Comparison of Electropolishing of Aluminum in a Deep Eutectic Medium and Acidic Electrolyte
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molecules Article Comparison of Electropolishing of Aluminum in a Deep Eutectic Medium and Acidic Electrolyte Tarek M. Abdel-Fattah 1,* and J. Derek Loftis 1,2 1 Applied Research Center at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility and Department of Molecular Biology and Chemistry at Christopher Newport University, Newport News, VA 23606, USA; [email protected] 2 Department of Physical Sciences, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-(757)-594-7606; Fax: +1-(757)-594-7356 Academic Editor: Paul Nancarrow Received: 20 October 2020; Accepted: 24 November 2020; Published: 3 December 2020 Abstract: Research advances in electropolishing, with respect to the field of metalworking, have afforded significant improvements in the surface roughness and conductivity properties of aluminum polished surfaces in ways that machine polishing and simple chemical polishing cannot. The effects of a deep eutectic medium as an acid-free electrolyte were tested to determine the potential energy thresholds during electropolishing treatments based upon temperature, experiment duration, current, and voltage. Using voltammetry and chronoamperometry tests during electropolishing to supplement representative recordings via atomic force microscopy (AFM), surface morphology comparisons were performed regarding the electropolishing efficiency of phosphoric acid and acid-free ionic liquid treatments for aluminum. This eco-friendly solution produced polished surfaces superior to those surfaces treated with industry standard acid electrochemistry treatments of 1 M phosphoric acid. The roughness average of the as-received sample became 6.11 times smoother, improving from 159 nm to 26 nm when electropolished with the deep eutectic solvent. This result was accompanied by a mass loss of 0.039 g and a 7.2 µm change in step height along the edge of the electropolishing interface, whereas the acid treatment resulted in a slight improvement in surface roughness, becoming 1.63 times smoother with an average post-electropolishing roughness of 97.7 nm, yielding a mass loss of 0.0458 g and a step height of 8.1 µm. Keywords: ionic liquid; electrochemical polishing; choline chloride; phosphoric acid; surface characterization; atomic force microscopy 1. Introduction Electrochemical polishing (electropolishing) is the controlled corrosion of metal surfaces [1–3]. The concept behind this mechanism of corroding metals with liquids is to yield a reduction in the surface roughness of the polished metals [4,5]. Another major benefit of electropolishing over surface buffing alternatives is the practical application of reducing surface roughness and impurities to nearly negligible quantities on polished surfaces [6,7]. Currently, large quantities of surface-polished products are being treated with hazardous chemical solutions [8–10]. Phosphoric and sulfuric acid mixtures account for a plurality of these acid electropolishing treatments in pure metals and alloys [11,12]. The benefits of electrochemical polishing have gained notoriety, being determined to be an ideal method for improving a metal’s optimum roughness while also greatly improving electrical conductivity [6,7,12]. Many acid treatments currently utilized for electropolishing metal surfaces provide an ideal mirror finish by removing the exposed surface layer of the sheet metal. However, acid solutions provide this clean electropolished finish to the metal at the expense of hydrogen Molecules 2020, 25, 5712; doi:10.3390/molecules25235712 www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules Molecules 2020, 25, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 8 Molecules 2020, 25, 5712 2 of 8 provide an ideal mirror finish by removing the exposed surface layer of the sheet metal. However, acid solutions provide this clean electropolished finish to the metal at the expense of hydrogen contaminationcontamination [[4,9,12].4,9,12]. The The removal removal of ofhydrogen hydrogen contamination contamination generally generally entails entails the use the of use high- of high-temperaturetemperature treatments treatments in excess in excess of 800 of 800°C for◦C several for several hours hours in vacuo in vacuo [13]. [ 13 ]. High-purityHigh-purity metal metal samples samples of aluminumof aluminum were were tested tested to determine to determine the effectiveness the effectiveness of an industry of an standardindustry acidstandard solution acid of solution 1 M phosphoric of 1 M phosphor acid andic an acid ionic and liquid an ionic medium liquid composed medium composed of ethylene of glycolethylene and glycol choline and chloride choline mixed chloride in a 2:1mixed molar in ratio.a 2:1 Previousmolar ratio. studies Previous