US2347040A - Method of anodically polishing steel - Google Patents

Method of anodically polishing steel Download PDF

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Publication number
US2347040A
US2347040A US304450A US30445039A US2347040A US 2347040 A US2347040 A US 2347040A US 304450 A US304450 A US 304450A US 30445039 A US30445039 A US 30445039A US 2347040 A US2347040 A US 2347040A
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United States
Prior art keywords
water
polishing
phosphoric acid
iron
bath
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Expired - Lifetime
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US304450A
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English (en)
Inventor
Charles L Faust
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Battelle Memorial Institute Inc
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Battelle Memorial Institute Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to US302954A priority Critical patent/US2373466A/en
Priority to US302950A priority patent/US2366712A/en
Priority to US302952A priority patent/US2407543A/en
Priority to US302953A priority patent/US2366713A/en
Priority to US302951A priority patent/US2347039A/en
Application filed by Battelle Memorial Institute Inc filed Critical Battelle Memorial Institute Inc
Priority to US304450A priority patent/US2347040A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2347040A publication Critical patent/US2347040A/en
Priority to CH272841D priority patent/CH272841A/fr
Priority to BE478068A priority patent/BE478068A/fr
Priority to NL137539A priority patent/NL71372C/nl
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C25—ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25F—PROCESSES FOR THE ELECTROLYTIC REMOVAL OF MATERIALS FROM OBJECTS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • C25F3/00—Electrolytic etching or polishing
    • C25F3/16—Polishing
    • C25F3/22—Polishing of heavy metals

