Successfully utilizing stainless steel depends on the grade selected, surface finish, environment, the maintenance specified, and the customer’s expectations. Stainless steel offers robust handles. However, they will present poor performance in a hard environment. Luckily, surface finishes can be applied chemically and mechanically.

Understanding how mechanical and chemical treatments will affect the characteristics of the surface will provide the best outcome for each client. Chemical treatment is used to improve corrosion performance and appearance as well.

Stainless steel handles withstand corrosion when they are smooth and clean. Clean means being free of any harmful contaminants. When these are left unattended, they can create crevices and corrosion.

The common feature of chemical treatment is that they clean the surface of stainless steel. That may smooth or even roughen the steel surface. It may also leave it unaffected. But this depends on the chosen process. If it is performed accordingly, corrosion resistance will become excellent.

Below are the types of surface treatments:

· Pickling

Mixtures of nitric acid and hydrofluoric are generally the most effective surface treatment nowadays. Acids are available as a paste, a bath, or a gel. Commercially manufactured mixtures consist of 25% nitric acid and 8% hydrofluoric acid. Both of these chemicals etch the material that can dull or roughen the surface.

Care is highly needed with these chemicals because of environmental considerations and occupational health.

· Passivation

Nitric acid is typically used in passivation. The treatment is available as a bath, a paste, or a gel. Formulations have 50% nitric acid. Sometimes, they may contain other oxidizers including sodium dichromate. Nitric acid treatment should be used properly so that it would not affect the aesthetic appearance of stainless steel.

Passivation works best by dissolving carbon steel contamination from the surface of the material. It also becomes effective by dissolving out sufide inclusions.

· Electropolishing

Sulphuric and phosphoric acids are utilized in conjunction with a current density to clean and smooth the surface of the steel. The process attacks around valleys and peaks on the surface. It also raises the chromium proportion at the surface. It can have a substantial effect on the overall appearance with brightness and luster. When it comes to roughness, it only changes by 30%.

· Decontamination

Decontamination literally means de-poisoning. It is considered a semi-advanced technique where all impurities are removed without affecting the stainless steel. The same thing goes with heat tinting and the natural passive layer. So, it does not affect the surface roughness of the steel.

Also, decontamination does not affect plastic or rubber types. In fact, it makes the process useful in super-critical equipment and the medical industry. Most polymers do not like strongly acidic oxidants like nitric acid.

Typically, the method is performed in a solution of a weak acid, including formic acid, oxalic acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid, and a lot more. The temperature is from 20 to 90 degrees Celsius. In case the impurities are sticky, the time may exceed a few hours.

One problem is iron contamination. Fortunately, steel can get away with decontamination like pickling. Rust is soluble in nitric acid. It easily copes with a hot solution of phosphoric acid and citric acid. On the other hand, metallic iron is more soluble in nitric acid.

· Salt Spray Test

When the time comes that you need to buy stainless steel handles, you want to ensure that they are of good quality. You depend on their durability and resilience. You like them to hold up even in a harsh environment. Rusted stainless steel handles can be dangerous and expensive to replace. To provide you with excellent durability, manufacturers rely on salt spray tests.