Both vibratory and high-energy tumble-finishing processes provide easy and inexpensive ways to improve parts en masse after fabrication. Tumbling stainless steel and aluminum parts – as well as components made from other alloys, metals and even plastics – is both an economical and easy means for finishing them. Each tumbling process for metals, alloys or… Read more »
RP Abrasives Blog – 5 Tips for Outsourcing Passivation of Stainless Steel
Passivation is a chemical process that helps stainless steel surfaces resist rust and other types of corrosion. Consisting of washing, rinsing and soaking stainless steel parts in an acid solution, the finishing process alone entails multiple rinses. Unlike coatings, nothing is applied to the surface of a workpiece. Rather, it’s a process used to remove… Read more »
A Complete Guide to Understanding ASTM Standards
Towards the end of the 19th century, the United States depended on a rail network that linked different parts of the country together. Yet a wave of rail accidents during this period disrupted commerce and travel, threatening to curb the economic growth of the emerging industrial giant. In 1898, scientists and engineers working for the… Read more »
Why Is Passivating Stainless Steel Necessary?
The identification of chromium around the turn of the 19th century led to it becoming the key ingredient in an iron-based alloy used widely today. In the mid-1800s, it was found that chromium, when combined with iron, caused the metal to be both more formable and durable. This made it an ideal additive for steel… Read more »
Advantages of Custom Metal Finishing for Fabrication Projects
As the final step in the fabrication process, custom metal finishing prepares metal products or components for their designed purpose. This process provides many advantages, such as ensuring better resistance to corrosion or chemicals. Custom metal finishing also improves the specific properties of metal workpieces, making them more durable. Choosing the right finish for a… Read more »
How Do You Passivate with Citric Acid?
Citric passivation involves treating metal surfaces in an acid solution to make them better resist corrosion. As an iron-based alloy, stainless steel contains iron, nickel and chromium, with corrosion resistance due primarily to its chromium content. When exposed to oxygen in the air, chromium forms a thin layer of chromium oxide, which coats stainless steel… Read more »
A Guide to Superfinishing for Small Titanium Parts
The superfinishing process removes material on surfaces after modifications, using fine-grit abrasives to remove the residual layer left over from previous operations. Sometimes referred to as micro-finishing, the superfinishing process refines a component’s surfaces. These abrasive materials rotate while being spun around opposite the titanium part they’re finishing. This results in the removal of the… Read more »
A Guide to Buffing Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is used across various industries due to its well-known durable, resistant, and aesthetically pleasing properties. While it’s a very long-lasting metal, stainless steel isn’t completely impenetrable and requires some maintenance to ensure the best quality over the long term. Buffing stainless steel is a common finishing process that can give a part its… Read more »
Choosing Between Sand Blasting and Glass Bead Blasting Services
When it comes to finished metal surfaces, manufacturers need parts that not only look a certain way but also perform to necessary specifications – this could include stripping paint, removing corrosion, providing a non-reflective (matte) finish, increasing adhesion, or smoothing out burrs. There are two common, effective finishing types that many businesses look to for… Read more »
How Metal Passivation Plays a Role in the Medical Industry
In an industry where cleanliness and sterilization are non-negotiable, it’s essential to have medical implants, tools, and instruments that are as smooth, clean, and rust-resistant as possible. Medical device passivation helps to ensure that stainless steel tools are not only free of impurities but that they will stand the test of time while maintaining a… Read more »