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a method of and an electrolyte for anodically polishing plain carbon steel, that is, steels having a total of not over 6% of alloying ingredients, and low carbon, or substantially carbon free, iron. More particularly the invention relates to an aqueous electrolyte comprising phosphoric acid, chromic acid and Water and to the use of such electrolyte in the anodic polishing of plain carbon steels and irons.
  • an aqueous electrolyte comprising phosphoric acid, chromic acid and water, as the essential ingredients, can be satisfactorily used in the anodic polishing of plain carbon steels and ingot iron. If the relative proportions of these essential ingredients of the bath be kept within certain limits, which I have deter-mined, very satisfactory polishes can be produced in the case of plain carbon steels and ingot iron, while at the same time producing surfaces having relatively superior characteristics to those obtainable by mechanical polishing or bufng operations.
  • the figure represents a triaxal diagram showing the relative proportions of phosphoric acid, chromic acid and water in compositions of electrolytes embodying my invention.
  • the respective sides of the triangle indicate the percentages of phosphoric acid (HgPOi), of water (H2O), and of chromic acid (CrOa), from to 100%.
  • HgPOi phosphoric acid
  • H2O water
  • CrOa chromic acid
  • I have determined the relative proportions of phosphoric acid, chromic acid and Water that give compositions of electrolyte that are operative for the anodic polishing of plain carbon steels and ingot iron.
  • the area representing operative compositions of electrolyte is defined on the accompanying diagram by the solid lines AB, BC and CA. Within the area so defined, any composition selected will be found to be operative in the method hereinafter described for the anodic polishing of plain carbon steels and ingot iron.
  • the reading of a triaxial diagram such as the accompanying ene is well understood, but the following will be given for purposes of illustration.
  • the point on the diagram represented by the reference letter A indicates a composition co-mprising about of phosphoric acid, a small but signicant proportion, say 0.1% of chromic acid and the balance, somewhat less than 15%, water;
  • the point indicated by the reference letter B a composition comprising 63% of phosphoric acid, say 0.1% of chromic acid and the balance, somewhat less than 37%, water;
  • the point indicated by the reference letter C a composition comprising 45% of phosphoric acid, 29% of chromic acid and 26% of water;
  • the point indicated by the reference letter D a composition comprising 53% olf phosphoric acid, 23% of chromic acid and 24% of water.
  • the maximum phosphoric acid content is about 85% and the minimum 45%; the maximum chromic acid content 29% and the minimum about 0.1%; and the maximum water content about 37% and the minimum about 14%.
  • the preferred composition limits are from 53 to 85% phosphoric acid; from 0.1 to 23% chromic acid; and from 14 to 31% water.
  • the relative proportions of phosphoric acid, chromic acid and water, however, are interdependent, so that points should be selected within the areas defined upon the accompanying diagram in order to insure satisfactory results.
  • bath compositions may nevertheless contain other ingredients, such as other acids and/or salts, and still be satisfactory for use in the polishing of plain carbon steels and ingot iron, provided that the relative proportions of the three essential ingredients,phosphorc acid, chromic acid and water lie withinrthe operative or preferred areas defined on the accompanying diagram.
  • the point X on the triaxial diagram as being a bath of preferred composition.
  • the composition represented by the point X would be 70% phosphoric acid, 10% chromic'acid and 20% water.
  • the bath composition would necessarily change, owing to the anodic dissolution into the bath of the steel or iron undergoing polishing.
  • chromic acid equivalent is therefore intended to include chromic acid itself (CrOs) and stoichometrically equivalent weights of soluble chromates and bichromates.
  • phosphoric acid in place of orthophosphoric acid, other phosphoric acids, such as metaand pyrophosphoric acids, may be used and are to be considered as included within the term phosphoric acid.
  • the plain carbon steel or ingot iron, or an article having a surface of such steel or iron is made the anode in a bath of the selected composition and an electric current is passed therethrough of sufficient density and for a sufficient length of time to produce the desired high degree of luster, or polish, on the metal surface.
  • the highly lustrous surface obtainable by my method, using an electrolyte of preferred composition is an important feature of my invention and one that sharply distinguishes from the prior art finishes produced in the electrolytic cleaning, or bright pickling, of low carbon steels and ingot iron.
  • relatively high current densities such as those of the order of magnitude of from 50 to 1000 amperes per sq: ft., but preferably between and 500 amperes per sq. ft. It will be understood that even lower current densities may be employed, down as low as about 10 amperes per sq. ft., but longer times of treatment will be required and the process may, for that reason, be uneconomlcal. Higher current densities, up to as high as 2000 or 3000 amperes per sq. ft., may also be used, but such high current densities imply, in general, larger current, which require more expensive equipment.
  • the length of time to effect the desired results depends upon the magnitude of the current densities employed and to some extent upon the particular analysis of the low carbon steel, ingot iron or the like, to be polished, and also upon the character of the surface of the steel or iron initially. Rough surfaces, of course, require a longer time to polish than relatively smooth ones.
  • the method of anodcally polishing plain carbon and low alloy steels and ingot iron which comprises making the steel or iron the anode in a solution comprising essentially from 45% to 85% of phosphoric acid, from 0.1 to 29% of CrOs, and from 14 to 37% of water, all of said percentages being by weight of said solution and the relative percentages of said three solution ingredients lying within the area defined on the accompanying diagram by the straight line AB, the line BC and the line CA, and passing an electric current therethrough of sufficient density and for a sufcient period of time to effect a polishing of said steel or iron.
  • the method of anodically polishing plain carbon and low alloy steels and ingot iron which comprises making the steel or iron the anode in a solution comprising essentially from 53 to 85% of phosphoric acid, from 0.1 to 23% of CrOa, and from 14 to 31% of Water, all of said percentages being by weight of said solution and the relative percentages of said three solution ingredients lying within the area dened on the accompanying diagram by the straight line AE, the line ED, and the line DA, and passing an electric current therethrough of a sufficient density and for a sufficient period of time to effect a polishing of said steel or iron.
  • the method of anodically polishing plain carbon and low alloy steels and ingot iron which comprises making the steel or iron the anode in a solution comprising essentially from 53 to 85% of phosphoric acid, from 0.1 to 23% of CrO3, and from 14 to 31% of water, all of said percentages being by weight of said solution and the relative percentages of said three solution ingredients lying within the area defined on the accompanying diagram by the straight line AE, the line ED and the 1ine DA and passing an electric current therethrough of between and 500 amperes per square foot at a bath temperature between 100 and F. for a suflicient period of time to effect a polishing of said steel or iron.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Metallurgy (AREA)
  • Organic Chemistry (AREA)
  • Electrical Discharge Machining, Electrochemical Machining, And Combined Machining (AREA)
  • Mechanical Treatment Of Semiconductor (AREA)
  • ing And Chemical Polishing (AREA)
US304450A 1939-11-06 1939-11-15 Method of anodically polishing steel Expired - Lifetime US2347040A (en)

