Step 1: Pre-Cleaning: Prior to the passivation process, stainless steel parts are subjected to an extensive pre-cleaning cycle to remove oils, grease, and metallic residues. It offers an effective alternative to nitric acid passivation with less handling concerns and is considered environmentally friendly being on the GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) list for the FDA making it ideal for both the medical and food manufacturing industries.Īdditionally, citric solutions can effectively passivate a wider range of stainless-steel alloys compared to traditional nitric acid methods such as ASTM A967, Nitric 2.
Why Citric Acid PassivationĬitric Acid Passivation has become more widely accepted by industries such as Medical and Aerospace in recent years. Manufacturers in industries that require a high level of cleanliness such as medical, aerospace, laboratory, and food manufacturing often rely on chemical passivation to improve performance, durability, and corrosion resistance. Although stainless steel is inherently passive, these impurities left behind combine with the metal resulting in a corrosive reaction. Understanding PassivationĬontaminants left behind from the manufacturing process inhibit the formation of the oxide layer that forms on the outside layer of metals and protects metals like stainless steel from corrosion. Citric Acid Passivation offers an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional methods while providing excellent results.
The passivation of Stainless Steel can be accomplished by other means, including Electropolishing and Nitric Acid Passivation. Citric Acid Passivation is the removal of contaminants or “free irons” from the surface layer of metals such as Stainless Steel to allow the growth of a natural, inert, oxide layer on the metal that restores its natural corrosion resistance by immersing parts in a bath of Citric Acid to make the metal “passive”.
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