Magnetic Fields for Electropolishing Improvement: Materials and Systems

The paper aims to present the main objectives for using magnetic fields to improve process of electropolishing (EP), firstly by focusing on materials and electrochemical systems. The general introduction has been concerned on the sample surface treated under pseudopassivity conditions, in the process generally known as magnetoelectropolishing (MEP). Long-term up-to-date experiments have shown profound changes observed on metals and alloys. The advantageous effects gained by applying MEP to metals and alloys cover: improvement of corrosion resistance, bio- and haemocompatibility, roughness by modification of their surfaces. The improvements are also referred to the mechanical properties of metals and alloys treated by MEP namely: removal of hydrogen, fatigue resistance enhancement, etc. Further developments and the effects of magnetic fields on electropolishing of metals and alloys are to be presented in the next publications.