Process analysis of plasma-electrolytic polishing (PeP) of forming tools

Plasma-electrolytic Polishing (PeP) is an innovative forceless ablation process based on environmentally friendly water-based electrolytes. Typical areas of PeP application are in deburring and surface smoothing for industrial, medical, micro- and nanotechnology and automotive/aerospace parts. In forming, a potential benefit of PeP surface treatment is to clean the tool surface for the forming process while at the same time polishing it, so that an optimal forming process can be designed. In the article, the basic principle is explained and questions that are still open are discussed. Plasma electrolytic Polishing is a very efficient process because very complex surfaces can be polished and the productivity of the process is very high. During the polishing process, the functional geometry of the forming tool is not impaired and comparably lower surface roughness is achieved than with competing polishing processes. The innovation potential can be demonstrated through PeP process analysis and selection of suitable process parameters.