US2692853A - Process and composition for electropolishing stainless iron and steel - Google Patents
Process and composition for electropolishing stainless iron and steel Download PDFInfo
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- US2692853A US2692853A US254799A US25479951A US2692853A US 2692853 A US2692853 A US 2692853A US 254799 A US254799 A US 254799A US 25479951 A US25479951 A US 25479951A US 2692853 A US2692853 A US 2692853A
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- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims description 26
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 title claims description 16
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims description 13
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 title description 10
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 title description 10
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title description 5
- 239000003792 electrolyte Substances 0.000 claims description 44
- 239000004021 humic acid Substances 0.000 claims description 35
- QJZYHAIUNVAGQP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 3-nitrobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2,3-dicarboxylic acid Chemical compound C1C2C=CC1C(C(=O)O)C2(C(O)=O)[N+]([O-])=O QJZYHAIUNVAGQP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 32
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 claims description 15
- 159000000011 group IA salts Chemical class 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000005498 polishing Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 claims description 5
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-PWCQTSIFSA-N Tritiated water Chemical compound [3H]O[3H] XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-PWCQTSIFSA-N 0.000 claims 1
- NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Phosphoric acid Chemical compound OP(O)(O)=O NBIIXXVUZAFLBC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 24
- QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfuric acid Chemical compound OS(O)(=O)=O QAOWNCQODCNURD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 21
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 19
- 235000011007 phosphoric acid Nutrition 0.000 description 15
- 229910000147 aluminium phosphate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 9
- DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M Ilexoside XXIX Chemical compound C[C@@H]1CC[C@@]2(CC[C@@]3(C(=CC[C@H]4[C@]3(CC[C@@H]5[C@@]4(CC[C@@H](C5(C)C)OS(=O)(=O)[O-])C)C)[C@@H]2[C@]1(C)O)C)C(=O)O[C@H]6[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O6)CO)O)O)O.[Na+] DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M 0.000 description 8
- 239000011734 sodium Substances 0.000 description 8
- 229910052708 sodium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 8
- 239000000047 product Substances 0.000 description 7
- OKKJLVBELUTLKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Methanol Chemical compound OC OKKJLVBELUTLKV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 description 3
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000002244 precipitate Substances 0.000 description 3
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel Chemical compound [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000007864 aqueous solution Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000005868 electrolysis reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000003415 peat Substances 0.000 description 2
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N Chromium Chemical compound [Cr] VYZAMTAEIAYCRO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Molybdenum Chemical compound [Mo] ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicon Chemical compound [Si] XUIMIQQOPSSXEZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000005707 Thorpe reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titanium Chemical compound [Ti] RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000002378 acidificating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000001298 alcohols Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052783 alkali metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000001340 alkali metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000003863 ammonium salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000002585 base Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- VQLYBLABXAHUDN-UHFFFAOYSA-N bis(4-fluorophenyl)-methyl-(1,2,4-triazol-1-ylmethyl)silane;methyl n-(1h-benzimidazol-2-yl)carbamate Chemical compound C1=CC=C2NC(NC(=O)OC)=NC2=C1.C=1C=C(F)C=CC=1[Si](C=1C=CC(F)=CC=1)(C)CN1C=NC=N1 VQLYBLABXAHUDN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- HOPSCVCBEOCPJZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N carboxymethyl(trimethyl)azanium;chloride Chemical compound [Cl-].C[N+](C)(C)CC(O)=O HOPSCVCBEOCPJZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052804 chromium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011651 chromium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000354 decomposition reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003864 humus Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011065 in-situ storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003077 lignite Substances 0.000 description 1
- WPBNNNQJVZRUHP-UHFFFAOYSA-L manganese(2+);methyl n-[[2-(methoxycarbonylcarbamothioylamino)phenyl]carbamothioyl]carbamate;n-[2-(sulfidocarbothioylamino)ethyl]carbamodithioate Chemical compound [Mn+2].[S-]C(=S)NCCNC([S-])=S.COC(=O)NC(=S)NC1=CC=CC=C1NC(=S)NC(=O)OC WPBNNNQJVZRUHP-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 229910052750 molybdenum Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011733 molybdenum Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010955 niobium Substances 0.000 description 1
- GUCVJGMIXFAOAE-UHFFFAOYSA-N niobium atom Chemical compound [Nb] GUCVJGMIXFAOAE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000001556 precipitation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052710 silicon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010703 silicon Substances 0.000 description 1
- 159000000000 sodium salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000011149 sulphuric acid Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000000153 supplemental effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000010936 titanium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052719 titanium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000013311 vegetables Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- 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
- C25F3/24—Polishing of heavy metals of iron or steel
Definitions
- This invention relates to the electrolytic polishing of stainless iron and steel.
