TH E SU R FACE S P EC I A L I S T

THE PERFECTION OF NATURE IS OUR CHALLENGE

ElpoChem has beenactive in the specia -lized field of chemicaland ele ctro che micalfinishing of metal surfaces since 1970,offering the full range of process engi-neering services. The company developsand produces systems and plants to meetspecified requirements as well as theelectrolytes needed for material surfacetreatment.

ElpoChem AG provides technical consul-ting and has in-house laboratories for development, analysis and applicationsto analyze customer baths and providetreated samples of customer parts.

ElpoChem AG suppliescustom plants and systemsand the required material-specific electrolytes andchemicals for chemical andelectrochemical polishing,pickling, passivating anddeburring of your parts.

COMPANYPROFILE

ConsultingWe provide you with competent adviceregarding material properties and the resultant optimal process technologies.

Sample processingWe are pleased to process your productionsamples in our application laboratory toshow you what can be accomplishedwith our processs.

Process engineeringYour investment will be backed by ourexpert support and accompaniment foryour processes and applications. Weproduce a situation analysis, define theprocess technology required, develop acomprehensive quotation and implementyour project according to your requirements.

Support of customerplantsIn order to provide youwith optimal support formanaging your proces-sing baths, we take bathsamples and analyzethem in our laboratory.This ensures that consistent

high quality of the treated parts can bemaintained.

SERVICES

Production facility of ElpoChem

Jürg RomannManagement

Business location ofElpoChem in

Volketswil (Zurich)

FerroChem-processesfor chemical polishing and deburring of:Carbon steel (not tempered or tempered)

ChemoLux-processes for chemical polishing and deburring of:Cooper and copper alloysAluminum and aluminum alloys

ElpoNox-processesfor pickling, cleaning and passivation of:Stainless steel (austenitic and ferritic)Steel (tool steel, carbon steel, special alloys)Cooper and copper alloysAluminum and aluminum alloysTitanium and titanium alloys (Nitinol etc.) etc.

ElpoChem develops processes individuallydesign for the respective custemer’s needs.

ElpoLux - Processes for electrochemicalpolishing and deburringStainless steel (austenitic and ferritic)Steel (tool steel, carbon steel, special alloys)Cooper and copper alloysAluminum and aluminum alloysNickel and nickel alloys (Hastalloy, Alloy 59 etc.)Titanium and titanium alloys (Nitinol etc.)Chrome-cobalt alloysMagnesiumMolybdenum and molybdenum alloysAnd other processes for special alloys

THE PROCESSES

Customer-specific developmentWe can also gladly develop productsand processes defined by you which areadapted specifically to your operation.

OUR WORLD IS ON THE SURFACE

The ElpoChemanalytical laboratory

The ElpoChem chemical warehouse

Production tank 8’000 liter

Individual advicefor customers

is our standard

Electropolishing is an electrochemicalprocess for material removal from metalsurfaces. The part is connected to the po-sitive electrode as an anode, equippedwith a cathode and immersed in a mate-rial-specific electrolyte. DC voltage isthen applied to the part. The effect of thedirect current causes metal to be remo-ved from the component surface. The re-moval takes place without stresses andacts selectively with a preference forareas of microroughness. The surface ismade smooth and shiny at the microsco-pic level. Macroscopic structures remainintact. Removal is more pronounced at

edges and corners, which results in reli-able fine deburring of the surface to thegreatest degree.Mechanical processing (such as drilling,grinding and polishing) changes or da-mages materials with the effects of forceand heat, which leads to cracks, stressesand changes in the microstructure and re-duces the service life of the part. Electro-polishing removes these disturbedsurface zones, fully restoring the charac-teristics of the material.During the electropolishing of stainlesssteel, a continuous oxide layer rich inchromium oxide is created on the sur-face, which forms a passive protectionlayer against corrosion.

ELECTROPOLISHING

Spaghetti-gripper ona stainless steel sheetStainless steel sheetpartly electro polished

The influence of sur-face treatment on the depth of the me-chanically affectedlayer: ground (l), honed (m),electropolished (r)

Electropolishedbrass key

Surface of a lemon

PROCESSES, CHARACTERISTICS,ADVANTAGES

ElectropolishedNitinol Stent

Surfaces are critical to the appearance,function and service life of metal parts.For this reason, the treatment of metalsurfaces is of key impor-tance for finishing and the cost of parts. Electroche-mical polishing and deburring (electropo-lishing) significantly improve the characteristics of metal surfaces, which has a lasting effect on the durability and relia-bility of the processed parts.

ADVANTAGES OFELECTROPOLISHEDSURFACES

Electropolished metal surfaces are usedin all branches of industry for a wide variety of applications:

Chemistry, bio- chemistry, pharmaceuticals Food and beverage industry Plant and appara- tus engineering Mechanical engi- neering and tool- making

Medical and laboratory technology Electrical engineering, electronics industry; textile and paper industry Automotive engineering Aerospace engineering Kernforschung und KerntechnikNuclear research and technology

Vacuum technology and cryogenics Environmental engineering Jeweler's trade and the timepiece industry Architecture and construction Household and kitchen appliancesetc.

APPL ICATION

NATURE GIVES US BRIGHT IDEAS

Reflector of a lampAluminumElectro polished

Surface roughness plot for a stainless steel plate: ground with 180 grit (top), electropolished (bottom)

ElectropolishedStainless steelWatch case

Electropolished stainlesssteel dynamic hip screw

Production cabinetfor semi-conductor productionStainless steelElectro polished (inside and outside)

Hip joint cutterStainless steel

Electro polished

Metal purity, chemical passivation, excellent corrosion resistance No particles, reduced deposit formation, convenient for cleaning and sterilization Improves quality control (makes faults in the material and processing apparent) Decorative, shiny appearance Significantly fewer crack and strain nuclei and thus improved service life of parts

The FerroChem and ChemoLux proces-ses are used to deburring and smoothmetal surfaces. Compared to grindingand honing, there is no mechanicalstress or heat effect on the surface. Inaccessible corners and edges are alsoincluded and treated very effectively.Roughness is reduced and surface defects are eliminated, which gives thecomponents greater fatigue resistance.

