Abstract
Electrochemical metal processing is a process that generates harmful pollution. An important goal often disregarded by researchers is not only the achievement of the best possible quality of electropolished surface, but also minimising the load of metal ions in the wastewater generated in the process. The conducted experiments on the electropolishing of stainless steel in laboratory conditions, varied time, temperature and current density conditions, as well as process bath contamination (ranging from 0 to 6% Fe mass) allowed us to develop a multi-factorial mathematical model. This model offers the possibility of being able to select the process parameters recommended for achieving the desired effects. It takes into account such surface quality parameters as roughness and gloss, process duration and current density that determine power consumption, as well as the weight loss of the electropolished element that influence the rate of contamination in processing baths and wastewater. The study presents the composition of a passive film of stainless steel after the electropolishing process at the initial and final stages of the process bath’s exploitation. The results obtained from XPS tests were then correlated with the results of corrosion tests and resistance to pitting corrosion in the environment of 0.1 M NaCl.
Highlights
Electrochemical metal processing is a process that generates harmful pollution
Apart from searching for new methods to neutralise wastewater generated by the steel electropolishing process, it is important to attempt to reduce the load of contaminants that emerge in the process
The authors have selected the values of parameters that allowed them to achieve satisfactory surface quality, while at the same time maintaining the lowest weight loss possible
Summary
An important goal often disregarded by researchers is the achievement of the best possible quality of electropolished surface, and minimising the load of metal ions in the wastewater generated in the process. The conducted experiments on the electropolishing of stainless steel in laboratory conditions, varied time, temperature and current density conditions, as well as process bath contamination (ranging from 0 to 6% Fe mass) allowed us to develop a multi-factorial mathematical model This model offers the possibility of being able to select the process parameters recommended for achieving the desired effects. Anodic dissolution of stainless steel increases the concentration of heavy metal ions like iron, chromium and nickel in the process bath and, eventually, introduces the pollutants to the environment. The issue of limiting contamination while at the same time optimising the electropolishing process requires further research and discussion
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