- Stainless iron and steel are defined as iron base alloys containing up to 30% chromium, with orwithout substantial proportions, up to 40%, of nickel, and optionally, supplemental small proportions of manganese, silicon, molybdenum, columbium, titanium, etc, for special purposes.
- stainless iron or stainless steel is electrolytically polished by making it the anode in an electrolyte comprising an acid of the group consisting of sulfuric and orthophosphoric acids and mixtures thereof, water, and a material of the group consisting of humic acid and alkaline salts of humic acid.
- the alkaline salts of humic acid include the ammonium salt as well as the salts of the alkali metals, and the term phosphoric acid is used to refer to orthophosphoric acid.
- Temperature, voltage, current density, polishing time, and the use of enhancing materials, in this invention vary within the usual limits covered by these factors conventional electropolishing processes.
- Humic acids are the complex acids derived from the decomposition products of vegetable matter, e. g. peat, lignite, and humus. In the examples of this application, the use of humic acid derived from peat is illustrated, but humic acids from other sources are equally suitable. Processes for the preparation of humic acid are described by Thiessen and Engelder, Isolation of Humic Acids, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 22: 1131 (1930) and by Esh and Guha- Sircar, J. Indian Chem. Soc., 17:326-31 (1949) Since humic acid is insoluble in water and most dilute acids, it is usually prepared by precipitation with strong mineral acid from an alkaline aqueous solution.
- the alkaline salts of humic acid can be prepared by evaporation of the water from an alkaline aqueous solution of humic acid.
- Humic acid precipitates are somewhat colloidal in nature and diificult to filter, hence the alkaline salts of humic acid, which are more easily isolated, are usually used, and when necessary, used in acid media to form humic acid in situ.
- the proportions of ingredients used in the electrolyte of this invention may be varied within fairly wide limits. .
- the current density required for polishing is governed by the composition of the electrolyte, but in all cases should be at least 0.2 amp. per square inch on the anode, and may be up to 20 or more amps. per square inch.
- EX- cessively high current densities are undesirable because of consequent local overheatingof, elec- Application November 3, 1951, Serial No. 254,799
- the electrolyte should contain about 35% to of sulfuric acid, about 10% to 60% of water, and about 0.2% to 40% of humic acid or alkaline salt of humic acid.
- sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid are used in the electrolyte, any rela tive proportion of the two is satisfactory, the proportion of humic acid or its alkaline salt being in the range between 0.2% and 25 the proportion of water being between 60% and 1%, the part of this latter range below 10 being suitable only for those compositions in which the mineral acids are present in nearly equal proportions, and the mineral acids making up at least 30% of the electrolyte composition.
- humic acid or alkaline humate make the electrolyte viscous, hence the lower proportions of humic acid or its salt are preferred.
- the preferred proportion of humic acid or its alkaline salt is 2% to 10% by weight of the composition.
- the electrolytes may also contain small proportions of additional agents added to enhance the polishing effect of the electrolysis, for example alcohols, which'have been used in the prior art to enhance the lustre of the polished metal.
- Methanol has been used to replace water up to 10% by weight of the electrolyte composition of this invention.
