The surface treatment process of stainless steel directly affects its aesthetics, durability and functionality. This article will introduce in detail8 mainstream stainless steel surface treatment technologies, including mechanical polishing, electrolytic polishing, wire drawing, sandblasting, PVD coating, etc., analyze the advantages and disadvantages of various processes, applicable scenarios and cost comparison, and help you choose the most suitable surface treatment solution for your project.
1. Mechanical polishing (Mirror Polish)
Process Principles:
Use a polishing wheel and grinding paste to polish (usually from 80# to 2000# sandpaper)
Features:
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The surface brightness can reach Ra≤0.05μm
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Cost: ¥15-30/square meter
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Suitable for kitchenware and decorative parts
Comparison of pros and cons:
✔️ Excellent mirror effect
✖️ High labor cost and easy to cause scratches
2. Electropolishing
Process Principles:
Microscopic protrusions of the surface selectively dissolve by current in electrolyte
Technical parameters:
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Voltage: 8-20V
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Temperature: 50-80℃
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Processing time: 3-15 minutes
Advantages:
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Improve corrosion resistance by more than 30%
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Obtain ultra-clean surface (medical grade)
3. Hairline
Common specifications:
| type | Number of sand belt mesh | Surface effect |
|---|---|---|
| Fine brushed | 180-240# | Soft silk pattern |
| Standard brushed | 120-150# | Apparently traced |
| Coarse brushed | 60-100# | Industrial style |
Application Cases:
Elevator panels, appliance housings
4. Sand Blasting
Craft selection:
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Dry sandblasting: Use alumina/glass beads
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Wet sandblasting: water + abrasive mix
Effect comparison:
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Matte surface (Ra1.6-3.2μm)
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Can cover up slight scratches
5. PVD coating (physical vapor deposition)
Coating type:
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Titanium nitride (TiN): Gold
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Titanium Carbide (TiC): Gun Black
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Zirconium oxide (ZrO₂): Color
Performance improvement:
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Hardness up to 2000HV
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Wear resistance is 5-8 times higher
6. Colored stainless steel treatment
Implementation method:
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Chemical Coloring (INCO Method)
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Electrochemical coloring
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Ion plating coloring
Color range:
Titanium, rose gold, champagne gold, sapphire blue, etc.
7. Anti-fingerprinting processing (AF Coating)
Technology comparison:
| type | thickness | Durability |
|---|---|---|
| Nanocoating | 0.1-0.5μm | 2-3 years |
| Silane treatment | 0.05-0.2μm | 1-2 years |
| Fluorocarbon coating | 0.3-1μm | 3-5 years |
8. Special texture processing
Innovative craftsmanship:
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3D etching (depth 0.1-0.3mm)
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Laser engraving (accuracy 0.01mm)
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Micropore treatment (pore size 50-200μm)
