Passivation Service

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Passivation Overview

Passivation is a chemical cleaning process that is designed to remove free iron and other ferrous contaminants from the surface of stainless steel parts. By removing the contamination from machining, stamping, etc., you are helping restore the material to the original mill condition and corrosion specifications.

Passivation is ideal for many grades of stainless steel that have adequate levels of chromium and nickel, can help increase the longevity of many types of metal parts, and can also enhance their brightness.

Able Electropolishing has offered passivation since our founding in 1954 and we offer both citric and nitric passivation options. Note: parts that are electropolished are also passivated as part of the process, with the added benefit of being able to remove microscopic cracks, burrs and other imperfections. Many wanting passivation benefit much more from electropolishing while meeting passivation requirements.

Electropolishing vs. Passivation Guide

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How the Passivation Process Works

Passivation is a chemical process designed to increase the corrosion resistance of stainless steel parts.

During the passivation process, parts are placed in a basket and submerged in a nitric or citric acid bath. Depending on the stainless steel alloy, the acid concentration, temperature and time are set to effectively remove free iron and other foreign materials on the part’s surface introduced during machining, stamping, and other processes. The passivation leaves the part clean and more corrosion resistant but does not change the aesthetics of the part.

Is Passivation the Right Process?

Several popular grades of stainless steel should not be passivated due to low levels of chromium and nickel; when passivated, you run the risk of flash attack occurring which weakens the base material and does irreparable damage to the part
Welded or brazed parts are not recommended for passivation; the process is not capable of removing the scale and discoloration in the heat-affected zone
As an alternative to passivation, your part may be better suited for our proprietary Brite Passivation process, which involves a light electropolish and is a superior process to passivation for improving corrosion resistance
Please contact our sales department at sales@ableep.com with questions on which process is best for your application

Side-by-Side Comparison

Point of Comparison

Removes Surface Contaminants
Typically Includes Precleaning/Degreasing
Effective for Sizing
Microscopic Precision
Consistent, Uniform Results
Improves Fatigue Life
Improves Corrosion Resistance
Deburrs Metal Surface
Removes Microcracks
Removes Heat Tint
Removes Oxide Scale
Improves Microfinish
Cleans Welds Effectively
Passivates Part

Electropolishing

Passivation

Pickling

Point of Comparison

Removes Surface Contaminants

Electropolishing

Passivation

Pickling

Point of Comparison

Typically Includes Precleaning/Degreasing

Electropolishing

Passivation

Pickling

Point of Comparison

Effective for Sizing

Electropolishing

Passivation

Pickling

Point of Comparison

Microscopic Precision

Electropolishing

Passivation

Pickling

Point of Comparison

Consistent, Uniform Results

Electropolishing

Passivation

Pickling

Point of Comparison

Improves Fatigue Life

Electropolishing

Passivation

Pickling

Point of Comparison

Improves Corrosion Resistance

Electropolishing

Passivation

Pickling

Point of Comparison

Deburrs Metal Surface

Electropolishing

Passivation

Pickling

Point of Comparison

Removes Microcracks

Electropolishing

Passivation

Pickling

Point of Comparison

Removes Heat Tint

Electropolishing

Passivation

Pickling

Point of Comparison

Removes Oxide Scale

Electropolishing

Passivation

Pickling

Point of Comparison

Improves Microfinish

Electropolishing

Passivation

Pickling

Point of Comparison

Cleans Welds Effectively

Electropolishing

Passivation

Pickling

Point of Comparison

Passivates Part

Electropolishing

Passivation

Pickling

Your Passivation & Metal Finishing Partner

If improved corrosion resistance is the ultimate goal, passivation is an efficient process that parts can undergo, but passivation alone is not always effective at removing surface contaminants, and frequently requires an additional pre-cleaning step. However, electropolishing can remove all traces of surface and embedded contaminants in one operation.

Passivation is also only ideal for certain grades of stainless steel to remove free iron and other contaminants, but it isn’t recommended for some stainless steel grades that have insufficient levels of nickel and chromium. Welded or brazed parts are also incapable of undergoing the passivation process.

You can speak with an expert at Able Electropolishing to determine if your parts are ideal for passivation or other processes such as electropolishing. You may also find that your parts require more thorough microfinishing than passivation can provide.

