Advancements in surface finish for additive manufacturing of metal parts : a comprehensive review of plasma electrolytic polishing (PEP)

Valentinčič, Joško (author), Edaklavan Koroth, Jithinraj (author), Zeidler, Henning (author)

Additive manufacturing (AM) has become a popular technique for producing metal parts due to its design flexibility, shorter lead time and lower material consumption. However, the higher surface roughness of printed parts limits their direct industrial use. Over the years, many post-processing techniques have been developed, such as laser polishing, chemical and electrochemical polishing, mechanical polishing, electro- discharge techniques, conventional machining and so on. Plasma electrolytic polishing (PEP) is a relatively new and popular method for post-processing AM parts. This comprehensive review highlights the potential of PEP to achieve shiny surfaces in an efficient and environmentally friendly way and to overcome the challenge of surface finishing in AM. This article examines the research developments in PEP for metal AM parts, materials studied, impact on material properties, application to unique AM features such as lattice structures and up-skin/down-skin properties and the challenges and limitations of the process. In addition, this article discusses the future prospects of PEP, including opportunities for automation, standardization and numerical modelling to expand and explore the impact of PEP on AM parts. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the importance of PEP in improving AM parts in various industries and providing a sustainable solution for better surface quality.

• Language: English
• Keywords: additive manufacturing, plasma electrolytic polishing, surface roughness, post-processing
• 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: 23 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 19, iss. 1, art. e2364222
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-159123
• UDC: 621.7+621.9
• ISSN on article: 1745-2767
• DOI: 10.1080/17452759.2024.2364222
• COBISS.SI-ID: 200234755
• Publication date in RUL: 01.07.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Virtual and physical prototyping
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• ISSN: 1745-2767
• COBISS.SI-ID: 522157593

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: aditivna proizvodnja, plazemsko elektrolitsko poliranje, hrapavost površine, naknadna obdelava

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