A study of the improvement surface roughness and optimum machining characteristic of L-shaped tube STS 316L by electropolishing

Electropolishing (EP) is one of the most important processes for improving the corrosion resistance capability of a stainless steel (STS) 316L workpiece. This process removes nonmetallic inclusions and improves the mechanical and corrosion resistance of the stainless steel. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of current and machining time on the effectiveness of electropolishing for an L-shaped tube. The workpiece was made of STS 316L stainless steel, and the cathode and anode were made of copper. The electrolyte was composed of sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and deionized (DI) water. To analyze the effectiveness of the electropolishing under various currents and machining times, the surface roughness of the workpiece was measured. The results showed that the EP process greatly decreased the surface roughness of the STS 316L stainless steel under all conditions tested.