- polishing times as short as three minutes are often suflicient for a satisfactory polish, and longer times are required at lower temperatures, lower current densities, and lower rates of action of the electrolyte of the material being polished.
- the preferred temperature range is from 30 to C.
- the preferred current density on the anode is from 0.5 to 2.0 amps. per square inch.
- composition of the essential ingredients of the electrolyte has been found to be 50% to 60% by weight sulfuric acid, 2% to 4% sodium humate, remainder water.
- Sodium humate, the sodium salt of humic acid forms a colloidal precipitate of humic acidin the strongly acidic electrolyte.
- the preferred temperature range is from 80 to 100 C. and the preferred current density on the anode is from 0.5 to 2.5 amps. per square inch.
- the most desirable composition of the essential ingredients of the electrolyte has been found to be about 60% by weight phosphoric acid, about sodium humate, remainder water. Higher proportions of phosphoric acid and sodium humate increase the viscosity of the electrolyte and favor the formation of froth during electrolysis. Proportions of sodium humate within the operating range, i. e. up to 25% by weight of the electrolyte, are soluble in the phosphoric acid, but the electrolyte functions as effectively as when humic acid is present as a precipitate, as I it is in the sulfuric acid electrolyte.
- Example I A sample of A. I. S. I. type 304 cold rolled stainless steel was polished at a current density of 0.66 amp. per square inch and 4.5 volts, in an electrolyte consisting of 55% H2SO4, 42% water, and 3% sodium humate held at a temperature of about 60 C. The sample was polished for 5 minutes, at the end of which time it had a bright mirror-like, polished surface.
- Example II A sample of type 304 cold rolled stainless steel was polished at a current density of 1.7 amps. per square inch at 5 volts, in an electrolyte consisting of 80% phosphoric acid, 18% water, and 2% sodium humate held at a temperature of about 80 C. The sample was polished for 5 minutes, in which time it attained a bright mirror surface.
- Errample III A sample of type CF-SM cast, partially ferritic, stainless steel was polished at a current densit of 4 amps. per square inch at '7 volts in an electrolyte consisting of 57% water, 18.5% sulfuric acid, 18.5% phosphoric acid, and 6% sodium humate, held at a temperature between 80 and 90 C. The sample attained a bright mirror surface with five minutes electropolishing.
- humic acid or alkaline humate required in the electrolyte of this invention may be small, its presence is critical none-the-less.
- An electrolyte containing just sulfuric or phosphoric acid and water will produce a polish on a stainless iron or steel anode over only a narrow range of temperature and current density, outside of which it will merely etch the anode.
- the action of humic acid or alkaline humate in producing a bright polish over a wide range of acid concentration, temperature, and current density is remarkable in view of the small proportions which are satisfactory.
- humic acid or its alkaline salt in electropolishing is an unexpected and marked increase in the throwing power of the current, which is the ability of the current to polish in the recesses of irregularly shaped objects.
- a further advantage achieved is the ability to use electrolytes containing higher proportions of Water than are possible without humic acid or alkaline humate, thereby reducing the consumption of relatively expensive acid.
- An electrolyte for use in the electrolytic polishing of stainless iron and steel articles wherein the article is employed as an anode said electrolyte consisting essentially of an acid of the group consisting of sulfuric and orthophosphoric acids and mixtures thereof, water, and an amount of a material of the group consisting of humic acid and alkaline salts of humic acideffective to produce a bright polish over a wider range of acid concentration, temperature, and current density than in the absence of the member of said group.
- An electrolyte as claimed in claim 1, consisting essentially of 35% to 70% sulfuric acid, 10% to 60% water and 0.2% to 40% of an alkaline salt of humic acid, all percentages being expressed on a weight basis.
- An electrolyte as claimed in claim 1 consisting essentially of 40% to orthophosphoric acid, 10% to 55% water, and 0.2% to 25% of an alkaline salt of humic acid, all percentages being expressed on a weight basis.
