Fabrication and Post-Fabrication Cleanup of Stainless Steels

Abstract

The surface condition of stainless steels is critical both where the product must not be contanninated, e.g., pharmacpjitical, food and nuclear plants; and where the stainless must resist an aggressive environment, such as in chemical-processing plants. Although the highly protective chromium oxide film that makes stainless steel “stainless” is tenacious, durable and self-healing, in the presence of oxygen, this film can become damaged. In fact, fabrication and post-fabrication cleanup practices can disturb this film in a variety of ways.