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CHEMICAL PASSIVATION VS. ELECTROPOLISHING FOR HOUSEHOLD & CONSUMER APPLIANCES
To prevent costly warranty repairs and premature part failure, consumer appliance metal components can be electropolished to clear away contaminants and other foreign matter embedded in the pores of the metal, leaving the surface shiny, smooth, and heavily resistant to corrosion or contamination.
Chemical Passivation Vs. Electropolishing For Appliance Parts
Household and consumer appliance manufacturers have to meet specific price points while manufacturing quality products.
Manufacturers trying to maintain part reliability at the lowest possible cost may opt for chemical passivation over electropolishing. Passivation, however, does not provide the same results as electropolishing, including the removal of visible heat tint.
Electropolishing appliance parts removes the outermost layer of material from the metal, including carbon steel contaminants embedded in the pores from forming and machining. If not removed, these contaminated areas become initiation sites for corrosion. Electropolishing also gives the part a smooth, shiny surface finish that protects against prolonged exposure to water, prevents ice from sticking and improves the appliance’s overall function.
Testing has proven that when subjected to salt spray testing, electropolished stainless steel is more than 30 times more reliable than chemical passivation. Send your samples for electropolishing and we will evaluate both finish and dimensional changes. If electropolishing is planned during the design stage, the material removal can be factored into your final size specifications.