Probably stupid electropolishing question

[antknee]

If I have a sheet of stainless steel and put it into an electropolish bath with just one cathode will just one side of the sheet get polished?

 

[redpicker]

All exposed surfaces of the stainless will be affected.


rp

 

[antknee]

Hmmm. I was figuring one side would get most/all of the polishing. With one side not much affected.

 

[redpicker]

Well, the areas furtherest from the cathode will see slightly less, proportional to the electrical resistance of the electrolyte. But, since the electrical resistance of the electrolyte is very low, that difference will be very low.

rp

 

[EdStainless]

If the cathode is nearer to the work pieced then the variations will be greater.
I would expect the back side to look like it had been immersed with no current.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Plymouth Tube

 

[antknee]

The cathode is 5mm from the sheet to be polished and the bath/rig does hinder a line of sight to the other side of the sheet. So its going to mostly polish just one side...?

 

[TVP]

Yes, based on your most recent description, one side will be polished more than the other.

 

[antknee]

Thanks for answering all. Ant.