Reduced wear and/or better sliding properties More precise compliance for the mass of parts Increased homogeneity and adhesion of surfaces Improved strength of welded and soldered joints Elimination of crack nuclei Complete removal of flash, overlaps, scales and particles Deburring and smoothing of surfaces and edges of all surfaces wetted by the bath, even hollow spaces Metallically pure surfaces Removal of grinding and drilling burrs, even those directed inward Precise material removal within tight tolerances No damage to sensitive parts, because the process works without mechanical stress No thermal stress

BENEFITS OF CHEMICAL POLISHING

CHEMICAL POLISHING AND DEBURRINGFERROCHEM AND CHEMOLUX PROCESSES

Gearing ringsCarbon steelFerroChem treated

Drilled hole on a carbon steel ball bearing race before and after FerroChem treated

Surface ofa litchi

Fixtures and appliances Automotive parts Tapes and wires Tanks/Containers Turned and milled parts Injection nozzles Springs and switching elements Chains Ball bearing cage Needles Pipe Stamped parts Hydraulic and pneumatic controls Textile machine components Timepiece parts Toothed gears, pinions

TYPICAL AREAS OF APPL ICATION FOR THE FERROCHEM AND CHEMOLUX PROCESSES

NATURE PROTECTS ITSELF WITH IDEAL SURFACES

Chain saw elementsCarbon steelFerroChem-treated

Carbon steel hair clipper blade untreated, FerroChem-treated

Lock cylinderBrassChemoLux-treated

Openend roll (textile industry)Carbon steel

FerroChem-treated

Chemical polishing causes controlledchemical removal at the surface with theeffects of deburring and smoothing. Theparts are immersed in the processingbath loose in baskets or drums or individually on racks. For processinglong pipe or bore holes, the bath fluidcan be pumped through the component.

HOW THE FERROCHEM AND CHEMOLUX PROCESSSWORK

CHEMICAL POLISHING AND DEBURRINGFERROCHEM AND CHEMOLUX PROCESSES

Precision weighing system: Aluminum alloy, ChemoLux-deburred

High pressure cylinderCarbon steelFerrochem-treated

Wheat

Nitinol StentChemoLux-treated

The reliability and consistent quality ofthe processes in your company are supported by ElpoChem with a compre-hensive range of products and servicesfrom a single source:Delivery of the optimal system for the process used, including pre- and post-treatment equipment Delivery of the required process chemicals Information and training of personnel Process-specific support and on-site troubleshooting Analyses of customers' process baths in our laboratory

FerroChem and ChemoLux baths arechemically stable for a long period ofuse, which allows precise control of themetal removal based on the dwell time.The rate of removal is between 0.5 and4 µm per minute – depending on thehardness and composition of the material– and can be increased by movement ofthe liquid. The FerroChem and ChemoLux bathsare distinguished by their efficiency andcost-effectiveness as well as low emissionscompared to conventional processs.

COMPLETE SERVICE FROM ASINGLE SOURCE

NATURE TEACHES US

Flame cutter nozzleCopperChemoLux-polished

Brass welding torch handlespolished with the ChemoLuxprocess

Bulk material (textile industry)Carbon steel

FerroChem-treated

Pickling can be performed by sprayingthe pickling or by immersing the part in abath. The dwell time ranges from a fewminutes to several hours.

CHEMICAL P ICKL ING

With anodic pickling, the removal takesplace with the application of direct current in specially equipped plants.

ANODIC PICKL ING

ElpoChem is your partner for first class and reliable surface refinement.

Pickling pastes: for cost-effectiveness treatment of welded seams for scale and temper colors

Pickling sprays: for treating components with large surfaces

Bath pickling: for immersion, sprinkling, pumping and use in spray chambers for pickling

ELPOCHEM SUPPL IES P ICKL ING CHEMICALS INTHE FOLLOWING FORMS:

Our range of products also includes:Cleaning agents for various metals Pickling additives to reduce the effects on the environment Waste water chemicals

EACH FORM HAS ITS NATURAL FUNCTION

PICKLING

SUPPLEMENTAL PRODUCTS

Welded stainless steel plate partially pickled with ElpoNox

Brass elbow fittings pickledwith ElpoNox

Screw thread drillElpoLux-pickled

Pickling frees the part of scale and otherimpurities. Metals which can be treatedwith the ElpoChem pickling process include:Stainless steel Steel Copper and copper alloys Aluminum Titanium and titanium alloys and others

Pickling imparts lasting improvement tothe corrosion resistance. After properpickling, surfaces and welded seams aremetallically blank and free of scale layers and temper colors.

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THE SU R FACE S P EC I A L I S T

QUALITY EASY TO FIND

East of Zurich 10km away from the motorway A1 you find Volketswil directat the motorway A53.

VOLKETSWIL

After the motorway exit Volketswil, you turnto the south and you follow the sign«Industrie Volketswil», after 500 meteryou are at the business location of ElpoChem.

CHRIESBAUMSTRASSE 4

ELPOCHEM AGChriesbaumstrasse 4CH-8604 VolketswilTel. +41 44 980 30 30Fax +41 44 980 41 81 www.elpochem.chinfo@elpochem.ch