SUS304 Stainless steel surface clean and maintenance method

SUS304 Stainless steel is a metal that is not easy to rust, but it is not a metal that will never rust. It may also be contaminated and rusted depending on the conditions of use or the environment in which it is used. Daily maintenance is very necessary.   

SUS304 Stainless steel products have excellent corrosion resistance and are less to rust, as described above, which contain chromium components. In the air, combined with oxygen to form a strong surface and form a dense non-oxidizing film, this non-oxidizing film can prevent the oxidation of the steel surface (rust), and can play a protective surface to prevent corrosion of various corrosion factors. Therefore, if the film is damaged due to some corrosion, and the chromium and oxygen cannot be combined, the stainless steel material will start to rust. However, as long as the cause of corrosion is eliminated and the chromium is combined with oxygen, the non-oxidized film is again produced and the corrosion resistance function is restored.

There are many reasons for the pollution and rust of stainless steel building materials. However, in general, they are caused by the adhesion of deposits, accumulations, and salt in the sea breeze. These deposits will gradually accumulate and be fixed by moisture, which will destroy the non-oxidized film on the surface of the stainless steel material and hinder the regeneration of the film, so the stainless steel materials will start to rust. The initial rust can be simple to clear, and the original state can be restored. Even after long-term placement, you can restore a slightly different appearance by doing proper cleaning. It can be seen that the rust of stainless steel materials is only the surface, not the corrosion of the material itself. This is fundamentally different from the rusting of raw steel and aluminum. Therefore, stainless steel materials sometimes will rust, but as long as regular maintenance, you can always maintain the original beauty of stainless steel materials.

Maintenance method:

1. When rusted by adhesion of dissimilar metals

If the rust is caused by iron powder or the like, the rust may be easily removed by wiping with a sponge or cloth with neutral detergent or soapy water. Then rinse with clear water, but please notice do not make the detergent remain on the equipment. This level of rust removal, as long as the cleaning work is done immediately, it is not only easy to maintain, but also effective, and the cost of cleaning is also very cheap. However, if the rust is not removed timely, it will soon form a mixture of iron hydroxide, iron oxide, iron sulphite and the like, and will appear in a heavily rusted state of brownish brown. In this case, stainless steel cleaning fluid or the dilution of 15% of nitric acid can be completely removed. However, there are also rust that can not be removed, and at the same time, it will damage the stainless steel surface or damage the stainless steel inside, at this time, use sandpaper or stainless steel brush to grind and then clean it with cleaning liquid.

2. Rusting caused by harmful components attached to the exhaust

In the environment of the worksite, or in the environment where the traffic volume of the city and the street is large, the appearance of the stainless steel is easily contaminated, and sometimes it is rusting with small spots. Most of these conditions are caused by the harmful components contained in automobiles, air-conditioners, or factory exhaust. At this time, when the pollution is mild, it can be completely cleaned with a neutral detergent or soapy water, but in severe cases it is not easy to handle. In this case, the same maintenance method as in item 1 above can be used to remove it. In this environment, as many as 2-3 full-surface regular cleaning operations should be done per year, or at least one regular cleaning must be done.

3. Rusting due to salt adhesion

In the coastal area, the front side is blown by the sea breeze, and SUS 304 stainless steel will also produce red rust in a short period of time. Moreover, it rusts faster than other areas, and the treatment method is the same as in the case of 1. In the coastal area, it is desirable to use SUS 316 with higher corrosion resistance as stainless steel when using stainless steel exterior. When using SUS 304 as a stainless steel exterior, do as much as possible 3-4 times a year for regular cleaning (the price of SUS326 is double of SUS304).

4.Rusting caused by attached cleaning solution

If it cannot be removed with a neutral detergent, use a cleaning solution to remove it.

5. Rusting caused by hand scales or fingerprints

If it cannot be removed with a neutral detergent, wipe it with a sponge, cloth and etc. with an organic solvent (alcohol, light oil, acetone and etc.). If this method is still not completely removed, use stainless steel with a cleaning solution to remove it. In summary, after cleaning with different methods, you must do another clear water rinse.

6. Pollution caused by surface protection film

Wipe with a sponge or cloth dampened with a water-soluble neutral detergent, or alcohol. If it is still invalid, use a thinner and light oil to remove it. Rinse thoroughly with clean water after washing.

Notice:

1. The reasons caused the pollution and rust are different in each case, so it is necessary to adopt the most suitable maintenance method in all conditions.

2. When using a cleaning solution to remove contamination and rust, please perform a partial "test wipe" beforehand to confirm the cleaning effect. If the test results are satisfactory, then follow the method to do a comprehensive cleaning. The cleaning should not only be used to polluted the rusted parts, but also clean the surrounding parts as much as possible. If you don't do this, the gloss of the stainless steel surface will be uneven and the appearance will be ugly.

3. After using the cleaning solution, it must be completely cleaned with clean water. Be careful not to let the liquid residue remain on the stainless steel surface, otherwise it will cause rust. Cleaning the liquid can cause rough or rash on the hand. Please wear rubber gloves.

4. When using cloth, nylon sponge, brush hook, or brush cleaning tool, it must be cleaned from parallel with stainless steel. If you do a circular sweep, the contamination is not easy to remove, and it will damage the shiny surface of the surface, which makes it ugly.

Steel cleaning tools( such as coarse-grained cleaning agents, or sandpaper) can remove serious pollution, but it is absolutely forbidden to use, because it will damage the stainless steel surface and attach iron powder to cause rust.

Maintenance:

1. The inside and outside of the equipment should be observed frequently. If rust occurs in the cabinet, it should be cleaned up in time.

2. When the equipment is not in use, the water in the water tank should be cleaned up in time to ensure that the water in the water tank does not stay in the equipment for more than 3 days. And if possible, use a cloth or sponge to blot up the water stains on the wall of the tank.

3. In areas with poor water quality, coastal areas, and harsh environments, regular cleaning should be done 3-4 times a year.