Getting the Best Out of Stainless Steel Part - I

When we talk about stainless steel, we, naturally, expect it to be stainless. But, some homeowners are very disappointed and complain that products claiming to be made of stainless steel have gone rusty. Have companies cheated on these products?

Not necessarily! Understanding the whole process better will tell us that there are many factors that may have led to this isolated circumstance.

Manufacturers have long known that the surface finish on stainless steel play a crucial role on its corrosion resistance. Without going into technicalities, experts say that among all, surface finishes that are brightly polished provide maximum resistance to corrosion. It has been proven that this kind of compared to common surface finish, can withstand even severe environments where corrosion easily happens, such as heavy urban and coastal areas. 

Armed with this knowledge, the stainless steel industry now manufactures stainless steel in brightly polished finishes. However, this is only possible if stainless steels have undergone a cleaning and decontamination process from the welding process. This process is known as stainless steel passivation. Visit their website to find out more ASTROPAK.COM

People in the steel processing industry are in the know of passivation since it is widely used process in producing stainless steel products. To us outside the industry, it is best to explain passivation as the process in which “free iron” contamination that remained on the surface of stainless steel from machining and fabricating is removed. It is very important to remove these materials because this factor heavily contributes to early corrosion and, eventually, deterioration of the product just like what home owners complain of in their products that are claim to be made of stainless steel. 

Another good thing about this process is it improves the surface area of stainless steel by producing a transparent coating that protects stainless steel from some factors of corrosion. One process with two results is a very beneficial thing for the industry and consumers, as well.

How it is exactly done involves using nitric acid solution where stainless steel components are immersed, to dissolve imbedded iron left behind and facilitate, on the side, a formation of thin oxide film serving as protective covering of the product.

Stainless steel products that have undergone pickling passivation will least likely produce rust discoloration unless some other step in the manufacturing process influences it to be otherwise. It also produces a superior clean surface that’s free from contamination with other materials. It’s also cost-efficient since surfaces are already ready for priming and painting. 

Understanding of everyone involved of the importance of maintaining the integrity of the material in every step of the manufacturing process is essential to produce a material that’s made of best quality for what is expected of it. To find out more about pickling passivation Click here : http://www.astropak.com/pickling-and-passivation.php