Metal is extensively used in our lives, from small items like screws, cans, and sofa legs, to large applications in the aerospace industry such as aircraft and rockets. In fact, the smooth and shiny surface of most metals is achieved through a polishing process.

 

Polishing is a traditional and essential manufacturing process in metalworking that greatly affects the luster of metal. Although there are many polishing processes available today, the quality of polishing is still primarily dependent on manual labor, making the skill of the worker the main factor affecting the quality of the polish.

 

It is commonly believed that polishing techniques affect surface roughness. However, a good polishing technique must be combined with high-quality steel and the correct heat treatment process to achieve a satisfactory polishing effect. Conversely, even with the best steel, a poor polishing technique cannot achieve a mirror-like effect.

 

The emergence of various polishing processes is to meet the different needs of metals or application directions. So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of these polishing processes?

 

 

Mechanical Polishing

Mechanical polishing is a method of obtaining a smooth surface by cutting and rubbing the protruding parts of the material surface. It operates in two modes: semi-manual and fully automatic mechanical. The semi-manual mode mainly relies on tools such as oil stone strips, wool wheels, sandpaper, cloth wheels, and polishing wax, with operations primarily done manually.

 

Advantages:

1. Mechanical polishing equipment is simple in structure and relatively low in price.

2. It has good grinding consistency and high surface flatness.

3. The surface roughness is low; mechanical polishing can achieve a surface roughness value of Ra=0.3-3.0μm.

 

Disadvantages:

1. Mechanical polishing is difficult to handle workpieces with complex shapes or special patterns or designs.

2. The polishing process is prone to producing metal dust, affecting workers' health.

3. It requires a high level of technical skill from workers, making the consistency and stability of workpiece quality difficult to control.

4. Mechanical processing may leave micro-cracks and residual stresses on the workpiece surface that are difficult to detect with the naked eye, affecting the quality and service life of the workpiece and posing safety hazards.

 

Electropolishing

Electropolishing is an anodic polishing method that uses the principle of dissolution of microscopic protrusions on the metal surface in a specific electrolyte and at an appropriate current density. Stainless steel electro-polishing is favored by enterprises for its environmental friendliness.

 

Advantages:

1. Suitable for hard and soft materials that are difficult to polish mechanically, as well as thin-walled, complex-shaped, and small parts and products.

2. Short polishing time, with the ability to polish multiple pieces simultaneously, resulting in high production efficiency.

3. Low cost.

4. Enhances the product's surface corrosion resistance without causing metal surface deformation.

 

Disadvantages:

1. Complex pre-polishing treatment.

2. Poor universality of electrolyte solutions.

3. Short service life.

4. Strong corrosiveness and difficult to handle.

 

 

Chemical Polishing

Chemical polishing is a method of selectively dissolving the surface of a sample through the corrosive action of chemical reagents to eliminate grinding marks and smooth the surface.

 

Advantages:

1. Simple equipment.

2. Suitable for treating parts with complex shapes.

3. Good anti-corrosion properties.

 

Disadvantages:

1. Difficult to adjust and regenerate polishing rolling liquid.

2. Short service life.

3. Releases harmful gases during the polishing process, causing environmental pollution.

 

Nano Polishing

Nano polishing, also known as plasma polishing, is an innovative and environmentally friendly polishing process. The polishing liquid used has small oxide particle size and high hardness, resulting in a scratch-free polish with excellent results. This process is widely used in consumer electronics, furniture, medical, automotive, aerospace, and other fields.

 

Advantages:

1. Low processing costs.

2. An environmentally friendly polishing process with no pollution to the processing environment.

3. High efficiency and good results, with minimal impact on dimensions, typically controllable within a polishing uniformity of 0.1μm/min, ensuring a consistent mirror-like effect on the entire workpiece surface and hard-to-reach areas.

 

 

There are many modern polishing processes available, but high-quality steel is a prerequisite for achieving good polishing quality. Inclusions and pores in the steel can affect the polishing effect.

 

To achieve a good polishing effect, the surface roughness for polishing must be specified at the beginning of mechanical processing. When a workpiece is determined to require mirror polishing, it is necessary to choose steel with good polishing performance and undergo heat treatment to achieve the desired effect.

 

Zhuokai has been dedicated to the production of furniture accessories for many years, with a variety of polishing production lines to meet the needs of various furniture manufacturers.