What is Passivation & Conversion Coating | CNCLATHING Surface Finishing Services

In this guide, CNClathing.com presents the metal surface finishing – passivation definition, applications, benefits and more.

What is Passivation & Conversion coating?

Passivation is a surface finishing method often performed after CNC machining, it’s a chemical treatment for stainless steel and other metals to remove ferrous contaminants or use a light coat of protective material to create a shell for enhancing the corrosion resistance or reducing the chemical reactivity. Passivation process only occurs in certain conditions.

Conversion coatings are coating for metals converted to a protective layer through the chemical or electrochemical processes. Passivation/Conversion Coating process including Anodizing, Bluing, Plasma electrolytic oxidation, Chromate conversion coating, Phosphate conversion coating

Why use Passivation?

After CNC machining or manufacturing, welding, handling and other processes, the fabrication debris, tramp iron, and surface contaminants will leave on the parts, which compromising the natural ability to resist corrosion of metals like stainless steel, while passivation can remove the contaminants from the surface and upgrade the surface properties.

Passivation Applications

– Aerospace and military industries, to improve the quality and accuracy of airplane and military parts.
– Medical industry, to ensure the sterilization process
– Semiconductor industry, surface passivation process makes semiconductor surface render inert, and does not change semiconductor properties.
– Products made from stainless steel and other self-passivating alloys.
– Silicon, nickel, ferrous materials, etc.

The Benefits of Passivation

– Increases corrosion resistance
– Lower the risk of product contamination
– Reduces maintenance for metal products
– Maintain the integrity of metal performance
– Passivation process includes strict cleaning stage