- An electrolyte for use in the electrolytic polishing of stainless iron and steel articles wherein the article is employed as an anode said electrolyte consisting essentially of 0.2 to 25% of a material of the group consisting of humic acid and alkaline salts of humic acid, 10% to 60% of water, and a mixture of sulfuric and orthophosphoric acid, said mixture comprising at least 30% of said electrolyte, all percentages being expressed on a weight basis.
- the art of electropolishing a stainless iron or steel product which comprises (1) making the product the anode in an electrolytic cell containing an electrolyte consisting essentially of the electrolyte claimed in claim 2, and (2) while maintaining the temperature of the electrolyte in the range from 30 to 80 C., (3) applying a voltage to the electrolytic cell to maintain a current density of at least 0.2 amp. per square inch on the surface of the anode, whereby the product is electrolytically polished.
- the art of electropolishing a stainless iron or steel product which comprises making the product the anode in an electrolytic cell containing an electrolyte consisting essentially of the electrolyte claimed in claim 4, and, while maintaining the temperature of the electrolyte in the range from 80 to C., applying a voltage to the electrolytic cell to maintain a current density of at least 0.2 amp. per square inch on the surface of the anode, whereby the product is electrolytically polished.
- a process for electropolishing a stainless iron or steel article comprising making the article the anode in an electrolyte consisting essentially of (1) an acid of the group consisting of sulfuric and orthophosphoric acids and mixtures thereof, (2) water, and (3) a material of the group consisting of humic acid and alkaline salts of humic acid.
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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)
Description
Patented Oct. 26, 1954 PROCESS AND COMPOSITION FOR ELEC- TROPOLISHING STAINLESS IRON AND STEEL Terry S.Gamble, Shawinigan Falls, Quebec, Canada, assignor to Shawinigan Chemicals Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, a corporation of Canada N Drawing.
8 Claims. 1
This invention relates to the electrolytic polishing of stainless iron and steel. Stainless iron and steel are defined as iron base alloys containing up to 30% chromium, with orwithout substantial proportions, up to 40%, of nickel, and optionally, supplemental small proportions of manganese, silicon, molybdenum, columbium, titanium, etc, for special purposes.
According to this invention, stainless iron or stainless steel is electrolytically polished by making it the anode in an electrolyte comprising an acid of the group consisting of sulfuric and orthophosphoric acids and mixtures thereof, water, and a material of the group consisting of humic acid and alkaline salts of humic acid. Throughout the specification and claims, the alkaline salts of humic acid include the ammonium salt as well as the salts of the alkali metals, and the term phosphoric acid is used to refer to orthophosphoric acid. Temperature, voltage, current density, polishing time, and the use of enhancing materials, in this invention, vary within the usual limits covered by these factors conventional electropolishing processes.
Humic acids are the complex acids derived from the decomposition products of vegetable matter, e. g. peat, lignite, and humus. In the examples of this application, the use of humic acid derived from peat is illustrated, but humic acids from other sources are equally suitable. Processes for the preparation of humic acid are described by Thiessen and Engelder, Isolation of Humic Acids, Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 22: 1131 (1930) and by Esh and Guha- Sircar, J. Indian Chem. Soc., 17:326-31 (1949) Since humic acid is insoluble in water and most dilute acids, it is usually prepared by precipitation with strong mineral acid from an alkaline aqueous solution. The alkaline salts of humic acid can be prepared by evaporation of the water from an alkaline aqueous solution of humic acid. Humic acid precipitates are somewhat colloidal in nature and diificult to filter, hence the alkaline salts of humic acid, which are more easily isolated, are usually used, and when necessary, used in acid media to form humic acid in situ.
