Electrochemical Processing and Surface Finish

Abstract

Electrochemical processes are widely used for manufacturing of complex shaped components (electrochemical machining), finishing of intricate components (electrochemical finishing), deposition/coatings (electrochemical deposition or electroplating), generating nanoparticles (electrowinning), and purification and recycling (electrorefining) of electrically conducting materials. Their derived and hybrid processes have also been developed to meet specific requirements of products and/or materials. These processes are used in various industries such as aviation, automobile, space, biomedical, consumer products, manufacturing, nuclear, fashion, etc. Even though electrochemical processes yield good surface quality due to their noncontact nature but generation of good surface finish is a complex phenomenon and is controlled by many parameters. This requires in-depth understanding of various electrochemical processes. This chapter describes surface finishing aspects of various electrochemical processes along with detailed description of their working principle, mechanism of material removal, advantages, limitations, and applications. © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.