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Do Stainless Steel Sofa Legs Rust?

Release time：

2024-07-20

Stainless steel isn't rust-proof, but it's pretty resistant to rust. When stainless steel products are processed, the protective layer on the surface can get damaged. If the surface isn't treated, rust can set in. There are ways to remove the oxide scale after heat treatment without changing the look or size of the stainless steel, which can really boost the product's ability to fight corrosion.

Stainless steel is used in furniture hardware because it doesn't corrode easily and it looks good. It's common to see sofa legs made from stainless steel. But, during the heat treatment of stainless steel, an oxide scale often forms on the surface. This not only makes the material look less attractive but also reduces its corrosion resistance and lifespan. So, getting rid of the oxide scale after heat treatment is super important for making high-quality stainless steel products.

During the heat treatment of stainless steel, an oxide scale forms on the surface due to oxidation at high temperatures. This scale is mainly made up of chromium oxide and other metal oxides. It's a dark gray or black layer that can hide the steel's natural shine and affect how the product looks.

What's really important is that the oxide scale can hurt the protective layer on the surface of the stainless steel, making it less able to resist corrosion, which can shorten the life of the product. Also, the oxide scale might mess up later processing steps, making the product less precise and of lower quality.

To get rid of the oxide scale on stainless steel, there are several methods used in industry, and pickling is a common and effective one. Pickling uses an acid solution to corrode the surface of the stainless steel and remove the oxide scale and other impurities.

Here are the main steps of the pickling process:

1. Pre-treatment: Before pickling, the surface of the stainless steel needs to be pre-treated to clean off grease, dust, and other impurities, making sure the acid can fully touch the metal surface.

2. Acid solution treatment: The stainless steel is placed in the pickling solution, and the chemical corrosion effect is used to remove the oxide scale. This process needs to tightly control the concentration, temperature, and time of the acid solution to prevent over-corrosion of the stainless steel.

3. Neutralization and cleaning: After pickling, neutralization is needed, usually using an alkaline solution to neutralize the remaining acidic stuff, followed by thorough cleaning to make sure nothing's left on the surface.

Besides pickling, there are other methods like mechanical removal and electrochemical removal. Mechanical removal uses physical means like grinding wheels and abrasives to remove the oxide scale, good for small areas; electrochemical removal uses electrolytic reactions to remove the oxide scale, good for high-precision products without damaging the stainless steel surface.

When choosing a removal method, think about the specific situation and requirements of the stainless steel product. For large areas and mass-produced stainless steel products, pickling might be more efficient; for high-precision, small-area treatments, mechanical or electrochemical methods might be more suitable.

In summary, removing the oxide scale after heat treatment of stainless steel is a complex and important process. By choosing and using the right removal methods, not only can the appearance quality of stainless steel products be improved, but their service life can also be effectively extended.

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