Formed stainless components needed improved corrosion performance in industrial service.
The customer’s challenge
Weld areas corroded, the passive film was inconsistent and the earlier parts failed the specified salt-spray checks.
Material and fabrication route
0.8–3.0 mm 304 and 316 stainless steel.
Process route: Laser cutting → bending → deburring → degreasing → pickling and passivation → salt-spray testing → inspection.
Manufacturing changes
Revised cleaning and pickling, weld polishing, film inspection and salt-spray verification controlled the final condition.
Engineering analysis
The earlier corrosion was concentrated around weld areas, so a material-grade description alone did not explain the finished-part performance. Cleaning, pickling and weld preparation addressed the actual surface condition before final checks. The stainless grades have separate recorded salt-spray results. These exposure hours describe the project tests and should not be converted directly into years of outdoor life without an applicable correlation.
Inspection and project results
The reported tests reached 480 hours for 304 and 720 hours for 316 without rust under the project’s test conditions.
| Project measurement or production detail | Recorded value |
|---|---|
| 304 salt-spray test | ≥480 hours |
| 316 salt-spray test | ≥720 hours |
| Passive film | ≥8 Å |
These figures describe the project configuration and production scope above. Dimensional, material and production details are identified separately from performance tests. For a new order, the inspection method and acceptance criteria should be agreed against the released drawings.
Planning a similar OEM component
A useful RFQ for this application should make the following interfaces and acceptance requirements clear:
- Stainless grade and welded zones.
- Surface preparation and passivation scope.
- Salt-spray method and acceptance.
- Handling and packing after finishing.
Include the current drawing revision, mating-component information, quantities and required delivery sequence. Identifying unresolved requirements at quotation stage helps distinguish fabrication work from the equipment-level checks that the project needs.
For related manufacturing support, review our Passivated Stainless Steel Parts and sheet metal quality capabilities. Use the existing quotation form below to share the drawing package for review.
