In general, anodic polarization leads to a better cleaning efficiency than cathodic cleaning.
Cathodic polarization attracts cations and leads so to a higher carbon concentration and
redeposition of iron fines. In the industrial lines, the polarization usually alternates
between the different electrodes. It was found in line trials that already a final cathodic
polarization leads to worse cleaning efficiencies compared to a final anodic one. In the
industrial lines, the polarization needs to be switched from time to time in order to remove
the contaminations from the electrodes surfaces, that it is not possible to keep the anodic
polarization as the last step.