel and for applications where maintaining part dimensions and physical properties is critical.
When a higher level of corrosion resistance and the removal of surface defects like burrs and microcracks is needed, electropolishing can be a better option.
Electropolishing removes a microscopically precise layer of surface material, controlling removal as close as +/-.0001″, depending on the alloy. This degree of precision and consistency, along with the ability to remove a variety of surface imperfections in one process, is why electropolishing is so often specified for critical parts used in the medical field, aerospace, pharmaceutical, and other industries. Electropolishing is a one-stop process for a micro-smooth, ultraclean, corrosion and pathogen-resistant surface finish – with 30 times more corrosion resistance than passivation.
Electropolishing often times can eliminate the need for additional metal finishing processes like hand deburring, tumbling, pickling, and cleaning. Learn more about passivation vs. electropolishing.
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