What is Passivation?

Passivation is a post-fabrication chemical process that removes free iron particles from alloys through an acidic treatment to prevent corrosion. The word "passive" means unreactive. Therefore, the chemical process achieves a passive state that ensures an alloy will not react to water or oxygen. A thin "passive" outer layer is created by submerging the stainless steel into citric acid.

Stainless steels and other alloys that contain a chromium percentage of at least 10 already have a natural passive layer. However, it is still necessary for these metals to go through the passivation process because this natural layer of protection could become compromised by leftover debris of metal oxides from fabrication, machining, and/or welding.  

After the passivation process is complete, our team performs tests to ensure our iron is not present on the stainless-steel surface.

If your application requires passivation, make sure to add it as a requirement to your request for a quote to accommodate all your needs.