It is shown that the electrochemical anodic treatment of alloys (stainless steels, Al–Mg alloys, and bronzes) in Ethaline (eutectic mixture of choline chloride and ethylene glycol) can be used as an efficient method for improving not only the surface appearance (to increase gloss and reduce roughness) and some physicomechanical properties (to increase microhardness, wear resistance, etc.) but also corrosion resistance. The SEM analysis shows that electropolishing in Ethaline results in a noticeable decrease in the amount of defects (inhomogeneities, scratches, holes, etc.) on the surfaces of alloys. It is proved that smoothing the surface and changing the composition of the surface layer (established by EDX) for all tested alloys after electropolishing in Ethaline lead to a noticeable decrease in the corrosion rates of the samples. Thus, this fast, affordable, resource-saving, and environmentally friendly method of surface treatment can be a promising alternative to the most common electropolishing technologies based on the use of highly concentrated acidic solutions and high temperatures.
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Published in Fizyko-Khimichna Mekhanika Materialiv, Vol. 56, No. 5, pp. 47–51, September–October, 2020.
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Kityk, A.A., Protsenko, V.S., Danilov, F.I. et al. Effect of Electropolishing of Metals and Alloys in a Deep Eutectic Solvent on Their Corrosion Characteristics. Mater Sci 56, 629–633 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11003-021-00474-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11003-021-00474-w