The proportions of ingredients used in the electrolyte of this invention may be varied within fairly wide limits. .The current density required for polishing is governed by the composition of the electrolyte, but in all cases should be at least 0.2 amp. per square inch on the anode, and may be up to 20 or more amps. per square inch. EX- cessively high current densities :are undesirable because of consequent local overheatingof, elec- Application November 3, 1951, Serial No. 254,799
trolyte, excessive generation of gas, and increased tendency for pitting caused by local galvanic action. When sulfuric acid is used, the electrolyte should contain about 35% to of sulfuric acid, about 10% to 60% of water, and about 0.2% to 40% of humic acid or alkaline salt of humic acid. When both sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid are used in the electrolyte, any rela tive proportion of the two is satisfactory, the proportion of humic acid or its alkaline salt being in the range between 0.2% and 25 the proportion of water being between 60% and 1%, the part of this latter range below 10 being suitable only for those compositions in which the mineral acids are present in nearly equal proportions, and the mineral acids making up at least 30% of the electrolyte composition. The higher proportions of humic acid or alkaline humate make the electrolyte viscous, hence the lower proportions of humic acid or its salt are preferred. In all the suitable electrolyte compositions, the preferred proportion of humic acid or its alkaline salt is 2% to 10% by weight of the composition.
The electrolytes may also contain small proportions of additional agents added to enhance the polishing effect of the electrolysis, for example alcohols, which'have been used in the prior art to enhance the lustre of the polished metal. Methanol has been used to replace water up to 10% by weight of the electrolyte composition of this invention.
The time required for polishing depends primarily on the condition of the original surface. Polishing times as short as three minutes are often suflicient for a satisfactory polish, and longer times are required at lower temperatures, lower current densities, and lower rates of action of the electrolyte of the material being polished.
When using sulfuric acid in the electrolyte, the preferred temperature range is from 30 to C., and the preferred current density on the anode is from 0.5 to 2.0 amps. per square inch.
The most desirable composition of the essential ingredients of the electrolyte has been found to be 50% to 60% by weight sulfuric acid, 2% to 4% sodium humate, remainder water. Sodium humate, the sodium salt of humic acid, forms a colloidal precipitate of humic acidin the strongly acidic electrolyte.
When using phosphoric acid in the electrolyte,
3 the preferred temperature range is from 80 to 100 C. and the preferred current density on the anode is from 0.5 to 2.5 amps. per square inch. The most desirable composition of the essential ingredients of the electrolyte has been found to be about 60% by weight phosphoric acid, about sodium humate, remainder water. Higher proportions of phosphoric acid and sodium humate increase the viscosity of the electrolyte and favor the formation of froth during electrolysis. Proportions of sodium humate within the operating range, i. e. up to 25% by weight of the electrolyte, are soluble in the phosphoric acid, but the electrolyte functions as effectively as when humic acid is present as a precipitate, as I it is in the sulfuric acid electrolyte.
Example I A sample of A. I. S. I. type 304 cold rolled stainless steel was polished at a current density of 0.66 amp. per square inch and 4.5 volts, in an electrolyte consisting of 55% H2SO4, 42% water, and 3% sodium humate held at a temperature of about 60 C. The sample was polished for 5 minutes, at the end of which time it had a bright mirror-like, polished surface.
Example II A sample of type 304 cold rolled stainless steel was polished at a current density of 1.7 amps. per square inch at 5 volts, in an electrolyte consisting of 80% phosphoric acid, 18% water, and 2% sodium humate held at a temperature of about 80 C. The sample was polished for 5 minutes, in which time it attained a bright mirror surface.
Errample III A sample of type CF-SM cast, partially ferritic, stainless steel was polished at a current densit of 4 amps. per square inch at '7 volts in an electrolyte consisting of 57% water, 18.5% sulfuric acid, 18.5% phosphoric acid, and 6% sodium humate, held at a temperature between 80 and 90 C. The sample attained a bright mirror surface with five minutes electropolishing.
