Passivation
Passivation is a chemical process that restores contaminated stainless steel to its original corrosion-resistant specifications. This is achieved by eliminating free iron or other foreign matter from the metal’s surface, along with other contaminants accrued during fabrication. The metal treatment involves submerging stainless steel parts in a specific acid solution, most commonly nitric or citric acid, which targets and removes impurities from the surface of the stainless steel.
Other than giving the stainless steel part a clean finish, the process does not brighten or change the appearance of the part. The thin, invisible layer created during the passivation process is what grants stainless steel its impressive ability to resist corrosion.
- Enhanced Corrosion Resistance: By restoring and thickening the chromium oxide layer, passivated stainless steel becomes more adept at repelling corrosive substances.
- Improved Product Longevity: Stainless steel free of surface contaminants and with a strong protective layer can withstand harsh conditions longer, reducing the need for replacements and repairs.
- Maintenance of Aesthetics: While passivation does not alter the appearance of stainless steel, it does ensure that the surface remains free from rust and corrosion spots, preserving its sleek, clean look.
- Safety and Compliance: For industries where purity and safety are critical, such as the food and beverage and pharmaceutical industries, passivation removes potential contaminants, helping meet stringent regulatory standards.
We specialize in stainless steel and nickel alloys.
We can passivate almost any sized part, from large tanks and tubing to small fill needs and spools, no part is too large or small. There are various ways to use passivation, we can dip it in a bath or if it’s an extremely large part we can keep it sprayed down with our passivation solution, we can even fill the part with the solution and passivate it that way.
No, passivation will only remove the surface iron from a part and will create a protective oxide layer that will help prevent rust. It does not change the appearance of the part.
No, it does not. Passivation assists to restore the oxide layer of the part to give it rust and corrosion resistance only.