demonstrated studies demonstrated the effectiveness the ofeffectiveness various conformities of various of conformities this ionic liquid of this with ionic stainless liquid steel with and stainless other alloyssteel and [1,5 other,10]. It alloys was the [1,5,10]. aim ofItthis was investigation the aim of this to investigation optimize the to electrochemistry optimize the electrochemistry tests to produce tests a superior to produce polish a superior of this ionicpolish liquidof this and ionic to weighliquid theand benefits to weigh of thisthe ionicbenefits liquid of this against ionic an liquid industry against standard an industry 1 M phosphoric standard acid 1 M electropolishingphosphoric acid treatment. electropolishing treatment. 2.2. Results Results TheThe general general mechanism mechanism of of the the electropolishing electropolishing of of metal metal surfaces surfaces in in this this study study using using the the ionic ionic liquidliquid deep deep eutectic eutectic solvent solvent electrolyte electrolyte is is represented represented in in Figure Figure1. 1. The The optimum optimum conditions conditions for for the the steadysteady electropolishing electropolishing of of aluminum aluminum metals metals with with the the ionic ionic liquid liquid were were revealed revealed to be to 2 be V for2 V 900 for s900 via s 1 linearvia linear sweep sweep voltammetry, voltammetry, as shown as shown in Figure in Figure2. Set 2. to Set progress to progress at a scan at a ratescan ofrate 20 of mVs 20 mVs− from−1 from 0 to 0 8to V, 8 the V, e fftheects effects of electropolishing of electropolishing became became erratic anderratic irreproducible and irreproducible beyond 4beyond V. A point 4 V. of A inflection point of presentinflection at 0.098present A/cm at2 0.098in the A/cm linear2 sweepin the voltammogramlinear sweep voltammogram indicated the optimum indicated conditions the optimum for chronoamperometryconditions for chronoamperometry for ionic liquid treatments for ionic liquid in aluminum treatments samples in aluminum with a current samples range with of a 0.092 current to 0.11range A/cm of 20.092(Figure to 0.112A). A/cm Chronoamperograms2 (Figure 2A). Chronoamperograms of the high-purity aluminumof the high-purity samples aluminum were run duringsamples thewere polishing run during process the polishing using phosphoric process using acid atphosphoric an average acid current at an ofaverage 3.51 A current/cm2 and of 3.51 at 1.08 A/cm A/cm2 and2 withat 1.08 the A/cm ionic liquid2 with eutecticthe ionic (Figure liquid2 B).eutectic Mass comparison(Figure 2B). ofMass the originalcomparison weight of ofthe aluminum original weight prior to of electropolishingaluminum prior reported to electropolishing a difference reported of 0.039 a g diff whenerence compared of 0.039 with g when the post-polishing compared with weight the post- of 5.79polishing g for aluminum weight of polished5.79 g for via aluminum the ionic polished liquid method via the (Table ionic1 liquid). method (Table 1). FigureFigure 1. 1. SchematicSchematic conceptualizationconceptualization ofof anodicanodic levelingleveling ofof aluminumaluminum surfacessurfaces via via atomic atomic force force microscopymicroscopy (AFM)(AFM) atat di differentfferent phases phases of of the the study: study: (A(A)) beforebefore electropolishing, electropolishing, andand (B(B)) after after electropolishingelectropolishing treatments treatments withwith thethe ionic liquid, liquid, with with representati representativeve 2D 2D surface surface profiles profiles depicted depicted (C) (Cbefore,) before, (D ()D during,) during, and and (E ()E after) after experiments. experiments. Table 1. Average electropolishing rate (µg/s) calculations for each electrolyte for each metal sample over a 900 s treatment. Medium Mass Before (g) Mass After (g) Mass Differential (g) Surface Degradation Rate (µg/s) Deep Eutectic 5.83 5.79 0.039 43.77 Phosphoric Acid 5.85 5.80 0.045 50.88 Molecules 2020, 25, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 8 Table 1. Average electropolishing rate (µg/s) calculations for each electrolyte for each metal sample over a 900 s treatment. Mass Mass Mass Surface Degradation Medium Before (g) After (g) Differential (g) Rate (µg/s) Deep Eutectic 5.83 5.79 0.039 43.77 Phosphoric Molecules 2020, 25, 5712 5.85 5.80 0.045 50.88 3 of 8 Acid FigureFigure 2.2.Linear Linear sweep sweep voltammograms voltammograms (A) ( forA) bothfor polishingboth polishing agents agents with aluminum with aluminum samples steppedsamples 1 −1 fromstepped 0 to from 4 V at 0 ato constant 4 V at a scanconstant rate scan of 20 rate mVs of− 20. The mVs dashed. The line dashed indicates line indicates the ideal the voltage ideal utilized voltage forutilized chronoamperometry. for chronoamperometry. (B) Chronoamperometry (B) Chronoamperometry for phosphoric