Dry Electropolishing (DryLyte)
DryLyte Technology:
The DryLyte process developed by our partner GPAINNOVA is a new patented technology for the surface finishing of metals by ion transport using free solid bodies, which does not use fluids as electrolytes. It works by combining the current generated by the high precision rectifier with the movement of the pieces through the electropolishing media. The result is an ion exchange which extracts the material only from the peaks of the roughness. This process does not round the edges and can access geometries that would be hard to access mechanically.
Field of application:
- Particularly suitable for the mechanical post-processing of complex or filigree metal geometries
General benefits of the DLyte process:
- Achieves a homogeneous surface and eliminates micro-scratches
- Respects the tolerances and preserves the initial shape, even the cutting edges. Also guarantees repeatability and homogeneity
- Surface roughness below 0.01 micrometer
- High flexibility, since a component-specific programming effort is not required
- Enhances negative surface skewness (rsk) which increases the contact area allowing uniform lubricant film distribution. This improves the bearing ratio and reduces the friction between the work pieces
- Avoids generating grinding texture patterns, improving wear and fracture resistance, and improving fatigue resistance (isotropic surfaces)
- Avoids impurities on the surface
- Increases resistance to corrosion
- Proved biocompatibility. Clean, none-hazardous, and easy waste management
- No mechanical load impacting the component – removal exclusively via current flow
Advantages over liquid electropolishing
- Achieves lower surface roughness
- Avoids side effects as oxidation, passivation, milky surface, orange peel, etc.
- Performs homogeneous results across the entire work piece surface
- Does not create waviness on the surface
- Media do not penetrate into the valleys of the surface, allowing selective polishing
- The use of solid media also allows to focus the process on only a specific area of the work piece (e.g. masking)