Priority Applications (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US302952A US2407543A (en) 1939-11-06 1939-11-06 Method of anodically polishing brass
US302953A US2366713A (en) 1939-11-06 1939-11-06 Method of anodically polishing nickel
US302954A US2373466A (en) 1939-11-06 1939-11-06 Method of anodically polishing zinc
US302950A US2366712A (en) 1939-11-06 1939-11-06 Method of anodically polishing stainless steel
US302951A US2347039A (en) 1939-11-15 1939-11-15 Method of anodically polishing copper
US304450A US2347040A (en) 1939-11-15 1939-11-15 Method of anodically polishing steel
CH272841D CH272841A (fr) 1939-11-15 1947-08-08 Procédé pour le polissage des métaux.
BE478068A BE478068A (fr) 1939-11-15 1947-12-11 Procédé et électrolytes pour le polissage anodique des métaux.
NL137539A NL71372C (nl) 1939-11-15 1947-12-24 Werkwijze voor het anodisch polijsten van metalen en de volgens die werkwijze gepolijste voorwerpen

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US302951A US2347039A (en) 1939-11-15 1939-11-15 Method of anodically polishing copper
US304450A US2347040A (en) 1939-11-15 1939-11-15 Method of anodically polishing steel

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2347040A true US2347040A (en) 1944-04-18

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US302951A Expired - Lifetime US2347039A (en) 1939-11-06 1939-11-15 Method of anodically polishing copper
US304450A Expired - Lifetime US2347040A (en) 1939-11-06 1939-11-15 Method of anodically polishing steel

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US302951A Expired - Lifetime US2347039A (en) 1939-11-06 1939-11-15 Method of anodically polishing copper

Country Status (4)

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US (2) US2347039A (de)
BE (1) BE478068A (de)
CH (1) CH272841A (de)
NL (1) NL71372C (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2475586A (en) * 1943-04-09 1949-07-12 Thompson Prod Inc Method of electropolishing the internal surface of a hollow valve
DE974072C (de) * 1947-10-17 1960-10-06 Jacquet Hispano Suiza Soc Verfahren zur Ermittlung guenstiger Polierelektrolyte zwecks Erzeugung einer homogenen Oberflaeche von unregelmaessig gestalteten Metallteilen
US3223602A (en) * 1961-05-17 1965-12-14 Gen Electric Iron-silicon alloys and treatment thereof
US3450610A (en) * 1964-11-30 1969-06-17 Uddeholms Ab Process for removing an oxide layer from the surface of hardened strip steel by an electrolytical method
US4935112A (en) * 1988-04-07 1990-06-19 Seneca Wire And Manufacturing Company Continuous steel strand electrolytic processing
US5087342A (en) * 1988-04-07 1992-02-11 Seneca Wire And Manufacturing Company Continuous steel strand electrolytic processing

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2475586A (en) * 1943-04-09 1949-07-12 Thompson Prod Inc Method of electropolishing the internal surface of a hollow valve
DE974072C (de) * 1947-10-17 1960-10-06 Jacquet Hispano Suiza Soc Verfahren zur Ermittlung guenstiger Polierelektrolyte zwecks Erzeugung einer homogenen Oberflaeche von unregelmaessig gestalteten Metallteilen
US3223602A (en) * 1961-05-17 1965-12-14 Gen Electric Iron-silicon alloys and treatment thereof
US3450610A (en) * 1964-11-30 1969-06-17 Uddeholms Ab Process for removing an oxide layer from the surface of hardened strip steel by an electrolytical method
US4935112A (en) * 1988-04-07 1990-06-19 Seneca Wire And Manufacturing Company Continuous steel strand electrolytic processing
US5087342A (en) * 1988-04-07 1992-02-11 Seneca Wire And Manufacturing Company Continuous steel strand electrolytic processing

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US2347039A (en) 1944-04-18
NL71372C (nl) 1952-12-15
BE478068A (fr) 1947-01-31
CH272841A (fr) 1951-01-15

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