Improve Stainless Steel Lifespan with Pickling and Passivation
Do you know why stainless steel does not rust? Pickling and passivation are methods applied for removing impurities in metal, just like stainless steel. Stainless steels that are applied in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and other industries often get rusted. This is where the pickling of stainless steel comes into the picture. The treatment of stainless steel is essential in all those industries where metals are used. Hygiene is the prime factor in manufacturing and various other industries. Machine cleaning has a great importance for proper functionality, which not only increases the longevity of machines but also increases the quality of products. In this blog, you will learn how the longevity of your machines can be increased using pickling and passivation.
What is pickling and passivation?
To remove impurities in stainless steel, a surface passivation process is used. Pickling is used to remove weld and other metal heat treatment effects. Passivation is followed by pickling to increase corrosion resistance. Let us understand its corrosion resistant properties with the help of a table
Treatment process | Purpose | Common chemicals used | Benefits |
Pickling | It remove oxides and impurities | Nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid | It helps remove surface contaminants |
Passivation | It creates a protective oxide layer | Citric acid and nitric acid | It increase corrosion resistant, protects surface performance |
The importance of pickling and passivation in stainless steel
In order to maintain durability of stainless steel, passivation is process used. With the help of surface passivation, manufacturing industries enhance corrosion resistance to ensure the longevity of steel.
1. Enhances corrosion resistance:
Stainless steel can develop rust due to welding regardless of having rust resistant properties. This is where surface passivation comes into picture that helps remove impurities from stainless steel and prevent rusting.
2. Removes surface contaminants:
Due to heat and welding, stainless steel gets contaminated and ability to resist corrosion get reduced. Surface passivation comes as an effective solution to remove impurities from metals like stainless steels and enhances longevity of machines in manufacturing and other machine oriented industries
3. Improves smoothness:
Industries like food processing require smooth functioning of machines that help produce high quality products with good hygiene. Manufacturing industries are more prone to rusting and corrosion that require intense cleansing. Packing and passivation helps protect these machines and improve their life.
4. Reduces maintenance cost:
Pickling and passivation help reduce long term maintenance cost by removing result and corrosion from stainless steel. In order to reduce maintenance cost of machines, surface passivation is essential. This is more crucial for industries where machine failure is frequent.
5. Self healing protective layer:
Passivation forms a chromium oxide layer that reforms scratches and dents automatically in machines. As a result, the performance and durability of machines get improved.
Case study: Improving corrosion resistance in marine environments
Have a glance at a real example where pickling and passivation is essential to ensure safety of stainless steel. Marine equipment manufacturers require stainless equipment and these are always in contact with salty water that causes corrosion.
Problem:
After welding, the parts of stainless steel got heated and formed an oxide layer, as a result, they started to rust and reduced longevity. Hence, they were required to replace the entire stainless steel infrastructure.
Solution:
The company started using the surface treatment chemicals as a pickling process to remove rust and corrosion in stainless steel. In addition to this, they also used an acid cleaning process in which nitric acid was used to cleanse the oxide layers.
Results:
1. The corrosion resistance of stainless steel improved over 10 months of use, they found no rust and surface degradation.
2. After using a chemical passivation solution in stainless steel, the company saved 90 lakh dollars from maintenance and replacement.
With the help of this case study, we got to know how passivation solutions are useful in industries exposed to harsh environments and provide protection from corrosion and rusting. As a result, one can save lots of money by investing in the replacement of stainless steel parts.
Welding cleaning machines: A tool for effective pickling and passivation
Pickling and passivation process is revolutionized using welding cleaning machines. Oxide layers and contaminants are removed using welding cleaning machines that increase corrosion resistance of machines and make them ready to use for a long period of time.
Effective removal of weld discoloration:
After welding the stainless steel surfaces, you need to use a surface passivation process to remove rust and corrosion quickly and effectively. Electrolytic cleaning technology is used in weld cleaning machines to treat the stainless steel surface.
Environment friendly solution:
With the help of weld cleaning machines, you can not only clean stainless steel effectively but also reduce chemical waste in the cleansing process.
Cost effective and time saving:
The industries that have a large number of stainless steels must use welding cleaning machines that are cost effective and time saving.
Wide range of application
Industries like construction, automotive and marine engineering often use weld cleaning machines in weld treatments that help remain stainless steel durable and corrosion free.
Benefits of pickling and passivation
By using pickling and passivation, manufacturing industries can easily and effectively treat their stainless steel plants that improves longevity and performance of machines
Improved surface cleanliness:
With the help of pickling and passivation process, the surface of stainless steel can be cleaned, as a result, the surface of stainless steel not only gets free from microorganism but also from other visible contaminants.
Improves weld quality:
With the help of weld cleaning machines oxide layers can be removed from stainless steel’ surface. As a result, your stainless steel components get improved and provide better performance for a long period of time.
Compliance with industry standards:
Due to strict regulatory standards in using stainless steel products in industries, manufacturers need to follow hygiene standards carefully to avoid any trouble in the future. With the help of surface passivation, the contaminants on the surfaces of stainless steel can be removed completely.
Prevents contamination in sensitive industries:
There are many industries where cleanliness is a paramount concern to ensure contaminant free production process. Food processing, pharmaceuticals and electronics require intense cleanliness to control contamination.
Uniform surface finish:
Pickling and passivation stainless steel process provides a uniform surface finish that completely removes rust and impurities from the stainless steel’s surface. As a result, you get excellent cleaning and a uniform protective layer.
Cost effective maintenance:
With the help of the surface passivation process, maintenance of stainless steel can be improved significantly. After implementing the treatment process, the damage of this metal gets reduced significantly.
Eco Friendly maintenance:
Pickling and passivation are the environment friendly ways to clean stainless steel’s surface that do not use harsh chemicals. The chemical solutions used in the cleaning process of stainless steel contain less chemical substance and are best for manufacturing industries.
Conclusion:
Are you looking to enhance the longevity of stainless steel? pickling and passivation is the solution to this problem. Using surface treatment chemicals in stainless steel can transform the lifespan of machines. TClean is a leading chemical solution manufacturer in India that can help clean your stainless steel plants quickly and effectively. What are you still sear