Article: Passivation of stainless steels Page 1 of 2

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TECHNICAL HELP Passivation of stainless steels

About Stainless Steel
FAQ Introduction
Technical Library
Stainless steels are designed to naturally self-passivate whenever a clean surface is exposed to an environment that can
Special Topics provide enough oxygen to form the chromium rich oxide surface layer, on which the corrosion resistance of these alloys
Technical Enquiries depends.
Publication & Products Naturally occurring conditions such air or aerated water will do this and so under many exposure conditions stainless steels
will naturally self-passivate.

Featured Articles & Publications Pickling, passivation and removing iron contamination with nitric acid
BSSA Understanding Passivation treatments are sometimes specified, but it is important to consider whether this is strictly necessary or not.
Stainless Steel - Centenary Stainless steels cannot be passivated unless the steel surface is clean and free from contamination and scale from welding
operations.
Edition
BSSA Stainless Steel Surface Scale may need to be removed first by 'pickling' (or mechanical abrasion) and although the surface of freshly pickled
stainless steel will normally be immediately passivated once the pickling acid has been washed off, it is important not to
Finishes Pack regard these two treatments as the same.
100 Years of Stainless Steel Pickling usually involves nitric / hydrofluoric acid mixtures, whereas, traditionally passivation has been done using only nitric
acid.
Book
Nitric acid alone can be used to remove light surface iron contamination after which the acid facilitates the passivation of the
Stay Bright - A History of cleaned steel surface.
Stainless Steels in Britain by
David Dulieu Citric acid passivation as an alternative to nitric acid treatments
BSSA Guide to Stainless Citric acid treatments can also be considered as an alternative to nitric acid as both provide the oxidising conditions
Steel Specifications - 2nd necessary for passivation.
Citric acid is a less hazardous method and has environmental benefits in terms of 'NOx' fume emission and waste acid
Edition disposal. Solution strengths of 4-10% citric acid are specified for passivation treatments in ASTM A967.
Availability of Stainless Steel
Specifications for passivation treatments for stainless steels
Grades
Getting the Best out of Traditionally the American standards have been used.
Stainless Steel These include: -
ASTM A380 - Practice for Cleaning, Descaling and Passivating of Stainless Steel Parts, Equipment and Systems
Special Grades of Stainless
Steel - Where to Find Them ASTM A967 - Specification for Chemical Passivation Treatments for Stainless Steel Parts (based on US Defense Department
standard QQ-P-35C)
Duplex Stainless Steels - A
Simplified Guide In 1997 an alternative British Standard was published:

Fabricating Duplex Stainless BS EN 2516 - Passivation of Corrosion Resisting Steels and Decontamination of Nickel Base Alloys
Steel
ASTM A380 nitric acid based passivation treatments
Importance of Surface Finish
in the Design of Stainless Steel Types Condition Treatment
Temp. Time
Steel - - Code
(C) (mins)
More Than Just Scratching annealed, work hardened or thermally hardened with dull, 50-70 10-30
F
300 and 400 'series' and precipitation hardening types with non-reflective surfaces 20-40 30-60
the Surface - A Practical 16% or more chromium annealed, work hardened or thermally hardened with 50-70 10-30
G
Approach to Surface Finish machined or polished surfaces 20-40 30-60
annealed, or thermally hardened with dull, non-reflective 40-55 20-30
The Then and Now of F
400 'series' and precipitation hardening types with 16% or surfaces 20-40 60
Electropolishing less chromium annealed, or thermally hardened with machined or polished 50-55 15-30
G
surfaces 20-40 30-60
Structural Sections in
G 20-50 25-40
Stainless Steel 300 and 400 'series' free-machining types
annealed, or thermally hardened with machined or polished
K 50-60 10
surfaces
Stainless steel fasteners L 50-60 10

European Standards -
ASTM A380 nitric acid solutions
Referenced Standards for
Stainless Steel Products Code Solution Composition (volume %)
F HNO3 20-50%
European EN Standard Grade
G HNO3 20-40%, Na2Cr2O7.2H2O, 2-6 wt %
Summary K HNO3 1-2%, Na2Cr2O7.2H2O, 1-5 wt %
L HNO3 12%, CuSO4.5H2O, 4 wt %
Stainless Steel Grades
Datasheets
Note: -
Stainless Steel Datasheets for
Tubular Products HNO3 - nitric acid
Adhesive Bonding of Stainless Na2Cr2O7.2H2O - sodium dichromate
Steel
CuSO4.5H2O - copper sulphate
Selection of stainless steels
for the food processing ASTM A967 passivation treatments
industries This standard covers both nitric and citric acid treatments.
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to thoseare and how
identified in we useA380.
ASTM them on. By continuing
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Article: Passivation of stainless steels Page 2 of 2

Stainless Steel Pipe Parts treated however must pass specific tests to confirm the effectiveness of the passivation, although in practice the tests
are for the detection of the effects of residual iron contamination on the surface of the parts.
Fabrication
Unlike ASTM A380, the standard does not require specific solutions for particular stainless steel grades or types, although 3
Stainless Steel in Indoor specific treatments are identified.
Swimming Pool Buildings The standard notes that the high carbon martensitic stainless steels, such as 440C, are not suitable for acid passivation as
Euro Inox promotes Structural they can be attacked or be subject to hydrogen embrittlement.

Applications of Ferritic ASTM A967 tests for passivation

Stainless Steels (SAFSS)
Practice A - Water Immersion Test

Practice B - High Humidity Test

Practice C - Salt Spray Test

Practice D - Copper Sulphate Test

Practice E - Potassium Ferricyanide-Nitric Acid Test

ASTM A967 citric acid passivation treatments

The standard also allows any combination of citric acid concentration, temperature and time, provided that the passivation
test criteria can be met.
Specific treatments are however also specified.

Treatment
Solution Composition (wt %)
Code Temp. (C) Time (mins)
1 60-71 4 min
4-10% citric acid 2 49-60 10 min
3 21-49 20 min

BS EN 2516 passivation treatments

This standard covers nitric acid and nitric acid / sodium dichromate solutions.
Like ASTM A380 it classifies types of stainless steels as suitable for specific treatment conditions according to
EN 2032-1 - Aerospace series - Metallic materials - Part1:Designation

Process Class Stainless Steel Types

C1 or C2 Austenitics, austenitic precipitation hardening and duplex
C3 High chromium martensitics
C4 Ferritics, martensitics and martensitic precipitation hardening

The treatments are then defined by the process classes. In the case of classes C3 and C4, a two step process is defined,
with a clean water rinse between the two steps, shown in the table below.

Solution Concentration g/l

Process Class Temp. Range C Time mins. Anodic voltage V
HNO3 Na2Cr2O7.2H2O
50-55 20-40
C1 200-250 20-30 without
20-30 30-60
C2 200-500 - 20-30 30-60 without
200-250 20-30 50-55 2-3 3-5
C3
- 40-60 60-70 30-40 without
200-250 20-30 50-55 20-40 without
C4
- 40-60 60-70 30-40 without

Releated Links

1. Suppliers of Passivating Products

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http://www.bssa.org.uk/topics.php?article=68 14.04.2015