Electrochemical machining may be considered a controlled, high-rate, anodic corrosion process, and it is generally agreed1–4  that the high metal removal rate in passivating electrolytes takes place in the transpassive region. The early ECM studies involved the use of NaCl solutions as the electrolyte. Since NaCl solutions produce large overcuts in the ECM operation, much of the early work5–7  was concerned with improving the overcut characteristics of the NaCl electrolyte. After the announcement8  of the outstanding properties of the new ECM electrolyte, solutions of NaClO3, it became apparent9–12  that an electrolyte which gave good control of geometry and dimensions at high metal removal rates is one in which a potential-dependent, anodic film is formed on the metal anode surface in the given electrolyte.

Subject
Steel surfaces, Ions, Electrochemical cells, Voltage, Salts, Metal surfaces, Protective films, Passive films, Anode surfaces, Film formation, Steel, Transpassive region, Electrolytes
© 1976 Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP). All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of AMPP. Positions and opinions advanced in this work are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of AMPP. Responsibility for the content of the work lies solely with the author(s).
1976
Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP)
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