Some problems into electropolishing process of stainless steels

A study has been made into the effect produced by the electrolyte composition, temperature and stirring upon the anodic behaviour of stainless steels, in particular, steel Kh18N10T, in a mixture of sulphuric and phosphoric acids. It is shown that the appearance of a limiting current plateau on the anodic polarization curve is due to the concentration limitations of the process of dissolution in the electrode-adjacent layer of the electrolyte. The smooth surface and glazing effect, occurring during electrolytical polishing, are associated with the formation of oxide layers and diffusion phenomena in the electrode-adjacent layer. The highest quality of polishing is obtained at potentials above 2 V