Influence of anode immersion speed on current and power in plasma electrolytic polishing

Valentinčič, Joško (author), Zeidler, Henning (author), Böttger, Toni (author), Jerman, Marko (author)

Plasma electrolytic polishing (PeP) is mainly used to improve the surface quality and thus the performance of electrically conductive parts. It is usually used as an anodic process, i.e., the workpiece is positively charged. However, the process is susceptible to high current peaks during the formation of the vapour–gaseous envelope, especially when polishing workpieces with a large surface area. In this study, the influence of the anode immersion speed on the current peaks and the average power during the initialisation of the PeP process is investigated for an anode the size of a microreactor mould insert. Through systematic experimentation and analysis, this work provides insights into the control of the initialisation process by modulating the anode immersion speed. The results clarify the relationship between immersion speed, peak current, and average power and provide a novel approach to improve process efficiency in PeP. The highest peak current and average power occur when the electrolyte splashes over the top of the anode and not, as expected, when the anode touches the electrolyte. By immersion of the anode while the voltage is applied to the anode and counterelectrode, the reduction of both parameters is over 80%.

• Language: English
• Keywords: plasma electrolytic polishing, vapour–gaseous envelope, immersion speed, peak current, average power, process initialisation
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 13 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 15, iss. 6, art. 783
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-158641
• UDC: 621.7+621.9
• ISSN on article: 2072-666X
• DOI: 10.3390/mi15060783
• COBISS.SI-ID: 199241731
• Publication date in RUL: 18.06.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Micromachines
• Shortened title: Micromachines
• Publisher: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
• ISSN: 2072-666X
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523276825

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: plazemsko elektrolitsko poliranje, parno-plinska ovojnica, hitrost potapljanja, vršni tok, povprečni tok, inicializacija procesa

Projects

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: HE
• Project number: 101079481
• Name: Strengthening the Excellence of Additive Manufacturing Capabilities
• Acronym: SEAMAC

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P2-0248
• Name: Inovativni izdelovalni sistemi in procesi