Maintenance and Repair for Stainless Steel

Staining from iron contamination. Salt and chlorides are present on stainless steel surface.

Inevitably, it becomes necessary to take steps to maintain and repair the chromium oxide layer. Simple maintenance processes can enhance the luster and extend the life-cycle.

Pickling and passivation of stainless steel fabrications can be used to remove contaminants on the surface of the metal. Pickling is used for contamination such as embedded iron.

Passivation removes surface chemicals and other contaminates. The passivation process helps in the formation of a tenacious protective chromium oxide film. There are a number of specifications commonly governing stainless steel passivation.

Stainless steel surface after passivation

ASTM A380 – Practice for Cleaning, Descaling and Passivating of Stainless Steel Parts, Equipment and Systems

ASTM A967 – Specification for Chemical Passivation Treatments for Stainless Steel Parts (based on US Defense Department standard QQ-P-35C)

For more information about ASTM specifications, please visit www.astm.org