Abstract
Electrochemical machining of titanium in conventional electrolytes such as chlorideshas some disadvantages since high voltages are required and surface finish can be poor especially in the stray current regions. This paper compares the electrochemical polarisation behaviour of titanium in chloride, bromide and iodide electrolytes and predicts that much lower voltages would be required for higher dissolution rates when electrochemical machining is carried out in bromide or iodide solutions.
Observations of surface finish show that bromide electrolytes give much better results than chloride or iodide. Although good surface finish was obtained in bromide solutions, the use of mixtures of chloride and bromide could give even better surfaces, equivalent to bright electropolishing. The mechanism of these phenomena was investigated by electrode polarisation in bromide solutions with. varying pH, ranging from acid to alkali conditions. From this work it was possible to recommend improved electrolytes for the electrochemical machining of titanium.
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