Electropolishing of Additively Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Surfaces in Nontoxic Electrolyte Solution

The reduction of surface roughness on additively manufactured components has become a critical factor in engineering applications. This paper reports the electropolishing of additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V by powder bed selective laser melting (SLM) using a nontoxic electrolyte solution. The resul...

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Main Authors: G. M. Tsoeunyane, N. Mathe, L. Tshabalala, M. E. Makhatha
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/6987353
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author G. M. Tsoeunyane
N. Mathe
L. Tshabalala
M. E. Makhatha
author_facet G. M. Tsoeunyane
N. Mathe
L. Tshabalala
M. E. Makhatha
author_sort G. M. Tsoeunyane
collection DOAJ
description The reduction of surface roughness on additively manufactured components has become a critical factor in engineering applications. This paper reports the electropolishing of additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V by powder bed selective laser melting (SLM) using a nontoxic electrolyte solution. The results have shown that the salt-based electrolyte can be used to electropolish titanium alloys. The surface waviness of the as-built Ti-6Al-4V alloy was reduced by five times the average roughness of the as-built specimen. The minimum surface roughness obtained was 9.52 μm. The specimens were characterized by scanning electron microscope, Gwyddion software, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to evaluate the surface morphology, surface profile, and charge transfer resistance. The X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy were used to characterize the surface chemistry of the specimen. The XPS and XRD showed TiO2 as the significant component on the surface of Ti-6Al-4V, and the atomic percentage on the surface increased after electropolishing. In addition, the EIS data indicated the high charge transfer resistance of the electropolished specimen, which shows the growth formation of the oxide layer.
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spelling doaj-art-d7de22c35a7049e183d4da2ccc839a782025-08-20T02:21:11ZengWileyAdvances in Materials Science and Engineering1687-84422022-01-01202210.1155/2022/6987353Electropolishing of Additively Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Surfaces in Nontoxic Electrolyte SolutionG. M. Tsoeunyane0N. Mathe1L. Tshabalala2M. E. Makhatha3Faculty of Engineering and Built EnvironmentFaculty of Engineering and Built EnvironmentNational Laser CentreFaculty of Engineering and Built EnvironmentThe reduction of surface roughness on additively manufactured components has become a critical factor in engineering applications. This paper reports the electropolishing of additively manufactured Ti-6Al-4V by powder bed selective laser melting (SLM) using a nontoxic electrolyte solution. The results have shown that the salt-based electrolyte can be used to electropolish titanium alloys. The surface waviness of the as-built Ti-6Al-4V alloy was reduced by five times the average roughness of the as-built specimen. The minimum surface roughness obtained was 9.52 μm. The specimens were characterized by scanning electron microscope, Gwyddion software, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to evaluate the surface morphology, surface profile, and charge transfer resistance. The X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy were used to characterize the surface chemistry of the specimen. The XPS and XRD showed TiO2 as the significant component on the surface of Ti-6Al-4V, and the atomic percentage on the surface increased after electropolishing. In addition, the EIS data indicated the high charge transfer resistance of the electropolished specimen, which shows the growth formation of the oxide layer.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/6987353
spellingShingle G. M. Tsoeunyane
N. Mathe
L. Tshabalala
M. E. Makhatha
Electropolishing of Additively Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Surfaces in Nontoxic Electrolyte Solution
Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
title Electropolishing of Additively Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Surfaces in Nontoxic Electrolyte Solution
title_full Electropolishing of Additively Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Surfaces in Nontoxic Electrolyte Solution
title_fullStr Electropolishing of Additively Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Surfaces in Nontoxic Electrolyte Solution
title_full_unstemmed Electropolishing of Additively Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Surfaces in Nontoxic Electrolyte Solution
title_short Electropolishing of Additively Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Surfaces in Nontoxic Electrolyte Solution
title_sort electropolishing of additively manufactured ti 6al 4v surfaces in nontoxic electrolyte solution
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/6987353
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AT ltshabalala electropolishingofadditivelymanufacturedti6al4vsurfacesinnontoxicelectrolytesolution
AT memakhatha electropolishingofadditivelymanufacturedti6al4vsurfacesinnontoxicelectrolytesolution