Stainless Steel Finishing Options

There are a number of stainless steel finishing options that alter more than just the appearance of the material. Whatever the intended use, choosing the right finish option is essential.

In projects when design is a primary consideration, an attractive finish will enhance the appeal of the end-product. For example, in architecture and the automotive industries, different finishes can be used to achieve a variety of visual effects.

The choice of surface finish is also important where fabrication processes will be applied. Rough surface finishes are appropriate when the steel will be ground prior to painting and gluing. Smooth surface finishes are better where the steel will be blended.

The choice of finish should always be clearly specified and properly defined by standard industry designations.

The development of the surface finish standard

During the late 1970’s, British Steel scientists found that dull polished finishes on stainless steel showed a wide range of surface roughness. Further testing revealed that steel with high surface roughness was heavily damaged by the polishing operations, whereas steel with low surface roughness was relatively unscathed.

During the mid-1980’s dull polished finishes became widely used on projects such as high-profile architectural projects. However, it was soon discovered that some of these dull polished finishes had poor corrosion resistance, especially when exposed to seawater. Consequently a new surface finish description was introduced which remains in use to this day.

Three more common stainless steel finishing options are:

1. Matte finish

2.Brushed finish

3.Mirror finish

201 BA stainless steel coil strip is an austenitic chromium-nickel-manganese stainless steel which was developed to conserve nickel. With a lower nickel content, 201 BA provides an alternative to 301 and 304 stainless steels. This alloy is less expensive than other alloys because of its lower nickel content. Additionally, the mechanical and corrosion properties of this alloy make it suitable for a variety of applications.

201 BA Stainless Steel Coil Strip
Type 304 and 304L grades of stainless steel coil strip have good weldability and formability, and are used in construction, food service, medical devices, and transportation equipment. Type 304 is the most widely used austenitic (non-magnetic) stainless steel. It is also known as "18/8" stainless steel because of its composition, which includes 18% chromium and 8% nickel.

Type 304L is an extra low-carbon version of Type 304, which offers even better corrosion resistance. Both types can be easily formed and drawn, making them ideal for fabricating products such as sinks, saucepans, car fuel tanks, and exhaust systems.

304 304L 2B Stainless Steel Coil Strip
309S No.1 Stainless Steel Coil Strip is the most widely used stainless steel in the world due to its excellent corrosion resistance and high temperature strength. It is typically used in high temperature applications such as furnaces, boilers, and heat exchangers. 309S No.1 Stainless Steel Coil Strip has good weldability and formability, making it ideal for fabricating and forming operations.

309S No.1 Stainless Steel Coil Strip
310S stainless steel is a kind of austenitic chromium-nickel stainless steel, which has a very good Oxidation resistance, corrosion resistance, because the '0' of its composition is less than 0.08, so it can withstand high temperature until 1200-1300 degrees. What's more, the 316L of its composition is also added to improve the resistance to intergranular corrosion.

310 310S 2B Stainless Steel Coil Strip
1. 316 316L BA Stainless Steel Coil Strip is widely used in construction and engineering structures. 2. 316 316L BA Stainless Steel Coil Strip has good mechanical properties and can be welded, riveted and bolted. 3. It is often used in manufacturing chemical equipment, pressure vessels and other industrial equipment. 4. This material is also frequently used in the food processing industry because it does not corrode easily and is easy to clean. 5. 316 316L BA Stainless Steel Coil Strip can be found in a variety of household products such as sinks, countertops and cookware. 6. This type of stainless steel is also often used in the medical field for surgical instruments and other equipment that comes into contact with human tissue. 7. Because it is so versatile, 316 316L BA Stainless Steel Coil Strip is one of the most popular types of stainless steel on the market today.

316 316L BA Stainless Steel Coil Strip
420 BA Stainless Steel Coil Strip is one of the most popular stainless steel products on the market. It has a beautiful luster and is very strong, making it perfect for a wide variety of uses. Its popularity means that there are many companies that offer this product in a variety of sizes and shapes. You can find coils that are very thin, or very thick. You can also find them in a variety of colors, including clear, black, or even blue.

