Carbon steel is widely favored in manufacturing for its affordability, hardness and ability to undergo heat-treatment to increase durability. Used in gears, springs, and other critical metal parts, it’s known for versatility and reliability.
But carbon steel often requires intensive machining processes that can create surface finish defects, including burrs that can be catastrophic for parts that require a precise fit with other parts.
To solve this, Able offers a specialized electropolishing treatment for carbon steel that improves the microfinish quality, removes burrs and enhances aesthetics in one operation.
Carbon steel attributes
Carbon steel is popular due to its low cost and mechanical strength, making it ideal for applications where hardness is crucial, but weight is not a primary concern. It’s used across industries to produce springs, machine parts, gears, shafts and pulleys that are designed to withstand repeated stress.
Unlike stainless steel, carbon steel lacks chromium and nickel, which are costly alloys that impart corrosion resistance. While this makes carbon steel more susceptible to rust without a proper finishing treatment, it keeps production costs low and allows for easier machinability.
The Difference electropolishing makes for carbon steel
Machining carbon steel can leave behind burrs that interfere with part assembly, create friction between parts, and compromise the assembly’s integrity.
Other finishing methods like thermal deburring and vibratory finishing can be effective in removing some defects, but carry significant risks: thermal deburring can leave parts discolored, while vibratory finishing can result in damage from part-to-part contact.
Electropolishing offers a superior alternative, removing burrs precisely and uniformly without mechanical contact and preserving the structural integrity of parts. This electrochemical process can achieve a target microfinish, which machining alone can’t.
Key Benefits of electropolishing for carbon steel include:
- Improved corrosion resistance
- Improved microfinish of up to 50% (used often for pre-plate finishing)
- Improved fatigue life
- Deburring
- Elimination of microcracks and other surface defects
- Custom racking protects integrity of the part
- Leaves parts brightened
Why choose able electropolishing for your parts?
Able’s electropolishing process has been refined over decades to meet the requirements of carbon steel using a proprietary, customized electrolyte formula.
Parts are racked individually to prevent any contact that could impact the surface integrity. With carbon steel, we accommodate parts up to 12 square inches.
For manufacturers seeking precise and consistent results for carbon steel parts, electropolishing is an ideal solution, as the final step or in preparation for plating.
Ready to get started? Contact an electropolishing expert or send us a sample part for free electropolishing.
