Biomanufactured parts, for implant or generally in-vivo use, have high requirements for surface properties. Depending on their field of application, not only smooth, but also well-defined surfaces, i.e. roughness parameters, must be set to allow for the respective functionalities such as optimal cell growth or minimal friction and wear. While for many parts mechanical polishing procedures are state-of-the-art, which are time-consuming and limited in their flexibility, established electrolytic polishing processes often incorporate aggressive media such as acids. Plasma electrolytic Polishing (PeP), a high-voltage process combining anode dissolution and plasma-chemical processes, can be considered a suitable alternative. The paper focusses on current investigations of PeP and shows application scenarios, also pointing out necessary development directions to introduce PeP to industrial biomanufacturing process chains

Currently, the demand for surface treatment methods like plasma electrolytic polishing (PeP)—a special case of electrochemical machining—is increasing. This paper provides a literature review on the fundamental mechanisms of the plasma electrolytic polishing process and discusses simulated and experimental results. The simulation shows and describes a modelling approach of the polishing effect during the PeP process. Based on the simulation results, it can be assumed that PeP can be simulated as an electrochemical machining process and that the simulation can be used for roughness and processing time predictions. The simulation results exhibit correlations with the experimentally-achieved approximation for roughness decrease. The experimental part demonstrates the results of the PeP processing for different times. The results for different types of roughness show that roughness decreases exponentially. Additionally, a current efficiency calculation was made. Based on the experimental results, it can be assumed that PeP is a special electrochemical machining process with low passivation.