Analysis of Plasma-Electrolytic Polishing Process Initiation

Plasma electrolytic Polishing (PeP) is an innovative surface treatment to produce smooth, high-gloss surfaces. It is a thermo-chemical process but often described as a special case of anodic dissolution. PeP is determined by an interplay between plasma chemical, thermochemical, and electrochemical processes. The mechanism is not yet fully understood and part of ongoing research. The planar plasma discharge renders direct observation of the interface extremely difficult. Specially developed flow cells could overcome current experimental limitations. The study investigates phenomena during process initiation, as vapor layer creation and current and temperature signals, using high-speed and thermal imaging to foster understanding and derive optimization strategies