The Electrolytic Polishing of Stainless Steels

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Abstract
The use of glycerine‐phosphoric acid mixtures for electrolytically polishing 18/8 stainless steel is described. Optimum conditions to produce polish were determined with the aid of a photoelectric spectrophotometer. Maximum polish is obtained with an electrolyte consisting of approximately 42% , 47% glycerine and 11% water by weight, used at 100° C. or higher and anode c.d. of at least 0.1 amp./sq. in. (1.5 amp./dm.2). Other organic additions to phosphoric acid likewise produce practical electrolytes. These substances consist, in general, of high boiling materials soluble in phosphoric acid containing one or more hydroxyl groups. Nickel, copper, chrome steels, 18/8 containing molybdenum, and mild steel, similar to 18/8, can also be polished in these organic solution‐phosphoric acid electrolytes. Organic additions to phosphoric acid affect electrolytic polishing apparently by two independent mechanisms. The first is a change in electrolyte and anode phosphate film conductivity to produce optimum polish, and the second is a considerable retardation of localized pickling of the anode by acid independent of anodic solution. Stainless steel is much easier to polish electrolytically than iron.

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