A Commitment to the Environment

Over the years, Able has been through the evolution of environmental compliance, waste minimization, recycling and water conservation. This outstanding job has earned Able a Certificate of Commendation from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.

Waste Treatment Tank Inspection

Learn About the Electropolishing Difference

Electropolishing 101
Webinar

Learn everything you need to know about electropolishing as part of a private, interactive webinar. Let us know your availability and your part issues and our electropolishing experts can get you on our schedule.

Schedule Your Private Webinar

Try Electropolishing for Free:
Sample Request

Send us your parts and we’ll electropolish them for free – we’ll even pay for the shipping! Samples are processed and returned in a few days.

Request a Sample

Medical Device Manufacturing

From implantable devices to surgical instruments, electropolishing is a single-process treatment that results in biocompatible, safe and ultra clean parts.

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Aerospace

We offer aerospace vendors and original equipment manufacturers our signature metal finishing services to increase fatigue-resistance for their metal parts, rendering them capable of withstanding the stress and corrosion that comes with long-term use.

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Pharmaceutical

Our strict adherence to industry standards ensures that pharmaceutical components are electropolished in accordance with ASTM B912 and ASME BPE specifications. These products are clean and smooth, corrosion resistant and contaminant free.

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Automotive

Corrosion resistance and microfinish improvement are essential for critical automotive parts, making electropolishing an increasingly beneficial option for automakers.

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Consumer Appliance

Our metal finishing services help increase corrosion resistance for these parts, and by removing the outermost layer of metal withelectropolishing the durability and longevity of these appliance components is increased.

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Food & Beverage

Electropolishing materials for this industry eliminates the buildup of bacterial biofilms, as well as keeping the equipment free of contaminants like Salmonella. Electropolishing delivers the level of sanitation required by a number of regulatory agencies.

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Hydraulics & Pneumatics

From robotics to mobile equipment, the uses of electropolishing in the hydraulics and pneumatics industry are many. By helping prevent premature part failure, electropolishing reduces downtime and increases the life cycle of these components.

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Electronics

Improving conductivity and performance is just one benefit electropolishing offers for electronics parts. The surface finish is improved by as much as 50%, removing imperfections from the material without material removal.

Learn More

Electropolishing, Passivation and Metal Surface Analytics Blog

Industry-Trusted Metal Finishing for 7 Decades

When it comes to precision metal finishing, trust is earned through consistency, quality, and a deep understanding of what’s at stake. For many industries, there is no room for error in their critical metal parts. That’s why, for over 70…

Six Cost Savings Benefits of Electropolishing

A primary reason engineers specify electropolishing to finish critical metal parts is its ability to optimize part performance with improvements to surface finish, corrosion resistance and durability.

What You Can Learn as Part of an Electropolishing Part Review

Is electropolishing the right finishing method for your metal part?

Electropolishing to Improve Plating and Coating Results

Many machined metal parts undergo a plating or coating as the final step in production – for added durability, corrosion resistance, or to achieve a certain appearance or functionality.

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Technical Guide: Passivation, Pickling or ElectroPolishing

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ISO 9001: 2015

ISO 13485: 2016

AS9100: 2016

Passivation Overview

Electropolishing vs. Passivation Guide

How the Passivation Process Works

Is Passivation the Right Process?

Side-by-Side Comparison

Point of Comparison

Electropolishing

Passivation

Pickling

Your Passivation & Metal Finishing Partner

A Commitment to the Environment

Learn About the Electropolishing Difference

Electropolishing 101Webinar

Try Electropolishing for Free: Sample Request

Medical Device Manufacturing

Medical Device Manufacturing

Aerospace

Aerospace

Pharmaceutical

Pharmaceutical

Automotive

Automotive

Consumer Appliance

Consumer Appliance

Food & Beverage

Food & Beverage

Hydraulics & Pneumatics

Hydraulics & Pneumatics

Electronics

Electronics

Electropolishing, Passivation and Metal Surface Analytics Blog

Industry-Trusted Metal Finishing for 7 Decades

Six Cost Savings Benefits of Electropolishing

What You Can Learn as Part of an Electropolishing Part Review

Electropolishing to Improve Plating and Coating Results

Technical Guide: Your Solution to
Metal Surface Problems

Technical Guide: Passivation,
Pickling or Electropolishing?

Electropolishing 101
Webinar

Try Electropolishing for Free:
Sample Request