A SENIOR STEEL ESTIMATOR AT ONE OF THE LARGEST CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES IN THE THE WORLD ONCE TOLD ME THAT HE COULD TELL IF SOMEONE WAS THE REAL DEAL FROM WHAT THEY KNEW ABOUT PASSIVATING STAINLESS STEEL.
AT WHK, WE'RE CERTAINLY THE REAL DEAL, SO HERE GOES!
STAINLESS STEEL IS STAINLESS BECAUSE OF PROTECTIVE CHROMIUM OXIDES ON THE SURFACE OF THE MATERIAL. WHETHER AT THE ORIGINAL MILL, THE SUPPLIER OR THE FABRICATION SHOP, STAINLESS STEEL CAN BE SCRATCHED, PITTED OR OTHERWISE EXPOSED IN THE COURSE OF NORMAL PROCESSING. THIS EXPOSURE OF IRON CAN ALLOW FOR RUST TO FORM. PASSIVATING STAINLESS STEEL WORKS TO COUNTERACT THAT EXPOSURE.
THE MOST COMMON AND PROFESSIONAL PROCESS INVOLVES CLEANING THE STEEL WITH NITRIC ACID, WHICH CLEANS THE STEEL AND SERVES AS AN OXIDIZING AGENT. ALTERNATIVELY, STRONG CONCENTRATIONS OF CITRIC ACID CAN BE USED TO PASSIVATE THE STAINLESS STEEL. BY REMOVING FREE IRON AND OTHER CONTAMINANTS FROM THE SURFACE OF THE STAINLESS, THE CHROMIUM IS REOXIDIZED.
FUN FACT : LITTERED AROUND OUR WEBSITES YOU MAY HAVE FOUND SOME REFERENCES TO BREWING AND DRINKING ALCOHOL. CONVERSATIONS ON PASSIVATING STAINLESS STEEL ARE SOMETIMES PART OF BREWERS FORUMS BECAUSE MANY BREWERS USE STAINLESS STEEL VESSELS, WHICH CAN SOMETIMES BEGIN RUSTING DUE TO EXPOSURE TO CLEANING CHEMICALS.
