Anodic dissolution of titanium in NaCl-containing ethylene glycol

Anodic dissolution behavior of titanium in NaCl-containing ethylene glycol has been examined to obtain electropolished titanium surface. During anodic polarization in 1 mol dm−3 NaCl ethylene glycol solution at 293 K, the titanium electrode covered with oxide dissolves with gas evolution at potentials higher than 10 V (Ag/AgCl) while it is in passive state at potentials lower than 5 V. However, after removal of the oxide layer by pre-polarization at gas-evolving potentials, no gas evolution is observed, and the titanium electrode shows a limiting dissolution current as tetravalent species at potentials higher than 5 V, producing a smooth surface. The polarization of the rotating disk titanium electrode reveals that the kinetics of the mass transfer reaction for electropolishing of titanium is controlled by titanium species dissolved into the solution, not by chloride ions or water containing in the solution. Repetition of dynamic polarization gives a well-electropolished surface.