The guide you want to know most about decorative stainless steel plates
What are the surface treatment processes for stainless steel? How to choose?
1.Brushed/Hairline
Usually, the method of mechanical friction on the surface of stainless steel forms uniform textures through friction (straight lines, random lines, threads, etc., which are just the difference between straight lines and curves. Straight lines are the brushed textures we usually see. Since the size of a stainless steel sheet is usually 1219*2438mm, 1220*3048mm, the straight line also has a direction, which is generally vertical by default. If there is a horizontal demand, please inform the manufacturer in advance; the latter two are curves obtained by drawing circles without rules. This surface has a matte texture and strong wear resistance.
Application: home appliance panels (such as refrigerators, ovens), elevator decoration, furniture, wall panels, etc.
2.Mirror/Polishing：
A bright surface effect is obtained by using polishing equipment, high-quality oilstone, diamond grinding paste and sandpaper of different brands through coarse grinding, medium grinding and fine grinding. High-gloss reflective surface requires multiple polishing, easy to scratch but high-end visual effect.
The grade of stainless steel mirror panel represents the roughness of the stainless steel surface, and the brightness is divided into 6k (BA), 8k, 10k, 12k (for higher requirements, such as elevators, hotels, ceilings, etc.) The larger the number, the higher the surface fineness.
Compressed air is used as the power to form a high-speed jet beam to spray the material (quartz sand, corundum) at high speed onto the surface of the workpiece to be processed, so that the plate surface presents a fine bead-like sand surface, forming a unique matte decorative effect. The roughness is controllable, and the size and density of the surface sandblasting can be customized to the particle texture you want. It is very stain-resistant and wear-resistant, and can hide surface defects.
Application: industrial equipment housing, building curtain walls, medical equipment, etc.
3.Etched：
Chemical or electrochemical corrosion forms fine patterns or texts. A special corrosion-resistant layer is used to cover the surface that is not etched, shielding the acid so that the acid can only contact the surface of the part to be etched, thereby achieving the purpose of etching patterns and texts. The advantage is that complex patterns can be customized, but the process is complicated and the price is relatively high.
Applications: signs, elevator decoration, customized furniture, high-end curtain walls, etc.
4.Anti-fingerprint：
The nano-coating technology is used to form an extremely thin and strong protective layer on the surface of stainless steel, so that the stainless steel surface can not only achieve the anti-fingerprint effect, but also improve the corrosion resistance. Its notable feature is that the addition of nano-coating reduces fingerprint residue, is easy to clean, and does not affect the metal texture. The anti-fingerprint effect does not mean that fingerprints cannot be printed on the surface of stainless steel, but that the fingerprints are lighter than ordinary stainless steel surfaces, and are relatively easy to wipe clean, and no stains will remain after wiping. This technology can prevent people from leaving fingerprints, oil, and sweat stains on the surface when touching these plates, reducing the time for daily maintenance, making it more convenient and very suitable for use in public places.
Application: elevator buttons, smartphone middle frames, kitchen appliance surfaces.
How to maintain the flatness of stainless steel sheets?
Ensuring the flatness of stainless steel veneers mainly involves choosing the right material thickness, using appropriate processing methods and paying attention to construction details.
Material selection:
Stainless steel has different "hardness levels", such as 304 is more easily deformed than 430. Choose high-quality stainless steel plates according to your project needs: high-quality materials have high hardness, high strength, and can better maintain flatness.
In stainless steel construction, the recommended stainless steel thickness should be no less than 1.2mm, especially when the single plate area exceeds 1 square meter, in order to enhance the rigidity of the plate and reduce surface unevenness.
Honeycomb composite treatment: For situations with high requirements for flatness, stainless steel honeycomb panels can be used for honeycomb composite treatment to enhance the flatness of the panel through the honeycomb structure.
Avoid being too thin or too thick: The conventional thickness range of stainless steel is usually between 0.5 and 3mm. Too thin (less than 0.5mm) stainless steel is prone to corrugation, resulting in an uneven surface; too thick (greater than 3mm) will increase weight and construction difficulty, and may cause material waste.
Improper storage and transportation: Open-air stacking: Exposure to the sun in summer will make it soft and droop like chocolate, and freezing in winter will make it as brittle as glass; do not stack them randomly. If there are more than 10 layers without partitions, the bottom layer of the plate will be bent; and during transportation, when the truck brakes suddenly, the unfixed stainless steel plates will squeeze and deform each other.
Methods to maintain the flatness of stainless steel plates:
Production:
In the process of manufacturing stainless steel plates, excellent molds and production processes are used, and the production temperature is strictly controlled to ensure the flatness of the finished rolled plates.
Technical aspects:
1. Lay the stainless steel sheet flat on a flat base surface, hammer the uneven places hard, make the protruding parts flat, and make the stainless steel plate flat by thinning a little. This method is more suitable for stainless steel plates with poor elasticity and thin thickness.
2. Stainless steel plates with high elasticity and thick thickness are deformed. First, burn it red and thoroughly, then pour a lot of cold water to cool it down, and then forge it hard to make the deformed steel plate flat again.
1. Press both sides of the stainless steel sheet tightly and flatten it with equipment. Then simmer it with fire until it is red, and after a period of time, the entire stainless steel plate can be restored to flatness.
Tip: Construction details: During the construction process, care should be taken to avoid uneven panels and ensure the flatness during installation. If necessary, leveling tools can be used for adjustment.
Storage and transportation:
1. Avoid too high or too low temperature and humidity during storage and transportation
2. Use the correct stacking method: cross-place in a "well" shape, with plastic film on each layer (similar to the supermarket beverage stacking method); take good protection during transportation, wrap the edges with foam strips, and stop every 2 hours for long-distance transportation to check the fixing rope. (Tip: If the steel plate is found to be arched in the middle, it can be turned upside down and laid flat for 3 days to recover by its own weight)
What is the limit of stainless steel folding?
There is no clear numerical limit for the limit of stainless steel folding. The limit of folding mainly depends on the thickness and material of the plate.
The conventional thickness range of stainless steel that we often use in decoration is usually between 0.5 and 3 mm.
Factors affecting stainless steel folding
Plate thickness: The thicker the plate, the larger the bending radius is required to avoid cracks and deformation.
Material: Stainless steel of different grades and types has different physical and mechanical properties, which will also affect the limit of folding.
Folding process: The folding method (such as manual bending, mechanical bending, hydraulic bending) and technical level will also affect the limit of folding.
Folding angle: The larger the folding angle, the larger the required folding radius.
Tips: The conventional thickness range of stainless steel that we often use in decoration is usually between 0.5 and 3 mm. The surface of stainless steel with a thickness less than 0.5 mm is very easy to ripple, resulting in an uneven surface; greater than 3 mm will increase the weight of the stainless steel and increase the difficulty of construction, while also wasting unnecessary materials.
Sucelsteel is a manufacturer specializing in the stainless steel industry with rich experience in stainless steel production and export. Whether you are looking for stainless steel products or want to know about your stainless steel project, just tell us and we will provide you with active assistance. We firmly believe that your satisfaction is our top priority, and continuous efforts will drive us to move forward and make continuous progress.
