PROCESS OF ELECTROCHEMICAL SMOOTHING ARTICLES FROM CHROME AND NICKEL STEELS

FIELD: electrochemical machining of stainless steels, electropolishing, preparation of surfaces of parts prior to electroplating. SUBSTANCE: process can be used as finishing operation in machining of articles. Machining in agreement with invention is conducted with the use of direct current under electrohydrodynamic mode with generation of spark discharges at voltage of 140-310 V in 18% aqueous solution of sodium carbonate at temperature of 40-90 C. Active decrease of roughness and increase of reflection power of surface occur due to action of chemical and electrochemical processes of oxidation of metal and break of oxide films formed under action of multiple spark discharges going on simultaneously in vapor and gas sheath which take place over vertexes of microprotrusions rounding them off. EFFECT: increased quality of polishing by replacement of traditionally used electrolytes with ecologically safer electrolyte based on aqueous solution of salt of sodium carbonate. 1 tblh