ASTM (American Society for Materials and Testing) was developed to set standards for chemical, mechanical, physical, and electrical properties of material, as well as testing standards for materials. ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) includes ASTM standards, AWS (American Welding Society) standards and other nationally and internationally recognized standards as part of a widely adapted design specification for many structures, including pressure vessels.
Apache has substantial capabilities for mechanical and chemical finishing having supplied stainless equipment to hygienic industries for more than four decades. Passivation, pickle passivation and electropolishing processes and associated ASME testing, and processes are 100% in-house. Passivation is the removal of excess iron or iron compounds from the surface of stainless steel by means of a chemical, typically an acid based solution. Unlike pickle passivation, no metal is removed from the surface during the process. The process has little effect on the RA values of the stainless material being passivated.
The ASTM A967 is a passivation standard that applies to the cleaning, passivation, and testing of stainless parts.
Pickle Passivation is the immersion of the metal in a pickling bath or coating the material with pickling solution such as nitric-hydrofluoric acid. The process removes both metallic contamination and heat-treating scales. Pickle passivated stainless steel has a matte appearance. Apache’s tests have confirmed improvements up to 25% in RA readings on material that has been pickle passivated.
The ASTM A380 is a passivation standard that covers cleaning, descaling, and passivating stainless material and parts. Spec A380 may include a variety of treatments, including precleaning, chemical descaling, degreasing and more. Electropolishing is an electro-chemical process that removes surface material from stainless steel. The process includes immersion of the stainless-steel component into a temperature-controlled bath of electrolytes that are charged with a DC power supply. Electrolytes used in electropolishing are concentrated sulfuric and phosphoric acid solutions. The finish has a mirror appearance. Apache’s before and after tests have shown improvements in RA smoothness up to 50%; results vary depending on stainless material.
The ASTM B912 specification outlines the electropolishing process for 200, 300 and 400 series alloys. Spec B912 may include preparatory cleaning procedures, post coating procedures and rinsing protocols. Final testing is also stated in the specification to evaluate performance of finish.
In Guide to ASTM & ASME Stainless Finishes, learn about the mechanical and chemical finishing processes to meet ASME, ASTM and other compliance requirements.
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Stainless Finishes for Hygienic Vessels are measured by an RA (Roughness Average) meter. Manufacturers of custom vessels for life science, health and pharmaceutical industries adhere to strict design parameters to maintain compliance in these industries. The RA is a standard for an average of peaks and valleys on the metal’s surface, measured in microinches. Here is the evolution of stainless material coming to Apache with RA designations as it is transformed into custom sanitary design vessels:
RA > 100 Mill Finish A Mill Finish has an unpolished, dull-gray, matte appearance. This material type is the basis for supply for all stainless-steel flat products as well as the basis for additional finishing operations. It is hot or cold rolled with an RA (Roughness Average) of more than 100 microinches, depending on the gauge of the material.
RA 15 – 40 2B Mill Finish 2B Mill finish is widely used in food, chemical and pharmaceutical equipment applications. It is corrosion resistant and has a typical RA range of 40 (7 gauge) to 15 (16 gauge) microinches.
RA 29 – 58 No. 3 and No. 4 Finish Mechanical polishing achieves these finishes. The No. 3 Finish uses a 120-grit abrasive and has a semi-polished finish with an RA range of 36 – 58 microinches. The No. 4 Finishes uses a 150-grit abrasive and has a polished, brushed surface. The RA range is 29 – 40 microinches.
RA 18 – 31 No. 4A Also identified as No. 4 Dairy Finish, this finishes is required to meet the basic FDA 3-A standards. It uses a 180 grit and has a RA range of 18 – 31 microinches.
< 32 RA Pickle Passivation Pickle Passivation often follows other manufacturing processes including welding and grinding. Also called Pickling, it is the immersion of the metal in a pickling bath or coating the material with pickling solution, such as nitric-hydrofluoric acid. The process removes both metallic contamination and heat-treating scales. Pickle passivated stainless steel has a matte appearance. Apache’s tests have confirmed improvements up to 25% in RA readings on material that has been pickle passivated.
Lowest RA Electropolishing Electropolishing is an electro-chemical process that removes surface material from stainless steel. The process includes an immersion of the stainless-steel component into a temperature-controlled bath of electrolyte that is charged with a DC power supply. Electrolytes used in electropolishing are concentrated sulfuric and phosphoric acid solutions. The finish has a mirror appearance. Apache’s before/after tests have shown improvements in RA smoothness up to 50%; results vary depending on stainless material.
In the highest level of sanitary design applications the vessel is pickled after manufacturing and polishing, then electropolished.
Here is our Guide to Stainless Material and Finishes for Sanitary Vessel applications.
The main difference between pickle passivation and electropolishing is the appearance and RA (roughness average) of the stainless material. In the photo, an electropolished sample is shown above a pickle passivated sample. The pickle passivated sample has a white appearance, while the electropolished sample has a mirror-like, shiny finish.
Pickle Passivation is the immersion of metal in a pickling bath such as nitric-hydroflouric acid. The process removes metal such as impurities and heat marks from welds.
Electropolishing is an electro-chemical process that removes surface material from stainless steel. The process typically starts with an immersion of the component into a controlled bath of electrolyte that is charged with a DC power supply. Apache’s RA tests show improvements up to 50% smoother, depending on the material.
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