Although the proportion of humic acid or alkaline humate required in the electrolyte of this invention may be small, its presence is critical none-the-less. An electrolyte containing just sulfuric or phosphoric acid and water will produce a polish on a stainless iron or steel anode over only a narrow range of temperature and current density, outside of which it will merely etch the anode. Hence the action of humic acid or alkaline humate in producing a bright polish over a wide range of acid concentration, temperature, and current density is remarkable in view of the small proportions which are satisfactory. An aditional benefit attained by the use of humic acid or its alkaline salt in electropolishing is an unexpected and marked increase in the throwing power of the current, which is the ability of the current to polish in the recesses of irregularly shaped objects. A further advantage achieved is the ability to use electrolytes containing higher proportions of Water than are possible without humic acid or alkaline humate, thereby reducing the consumption of relatively expensive acid.
I claim:
1. An electrolyte for use in the electrolytic polishing of stainless iron and steel articles wherein the article is employed as an anode, said electrolyte consisting essentially of an acid of the group consisting of sulfuric and orthophosphoric acids and mixtures thereof, water, and an amount of a material of the group consisting of humic acid and alkaline salts of humic acideffective to produce a bright polish over a wider range of acid concentration, temperature, and current density than in the absence of the member of said group.
2. An electrolyte, as claimed in claim 1, consisting essentially of 35% to 70% sulfuric acid, 10% to 60% water and 0.2% to 40% of an alkaline salt of humic acid, all percentages being expressed on a weight basis.
3. An electrolyte, as claimed in claim 2, wherein methanol replaces part of the water up to the extent of 10% by weight of the electrolyte.
4. An electrolyte as claimed in claim 1, consisting essentially of 40% to orthophosphoric acid, 10% to 55% water, and 0.2% to 25% of an alkaline salt of humic acid, all percentages being expressed on a weight basis.
5. An electrolyte for use in the electrolytic polishing of stainless iron and steel articles wherein the article is employed as an anode, said electrolyte consisting essentially of 0.2 to 25% of a material of the group consisting of humic acid and alkaline salts of humic acid, 10% to 60% of water, and a mixture of sulfuric and orthophosphoric acid, said mixture comprising at least 30% of said electrolyte, all percentages being expressed on a weight basis.
6. The art of electropolishing a stainless iron or steel product which comprises (1) making the product the anode in an electrolytic cell containing an electrolyte consisting essentially of the electrolyte claimed in claim 2, and (2) while maintaining the temperature of the electrolyte in the range from 30 to 80 C., (3) applying a voltage to the electrolytic cell to maintain a current density of at least 0.2 amp. per square inch on the surface of the anode, whereby the product is electrolytically polished.
'7. The art of electropolishing a stainless iron or steel product which comprises making the product the anode in an electrolytic cell containing an electrolyte consisting essentially of the electrolyte claimed in claim 4, and, while maintaining the temperature of the electrolyte in the range from 80 to C., applying a voltage to the electrolytic cell to maintain a current density of at least 0.2 amp. per square inch on the surface of the anode, whereby the product is electrolytically polished.
8. A process for electropolishing a stainless iron or steel article comprising making the article the anode in an electrolyte consisting essentially of (1) an acid of the group consisting of sulfuric and orthophosphoric acids and mixtures thereof, (2) water, and (3) a material of the group consisting of humic acid and alkaline salts of humic acid.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,315,695 Faust Apr. 6, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 682,248 Germany Oct. 20, 1939 OTHER REFERENCES Thorpes Dictionary of Applied Chemistry, 4th edition (1943), vol. 6, page 284.
Metal Progress, vol. 47 (1945), pages 732 and 733.
