Getting the Best Out of Stainless Steel Part - II

Importance of post-fabrication treatments 

Apart from some specialized processes, welds in stainless steel always result in some degree of heat tint. Heat tint is essentially an oxidized surface which has a reduced corrosion resistance compared to the parent material. Therefore, the normal practice is to carry out some form of post weld treatment to improve the corrosion resistance.

Details of these procedures can be found at:

Post Weld Cleaning and Finishing of Stainless Steels

Welding and Post Fabrication Cleaning for Construction and Architectural Applications

Good fabrication practice always includes post weld treatment. Failure to do so can give rise to     unnecessary cost of rectification later on.

Importance of segregating carbon and stainless steel

Sometimes "rusting" of stainless steel turns out to be nothing of the kind. It is the rusting of carbon steel which has contaminated the surface of the stainless steel at some point in the production process. Possible sources of contamination from carbon steel include:

      Tools

      Lifting Gear, Ropes, Chains

      Grinding dust

      Cutting sparks

      Wire brushes

Wherever possible, stainless steel and carbon steel should be fabricated in separate areas of the  workshop or better still in separate workshops. Where not possible it is important to clean down machines used for carbon steel before using them for stainless steel. Stainless steel surfaces should be protected with plastic coatings for as long as possible.Visit their website to find out more ASTROPAK.COM

 Importance of site management

It is quite possible for everything to be done well in fabrication, only for the whole project to be spoiled by inappropriate practices on site. The issues outlined in 3. apply just as much to the site installation as anywhere else in the process.

In addition, it must be remembered that what is appropriate for one building material is unacceptable for another. For stainless steel it has to remembered that masonry and brick cleaners may contain hydrochloric acid sometimes called muriatic acid. If these fluids are to be used at all near stainless steel, care should be taken to protect the stainless steel surfaces. If splashes occur, they should be immediately washed off with water. Failure to do so will result in serious attack of the stainless steel resulting in expensive rectification costs

Importance of choosing correct grade for the application

This aspect almost goes without saying. It is only this far down in the list because it usually is    considered. But if the "wrong" grade has been chosen the consequences can be severe. Some guidelines on material selection are given here. 

Cleaning and Maintenance

Some people think that stainless steel's corrosion resistant surface somehow repels dirt and other contaminants. Like any surface stainless steel requires some maintenance. Guidance on this aspect can be found at Cleaning Methods for Stainless Steel

Importance of seeking technical advice in cases of doubt 

If there is any doubt about the correct choice of grade, surface finish or other aspect of a prospect  involving stainless steel, the following advisory services can be consulted: To find out more about passivation stainless steel Click here : http://www.astropak.com/ultra-pass-passivation.php