How To Passivate Stainless Steel

Passivating stainless steel is needed to provide a protective layer on stainless steel to protect the metal from pollutants in the environment. Metal that is not treated by passivation will be more likely to have microscopic imperfections that let in oxygen and water as well as other pollution that will cause rusting.

Two Easy Steps To Passivate Stainless Steel

• Clean the metal. Manufacturing can leave grease and burrs on the surface of the metal that makes it vulnerable to rusting. Cleaning the metal removes the imperfections so the chemicals used in passivation process will be able to form the protective layer.
• Passivation bath. After the metal is cleaned, then the stainless steel is immersed in a chemical bath or either nitric acid or citric acid. Nitric acid is the older of the two forms of passivation and is recognized as the industry standard. Citric acid is newer, but more environmentally friendly. The chemicals go on to form a passive layer on the metal.

Top Reasons To Invest In The Passivation Process

• Prevents corrosion of stainless steel. The protective oxide layer makes the metal resistant to impurities that cause rusting. The layer works with the natural properties of stainless steel to resist to oxygen to make the metal self-healing and virtually indestructible.
• Increases the durability of the metal. The passive layer allows the metal to endure more stress weight without buckling.
• Increases the aesthetics of the stainless steel. The metal before treatment is dull and may have small abrasions or burrs in it. After treatment, the metal is left polished with a smooth surface that is thin and durable.
• Does not change the properties of the metal. Passivation leaves a thin oxide layer that is only .0000001 inches thick. That is 1/100,000 thickness of a human hair.

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CELCO has trained professionals in the passivation process that can take care of your needs today. Please contact us now.