This product is made by taking thin sheets of stainless steel and then rolling them into a coil. The coil is then cut into strips that are about eight inches wide. These strips are then heat treated to create the desired hardness. This process gives the 420 BA Stainless Steel Coil Strip its distinctive luster and strength.

420 BA Stainless Steel Coil Strip
430 No.1 Stainless Steel Coil Strip is the most popular and versatile stainless steel product on the market. Its popularity is due to its excellent corrosion resistance, high heat resistance, and low maintenance costs. 430 No.1 Stainless Steel Coil Strip is ideal for a wide range of applications, including: automotive trim, kitchen appliances, sinks, countertops, and back splashes. 430 No.1 Stainless Steel Coil Strip is also commonly used in architectural applications, such as: facades, wall cladding, and column covers.

430 No.1 Stainless Steel Coil Strip
2205 is a duplex stainless steel, with a microstructure of nearly equal proportions of austenite and ferrite. This combination allows the alloy to be stronger and tougher than standard austenitic steels. 2205 has proven to be a successful and cost effective alternative to other stainless steel grades such as 304L and 316L. The high strength, corrosion resistance and toughness of 2205 make it an ideal candidate for use in a wide variety of applications.

2205 Stainless Steel Coil Strip

Matte finish

Matte finishes are dull in appearance and are not ideal for aesthetic end uses. However, they’re a good choice where appearance is not important or when further finishing is intended.

The finish is produced by ‘cold rolling’ stainless steel through special rolls or dies. The cold rolling produces a smoother, less pitted surface. Next it is softened and de-scaled in acid solution. The steel is given a final pass on polished rolls to further enhance its smoothness.

Common applications include:

Chemical plant equipment

Pharmaceutical equipment

Paper mill equipment

Laundry and dry cleaning

Refrigeration

Sewage equipment
Brushed finish

Brushed finish can vary with different suppliers and even from batch to batch from the same supplier. The variations arise from differing manufacturing conditions, such as wearing of the abrasive belts used in these finishes. Some level of variation should be expected when ordering Brushed finish. It can be helpful to request a sample of a few square inches to ensure the finish achieves the desired effect.

Brushing the stainless steel produces a distinctive look with a muted luster and a pattern of fine parallel lines. It has strong decorative appeal without being too reflective, as too much reflectiveness can be undesirable. For example, overly reflective stainless steel accents on a building could be blinding in bright sunlight. The drawbacks to this finish include reduced corrosion resistance, because the grooves of the finish are susceptible to rust.

The finish is created by sanding the stainless steel in one direction with a 120-180 grit belt, followed by softening with a 80-120 grit medium non-woven belt.

Common applications include:

Jewelry and watches

Home appliances

Air conditioners

Water heaters

Architecture

Automotive design
Mirror finish

Mirror finishes are highly reflective and created by polishing the stainless steel. The polishing process enhances appearance and consistency, making cleaning easier. It also masks the after-effects of welding and hides surface damage.

Mirror finish is created by mechanically treating the surface with a series of progressively finer abrasives. Alternatively a special rolling procedure is used which can simulate the appearance of mechanical abrasion. For this stage, it is essential to remove deep scratches as any surface defects will be very noticeable on the finished product. The final process involves buffing the surface for 5-10 minutes to create a mirror-like, highly reflective finish.

A benefit of Mirror finishing is that it improves corrosion resistance. The polishing eradicates crevices where corrosive particles can lodge themselves.

Common applications include:

Mirrors

Ornamental trim

Clean rooms

Column covers

Wall panels

Reflectors
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Stainless Steel Finishing Options

The development of the surface finish standard

Matte finish

Brushed finish

Mirror finish

Metal Supermarkets,Steel Suppliers - Tisco Steel