Electrolytic Polishing of Lead in a Sodium Acetate–Acetic Acid Bath

Abstract

IN the course of experimental work on the anodic behaviour of lead, it was found desirable to produce a high degree of polish on specimens which might have overall areas of as little as 1 sq.cm. An examination of the literature indicated that the recommended bath for polishing this metal was one consisting of 250 c.c. of 60 per cent perchloric acid, with 750 c.c. glacial acetic acid. We considered that, because of the intermittent use that would be made of the solution, it would be unpleasant to store; a search was therefore made for alternatives. The experiment was tried of increasing the conductance and buffer capacity of glacial acetic acid by the addition of sodium acetate, and the present note gives details of useful operating conditions for electrolytic polishing in the resultant solution.