After you finish fabricating titanium tubing and other components, whether you use tube expansion, bending, or other techniques, the last step may be to polish the surface. This will give it a mirror-like finish. However, titanium polishing is tricky to pull off. It’s possible to do it using different techniques. What we want to do is discuss some of them to help you better understand the processes.

Titanium polishing can dispose of flaws and oxide layers, enhancing the intrinsic attributes of the metal. This includes the likes of wear and corrosion resistance, biocompatibility, and strength. Crucially, it minimises the surface roughness. At the same time, it increases the physical appearance.

Mechanical polishing

One approach here is to use mechanical polishing. This is among the most effective practices for titanium. It includes grinding and buffing to aid in the removal of scratches, deformations, and gouges from the exterior. With the polishing, the surface gets better corrosion and wear resistance. It also improves the fatigue life the metal.

Electropolishing

This makes use of an electrochemical reaction to get rid of surface impurities. The electrochemical cell gets arranged where the titanium to be polished connects to the anode of the cell. As for the cathode, it attaches to conducting materials. You also have an electrolytic solution in the cell.

This specific method is a controllable, efficient, and fast. You can utilise it for different components, including tubes that have had tube expansion. It supplies a high quality, uniform shine by restoring the titanium surface’s gloss. However, rough surfaces with deep cuts need to be mechanically polished first and electropolished after.

Vibratory polishing

With this polishing method, you use a vibratory tumbler to enhance the surface. You put your metal in a tumbler with water and abrasive media. The vibration leads to metal parts rubbing against the media. It does so until the entire surface shines. After the final polishing you may need to clean and dry the metal.

This procedure offers your titanium a shiny surface with defect removal and lower roughness. What’s more, it can offer users external and internal polishing for smoother finishing of hollow products such as tube.

Lapping

Next is a method to aid with surface restoration by utilising lapping plates. These are ones comprised of stainless steel abrasive components and lubricants. You cleanse the titanium with water and then begin polishing using a coarse abrasive. Then, to restore the gloss of your titanium, you polish using a polisher lubricant. To end, you clean the titanium using water and dry it to obtain a suitable surface finish.

Diamond polishing

The last method we will discuss uses diamond particles to polish the metal. They are hard and capable of removing the TiO2 layer to completely restore the titanium’s gloss. Surface restoration, shining, cleaning, and buffing are all possible with monocrystalline diamond paste.

This is a low effort, time-saving approach that enables you to get a mirror polish. The high concentration of diamond lets you get a high spec finish with maximum surface restoration. Paste consumption will also be low. In addition, diamond polishing guarantees uniform grain size.

Use our services for tube expansion and more

At Multiform Tubes Engineering Ltd, we’re committed to offering clients a host of top tier services so they can get the bespoke tubing they need. With tube expansion, you have a versatile way of getting a tight fitting joint. No matter the size and scale of the job, our experienced team can succeed. They can also work with a host of materials and tube sizes.

So, contact us if you are interested in working with our business; we can deliver exceptional results for many applications.