Investigation on the Dry-Type Electrochemical Polishing of 304 Stainless Steel with Ion-Exchange Resin Particles

Dry-type electrochemical polishing (DECP) technology integrates the mechanical action of resin particles with the electrochemical action of working solutions to enhance the results of existing treatments. Homogeneous polishing across the entire surface of the piece is the main advantage compared with mechanical polishing. This article utilizes this method to polish the surface of 304 stainless steel, leading to an improved surface roughness from the original 1.23 μ m to the final 98 nm. This innovation expands the potential applications of 304 stainless steel in the medical and food industries. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis subtle detect residual electrolyte components. It implies that resin particles containing liquid electrolytes can effectively prevent the remained harmful substance from the metal surface. Electrochemical analysis of polished sample shows that the E corr was −0.109 V for DECP specific sample compared with −0.0385 V for initial sample. The polishing process can be seen as the generation and removal of corrosion products.