Industry News

Pickling and passivation of stainless steel flanges

Aug. 01, 2025

Pickling and passivation of stainless steel flanges is a key step in the surface treatment process, designed to remove scale, rust, and impurities while enhancing corrosion resistance. The following is a detailed description of the pickling and passivation process for stainless steel flanges:

I. Purpose of Pickling and Passivation

Removing Oxide Layers and Impurities: After welding and heat treatment, a scale forms on the stainless steel surface, affecting its corrosion resistance.

Improving Corrosion Resistance: Passivation treatment after pickling forms a dense passive film on the stainless steel surface, protecting the base material.

Consistent Aesthetics: The flange surface exhibits a silvery-white, uniform metallic luster, enhancing its appearance.

II. Process Overview

Pretreatment

Cleanse the surface from oil and impurities (degreasing agents or alkaline cleaners can be used);

Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Pickling Treatment

Commonly used pickling solutions: Mixed acids (nitric acid + hydrofluoric acid) or pickling pastes;

Soaking or brushing, the time depends on specific conditions (generally 5 to 30 minutes);

Remove weld marks, scale, rust, etc. Water Washing

Rinse the surface with plenty of clean or purified water to ensure no residual acid.

Passivation Treatment

Use a passivation solution (such as nitric acid or citric acid) to form a dense Cr₂O₃ passivation film on the surface.

Improve the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel and prevent subsequent rust.

Final Rinse and Drying

Rinse thoroughly again.

Dry to avoid water spots or rust recurrence.

III. Precautions

Wear protective equipment during operation and ensure safe ventilation.

This treatment is not suitable for high-concentration hydrofluoric acid treatment of certain austenitic stainless steels (such as 304L).

Ensure that the acid wash is thorough before passivation, otherwise the quality of the passivation film will be affected.

The passivation film cannot be directly observed with the naked eye; however, its effectiveness can be verified through an iron ion precipitation test or a salt spray test. IV. Applications

Stainless steel flanges that have undergone pickling and passivation treatment offer enhanced corrosion resistance and are particularly suitable for use in environments with high hygiene requirements or high corrosive environments, such as:

Food processing equipment

Pharmaceutical piping systems

Chemical piping projects

Offshore facilities

Cangzhou Aosendic Pipe Fittings Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a large-scale manufacturer specializing in the production of elbows, tees, reducers, elbows, and caps. We comply with ASTM, ANSI, JIS, DIN, GB, and other standards, covering virtually all steel types.

Please contact us for any purchasing inquiries or questions.

Mobile: 86-13668807131

Website: https://www.authenticfitting.com/

Address: Mengcun Hui Autonomous County, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province

Email: authentic013@steelpipes-fitting.com

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FAQ

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Our products comply with international standards such as ASTM, ANSI, JIS, DIN, and GB. We also hold various certifications to assure quality and reliability, including ISO 9001.

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If you need, we will offer you samples for free, but new customers are expected to pay express charge.

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authentic013@steelpipes-fitting.com

+86 13668807131

+86 13668807131

Donghe Industrial Zone, Mengcun County, Cangzhou City, Hebei Province

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