Pro-Fab electropolishes some of its products that are manufactured for use in cleanrooms or FDA-approved rooms. Electropolishing is performed on stainless to steel to produce a near-mirror finish that allows for easier cleaning in such facilities that require extremely clean standards. The fine finish produced by electropolish does not use abrasives or buffing compounds that could introduce micro-contamination into clean environments.
Electropolishing, also referred to as electro chemical polishing, anodic polishing or electrolytic polishing, is an electro-chemical process that removes a small amount of metal from the surface of the stainless steel work piece to produce a shiny, smooth finish. Electropolishing can be thought of as passivation on steroids. Passivation removes unbound iron from the surface and oxidizes the chromium that is part of the stainless steel alloy, producing a clean, rust-resistant surface finish. Electropolish adds electricity to this process to remove a small amount of surface stainless and deepen slightly the layer of oxidized chromium.
Semiconductor facilities often require support objects like carts and cabinets to be made from electropolished stainless steel when those objects are intended for use in class 100 or class 10 cleanrooms. The reasoning is that objects made from electropolished stainless shed fewer particles and are easier to wipe down than non-polished items. Pharmaceutical and food-producing facilities also may require electropolished stainless steel because of the smoother surface, which makes wipe down and sterilization an easier process.
Pro-Fab only electropolishes stainless steel. Other metals require different types of acid baths and techniques, and Pro-Fab chose to specialize in electropolishing of stainless steel to better serve the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries.
Pro-Fab is a full-service fabrication shop that custom builds stainless steel products in-house to your specifications. We can also help you design and engineer your product needs. We machine, weld, fabricate and finish all our products in-house. From fabrication to finishing we are here to provide you with quality products you can count on for your facilities.
We are certified clean room fabrication experts with years of experience fabricating custom products for facilities around the world. Call our submit an inquiry to talk to one of our team members. We are always happy to provide free estimates and stand behind our products.
