In the modern decoration and industrial fields, stainless steel color plates are highly favored for their brilliant colors and excellent performance. Are you curious about how ordinary stainless steel plates can transform into colorful decorative darlings? What secrets are contained in its processing flow? What precautions should be taken during the processing? Next, let's explore in depth together.
I. A Complete Revelation of the Processing Procedure
1.tableSurface pretreatment: This is the first step in processing, just like laying a solid foundation for subsequent procedures. First, degreasing treatment should be carried out. Use a professional stainless steel degreasing and activation solution to remove oil stains, impurities and other contaminants on the surface of the stainless steel plate. If these dirt are not removed, it will seriously affect the subsequent processing effect, such as causing uneven coloring. After degreasing, the sheet is activated to keep the surface in an active state, preparing for the subsequent passivation treatment. After completing these two steps, the board should be thoroughly rinsed with clean water to ensure there are no residual chemicals.
2.Passivation treatment: The stainless steel plates that have undergone pretreatment enter the passivation process. The plate is immersed in stainless steel passivation paste or passivation solution for usually half an hour to more than two hours, with the specific duration depending on the material of the plate and the required passivation effect. During this period, the passivator undergoes a chemical reaction with the surface of the stainless steel, forming a passivation film. This passivation film is like putting on an invisible armor for stainless steel, which can significantly enhance its corrosion resistance and provide a guarantee for subsequent processing and long-term use.
3.Alkaline water rinse: Immediately after passivation is completed, rinse with alkaline water. This step is of vital importance as it can neutralize the acidic passivator remaining on the surface of the board and prevent the residual agent from corroding the board. When rinsing, make sure it is thorough. Every surface should be washed clean with clear water, and then the board should be rinsed once with clean water.
4.Coloring treatment: This is the key step to endow stainless steel color plates with a variety of colors. The common method is the acidic bath oxidation coloring method, in which the treated stainless steel plate is immersed in a hot chromic acid solution bath. At this point, a wonderful change will occur on the surface of the stainless steel, forming an extremely thin oxide film, which is only one percent the diameter of a human hair. The different colors we see are precisely caused by the interference phenomenon resulting from the difference in film thickness when light shines on this oxide film. By precisely controlling the soaking time of the sheet in the solution, the operator can obtain the desired specific color, such as the classic rose gold, the noble titanium gold, and the mysterious black titanium, etc.
5.Hard film treatment: The colored boards then undergo hard film treatment. During this process, stable compounds such as chromium trioxide and chromium hydroxide are generated on the cathode through specific electrochemical techniques. These compounds act like grout fillers, filling the tiny pores in the oxide film. They not only enhance the wear resistance of the oxide film, making it more resistant to daily friction and scratches, but also improve its corrosion resistance and heat resistance. After hard film treatment, the colored stainless steel plate not only has an outstanding appearance but also is more durable and sturdy in terms of internal quality.
6.Spraying protective film (optional) : To further protect the surface of the color stainless steel plate and prevent contamination and scratches during subsequent transportation, installation and use, some manufacturers will spray a transparent protective film on the surface of the plate, which is commonly known as a fingerprint-free oil film. This protective film not only effectively prevents fingerprints from adhering, but also to a certain extent isolates air and water vapor, slows down oxidation and discoloration, and extends the service life of the board.
Ii. A Comprehensive Review of Processing Precautions
1.Material selection: High-quality raw materials are the foundation for producing high-quality colored stainless steel plates. When choosing stainless steel plates, it is necessary to ensure that the material complies with relevant standards and the chemical composition is stable. Avoid using recycled stainless steel. This type of material has a complex chemical composition and many impurities. The colored stainless steel plates produced may have problems such as insufficient hardness and easy brittleness and cracking, which seriously affect the product quality and service life.
2.Surface protection: From the start of processing to the completion of installation, the surface of the stainless steel plate must be carefully protected. Before processing, do not remove the protective film on the surface of the board in advance. During handling and processing, operate carefully to prevent scratching or breaking the surface of the board. Once the surface is damaged, especially the fingerprint-free oil film is destroyed, the board is very likely to discolor due to oxidation. If the surface is accidentally damaged, it should be immediately sprayed with transparent self-drying paint for protection.
3.Welding process: Try to avoid directly welding color stainless steel plates with high-temperature tools such as oxygen welding, argon arc welding, and electric welding. Because high temperature will cause the color of the area around the weld to change, affecting the overall appearance. If welding is necessary, it is recommended to use spot welding and cover it with a self-spray paint of a similar color after welding.
4.Cross-construction protection: During the construction process, if there is cross-construction with other decoration projects, it is essential to properly cover the colored stainless steel plates. Prevent the surface of stainless steel plates from being contaminated or scratched by splashing particles, corrosive liquids, etc. during the construction process.
5.Post-construction treatment: After the construction is completed, the protective film on the surface of the board should be removed as soon as possible to avoid delamination due to long-term adhesion of the protective film, which may affect the appearance of the board. After the film is removed, it is strictly prohibited to wipe the board with chemical agents such as toluene, acetone, alcohol, thinner or diluent. These agents will corrode the surface of the board, causing serious consequences such as color fading and oxidation discoloration. It is recommended that after the entire project is completed, the processed areas be re-sprayed with transparent self-drying paint once to further enhance the protective effect.
6.The processing flow of stainless steel color plates is complex and exquisite. Each step is related to the quality and appearance of the final product. During the processing, only by strictly controlling every link and paying attention to all key points can we produce both beautiful and durable colored stainless steel plates to meet the diverse demands of the market. Whether for decoration and renovation or industrial applications, high-quality colored stainless steel plates will display their unique charm.