Claims (1)
1. AN ELECTROLYTE FOR USE IN THE ELECTROLYTIC POLISHING OF STAINLESS IRON AND STEEL ARTICLES WHEREIN THE ARTICLE IS EMPLOYED AS AN ANODE, SAID ELECTROLYTE CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF AN ACID OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF SULFURIC AND ORTHOPHOSPHORIC ACIDS AND MIXTURE THEREOF, WATER, AND AN AMOUNT OF A MATERIAL OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF HUMIC ACID AND ALKALINE SALTS OF HUMIC ACID EFFECTIVE TO PRODUCE A BRIGHT POLISH OVER A WIDER RANGE OF ACID CONCENTRATION, TEMPERATURE, AND CURRENT DENSITY THAN IN THE ABSENCE OF THE MEMBER OF SAID GROUP.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US254799A US2692853A (en) | 1951-11-03 | 1951-11-03 | Process and composition for electropolishing stainless iron and steel |
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| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US254799A US2692853A (en) | 1951-11-03 | 1951-11-03 | Process and composition for electropolishing stainless iron and steel |
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| Publication Number | Publication Date |
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| US2692853A true US2692853A (en) | 1954-10-26 |
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| US254799A Expired - Lifetime US2692853A (en) | 1951-11-03 | 1951-11-03 | Process and composition for electropolishing stainless iron and steel |
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Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2743221A (en) * | 1954-08-20 | 1956-04-24 | Paul L Sanford | Electrolyte composition and process for employing same |
| US20050045250A1 (en) * | 2003-09-03 | 2005-03-03 | Rakowski James A. | Oxidation resistant ferritic stainless steels |
| US7842434B2 (en) | 2005-06-15 | 2010-11-30 | Ati Properties, Inc. | Interconnects for solid oxide fuel cells and ferritic stainless steels adapted for use with solid oxide fuel cells |
| US7981561B2 (en) | 2005-06-15 | 2011-07-19 | Ati Properties, Inc. | Interconnects for solid oxide fuel cells and ferritic stainless steels adapted for use with solid oxide fuel cells |
| US8158057B2 (en) | 2005-06-15 | 2012-04-17 | Ati Properties, Inc. | Interconnects for solid oxide fuel cells and ferritic stainless steels adapted for use with solid oxide fuel cells |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE682248C (en) * | 1937-05-20 | 1939-10-20 | Hans Burkhardt Dr Ing | Electrolytic glazing process for stainless steel alloys |
| US2315695A (en) * | 1938-11-23 | 1943-04-06 | Battelle Memorial Institute | Method of polishing metals |
-
1951
- 1951-11-03 US US254799A patent/US2692853A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE682248C (en) * | 1937-05-20 | 1939-10-20 | Hans Burkhardt Dr Ing | Electrolytic glazing process for stainless steel alloys |
| US2315695A (en) * | 1938-11-23 | 1943-04-06 | Battelle Memorial Institute | Method of polishing metals |
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2743221A (en) * | 1954-08-20 | 1956-04-24 | Paul L Sanford | Electrolyte composition and process for employing same |
| US20050045250A1 (en) * | 2003-09-03 | 2005-03-03 | Rakowski James A. | Oxidation resistant ferritic stainless steels |
| CN100582319C (en) * | 2003-09-03 | 2010-01-20 | Ati资产公司 | Oxidation resistant ferritic stainless steel |
| US8518234B2 (en) * | 2003-09-03 | 2013-08-27 | Ati Properties, Inc. | Oxidation resistant ferritic stainless steels |
| US7842434B2 (en) | 2005-06-15 | 2010-11-30 | Ati Properties, Inc. | Interconnects for solid oxide fuel cells and ferritic stainless steels adapted for use with solid oxide fuel cells |
| US7981561B2 (en) | 2005-06-15 | 2011-07-19 | Ati Properties, Inc. | Interconnects for solid oxide fuel cells and ferritic stainless steels adapted for use with solid oxide fuel cells |
| US8158057B2 (en) | 2005-06-15 | 2012-04-17 | Ati Properties, Inc. | Interconnects for solid oxide fuel cells and ferritic stainless steels adapted for use with solid oxide fuel cells |
| US8173328B2 (en) | 2005-06-15 | 2012-05-08 | Ati Properties, Inc. | Interconnects for solid oxide fuel cells and ferritic stainless steels adapted for use with solid oxide fuel cells |
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