A novel finishing approach for 3D printed inconel 718 by utilizing isotropic electrochemical etching
Abstract
In this study, a novel and highly efficient isotropic etching polishing (IEP) technique electrochemically polished flat and complex 3D printed Inconel 718 (IN718) parts. The anisotropic etching was transformed into isotropic etching based on the electrolyte diffusion characteristics, and the latter was also realized as the polishing mechanism of 3D printed IN718. Wet etching revealed inhomogeneous microstructures in 3D printed IN718, which dissolved preferentially when polished for a longer duration. The initial surface roughness of 674 nm was reduced to 31.5 nm, and a maximum of 2.42 mm(3)/min material removal rate (MRR) was achieved that varied with IEP parameters. The IEP improved the corrosion resistance of 3D printed IN718 compared to the original and grounded substrates, but it was limited by the processing time. Contrarily, the surface mechanical properties of 3D printed IN718 were slightly degraded after IEP. Finally, the 3D printed IN718 comple x parts were polished for 5 min, and the Sa roughness was reduced by 76 %, demonstrating a huge potential of IEP as a contemporary industrial polishing technique.
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