STS General Information
Steel Grade Selection & Surface Cleaning
Steel Grade Selection
Selecting the appropriate stainless steel grade for the intended environment and application is essential for extending service life and maintaining an attractive appearance.
- Excessive
- Appropriate
- Usable if cleaned frequently
- Inappropriate
- Excessive
- Appropriate
- Usable if cleaned frequently
- Inappropriate
| Recommended Grade | Rural Area | Urban Area | Industrial Area | Coastal Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ILMH | ILMH | ILMH | ILMH | |
| High-Corrosion-Resistance Stainless Steel* |
||||
| STS 316 | ||||
| STS 304 | ||||
| STS 430 |
High-Corrosion-Resistance Stainless Steel*
| Category | I | L | M | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Area | ||||
| Urban Area | ||||
| Industrial Area | ||||
| Coastal Area |
STS 316
| Category | I | L | M | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Area | ||||
| Urban Area | ||||
| Industrial Area | ||||
| Coastal Area |
STS 304
| Category | I | L | M | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Area | ||||
| Urban Area | ||||
| Industrial Area | ||||
| Coastal Area |
STS 430
| Category | I | L | M | H |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Area | ||||
| Urban Area | ||||
| Industrial Area | ||||
| Coastal Area |
- Ⓘ Indoor Environment
- Ⓛ Low Grade Environment: Mild corrosion environment in the applicable area (low temperature, high humidity)
- Ⓜ Medium Grade Environment: Standard environment in the applicable area
- Ⓗ High Grade Environment: Severe corrosion environment in the applicable area (high temperature, high humidity, etc.)
Surface Cleaning Guidelines
Regular cleaning and maintenance are required to preserve stainless steel's natural properties of beauty and cleanliness and to ensure a long service life free from rust.
When cleaning, take care to avoid scratching the surface; avoid detergents containing bleach or abrasives, steel wool, and abrasive tools; and rinse thoroughly with clean water after cleaning to remove all cleaning agents.
| Environment | Rural area | Urban, industrial, and coastal areas | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Structure | Standard environment | Corrosive environment [high temperature and humidity, air pollution] |
|
| Exposed to rainwater | Areas where contaminants and deposits do not accumulate | 1–2 times/year | 2–3 times/year | 3–4 times/year |
| Areas where contaminants and deposits accumulate | 2–3 times/year | 3–4 times/year | 4–5 times/year | |
| Not exposed to rainwater | Areas where contaminants and deposits do not accumulate | 1–2 times/year | 3–4 times/year | 4–5 times/year |
| Areas where contaminants and deposits accumulate | 2–3 times/year | 4–5 times/year | 5–6 times/year | |
| Rural area | Environment | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Structure | |
| 1–2 times/year | Exposed to rainwater | Areas where contaminants and deposits do not accumulate |
| 2–3 times/year | Not exposed to rainwater | Areas where contaminants and deposits accumulate |
| 1–2 times/year | Exposed to rainwater | Areas where contaminants and deposits do not accumulate |
| 2–3 times/year | Not exposed to rainwater | Areas where contaminants and deposits accumulate |
| Rural area | Urban, industrial, and coastal areas | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard environment | Corrosive environment [high temperature and humidity, air pollution] |
||
| 1–2 times/year | 2–3 times/year | 3–4 times/year | |
| 2–3 times/year | 3–4 times/year | 4–5 times/year | |
| 1–2 times/year | 3–4 times/year | 4–5 times/year | |
| 2–3 times/year | 4–5 times/year | 5–6 times/year | |
Cleaning Methods by Surface Condition
| Environment | Cleaning Method |
|---|---|
| Light soiling, such as dust | Wash with soap, mild detergent, or warm water. |
| Label and protective film adhesive | Wipe with warm water and mild detergent; use alcohol or an organic solvent to remove adhesive residue. |
| Grease, oil, and fat contamination | Wipe off with a soft cloth or paper, then clean with a neutral detergent, an ammonia solution, or a specialist cleaning agent. |
| Bleach and acid deposits | Rinse immediately with water, soak in an ammonia or sodium bicarbonate solution, then wash with a neutral detergent or warm water. |
| Carbonized organic matter and carbon deposits | Before cleaning, soak in hot water with neutral detergent or ammonia solution, then use a mild abrasive detergent. |
| Fingerprints | Wipe with a soft cloth using alcohol or an organic solvent (e.g., ether or benzene), then rinse with water. |
| Iridescence (Rainbow Film) | Caused by excessive detergent use or oil contamination; clean with warm water and neutral detergent. |
| Weld heat tint | Clean with 10% nitric acid solution or hydrofluoric acid, then neutralize with ammonia or sodium bicarbonate solution and rinse with water. |
| Rust caused by surface contaminants | Use oxalic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid solution (10%), or abrasive detergent. |