Citric Passivation
GC Machining Solutions offers superior outcomes through our range of capabilities. One of our solutions is citric passivation, a process where stainless steel and other alloys are passivated to improve their corrosion resistance. Since corrosion can shorten the lifespan of an equipment or device and negatively affect its performance, citric acid passivation is highly recommended to protect it from potential damage and premature failure.
What is Citric Acid Passivation?
Citric passivation is an eco-friendly and non-toxic process that doesn’t cause adverse effects on the environment and human health. Using citric acid as a passivating agent has gained popularity due to its ability to remove free iron ions and allow the material to form a protective passive oxide layer on the surface, enabling it to resist rust.
Passivation of stainless steel with citric acid is considered a post-fabrication finishing process, which means it’s carried out after manufacturing. It’s crucial to ensure that the stainless steel or other alloys used in equipment and devices have optimum corrosion resistance properties to ensure their aesthetics and performance remain the same even after rigorous use.
Benefits of Citric Acid Passivation of Stainless Steel
As mentioned, citric acid is an environmentally friendly chemical often used in residential cleaning applications. In manufacturing, this chemical is an alternative to nitric acid since it doesn’t harm the environment and is safe for workers.
Some of the key benefits of using citric acid passivation of stainless steel include:
- FDA-approved: When good manufacturing practices are observed, the FDA concludes that citric acid is generally safe. It doesn’t produce dangerous fumes, so there’s a low workplace hazard.
- Meets current industry standards: Using citric acid passivation of stainless steel meets current industry standards and requirements, making it a reliable method for achieving high-quality parts and components.
- Outstanding results: Regardless of the grade of stainless steel, it produces exceptional outcomes that leave the surface of stainless steel clean, smooth, and free of contaminants.
- Efficient removal of contaminants: Passivation of stainless steel with citric acid results in faster removal of free iron from the surface, and it doesn’t alter or remove other metals in the alloy.
Some Applications of Citric Acid Passivation
Industries that want to add value to their products or achieve high-performance products rely on citric passivation, especially for popular alloys like stainless steel. With the growing demand for stainless steel in diverse applications, this finishing process has become a crucial step in manufacturing.
Some of the industries that employ citric acid passivation of stainless steel include:
- Medical industry: Medical equipment and devices like surgical tools, implants, and instruments are often made from stainless steel to ensure safety and biocompatibility.
- Automotive industry: The passivation of stainless steel with citric acid is ideal for automotive parts to lengthen their lifespan and meet stringent industry standards.
- Aerospace industry: In the aerospace sector, stainless steel components must have optimum corrosion resistance properties for safety reasons.
- Food and beverage industry: Stainless steel equipment used in the food and beverage industry needs citric passivation to prevent rust and guarantee hygiene in all food production processes.
Choose Experts in Citric Passivation to Accomplish Desirable Results
With our expertise in citric acid passivation, our clients choose it as an add-on service to give their equipment and devices effective surface cleaning treatments that extend their lifespan and enhance their performance. If you want to know more, contact us today and request a quote from our team to jumpstart your project immediately!