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Cleaning and maintenance of stainless steel |
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Owing to its plane and hard surface nests for dirt and micro organisms do not appear on stainless steel. Cleaning, disinfection or even sterilisation is therefore no longer a problem. And yet there are made mistakes in practice.
The field of application, e.g. sewage treatment plant, water work or brewery, determines the cleaning target. Chemical and mechanical means are available. Though properly processed stainless steel is indeed corrosion-resistant in the long run, there are the following risks left:
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Hydrochloric acid containing cleaners |
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Like with any other metal, there is the risk of localised selective corrosion also with stainless steel. This depends on the application temperature and halide concentration, the chlorine ion being most important. High concentrations and longer reaction times lead to browning and must be avoided. As details on ionic composition are often not shown on cleaners, one should contact the manufacturer directly, if there is any doubt.
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Ferrite containing mechanical means |
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Stubborn dirt can be removed either with high water pressure or mechanical means like brushes, textiles or fleeces. But be careful with all metallic products, such as steel wool or abrasive paper. They may not contain any ferrite (iron particles) as those would destroy the protective passivated layer and lead to contact corrosion.
Also the kind of dirt has to be taken into consideration. Greasy dirt can be easily removed with a general or alkaline cleaners. Slightly abrasive cleaners remove adhesive residues or building dirt. Sometimes it turns out that there is already corrosion under the dirt layer, in such cases cleaning with conventional means is insufficient. As the metallic untarnished condition has to be reestablished to allow reformation of the passive layer, a corrosive should preferably be used therefor.
If you want to do something special in addition after cleaning, a protective layer can be applied with slushing oil which will delay pollution and provide additional protection.
Keep your stainless steel products permanently shiny! Our service and sales staff will gladly give support. |
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HUBER - WHERE QUALITY AND SERVICE SPRING TO MIND
Huber Technology UK, Units C and D Brunel Park
Bumpers Farm, Chippenham Wiltshire SN14 6NQ
Phone +44 1249 765000, Fax +44 1249 449076, E-mail: rotamat@huber.co.uk |
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