will heating stainless damage its corrosion resistance?

**theyork** · 02-20-2012, 01:35 PM

i have a sheet of stainless that i need flat. i will have to heat the sheet in order to anneal it and clamp it down flat.

will this alter its corrosion resistance? it will be used with sodium bi-sulfate.

**3TrueFans** · 02-20-2012, 01:41 PM

I'm sure there's someone with a masters in metalsmithing on this site that can answer that question, he'll probably be around soon.

**CyFever** · 02-20-2012, 01:43 PM

Short answer, no heating it will not damage the corrosion resistance. SS is heat treated all the time.

**herbicide** · 02-20-2012, 01:44 PM

No it won't, but stainless doesn't like annealing. It will make it brittle and probably crack it, at least it will warp it more.

I would recommend starting with a new piece of stainless.

Edit: It is heat treated all the time, but that is to release stresses, not put more into it. I am asking some of the folk I work with how they would go about this; I work for a company that mfr's food processing equipment (deals in stainless all the time)

**HOTDON** · 02-20-2012, 01:55 PM

The warping is the biggest issue. Getting the clamped portion flat may leave other portions wavy

**Tre4ISU** · 02-20-2012, 02:10 PM

Like has been said, it won't hurt the corrosive properties but it will make it brittle.

**theyork** · 02-20-2012, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by 3TrueFans

I'm sure there's someone with a masters in metalsmithing on this site that can answer that question, he'll probably be around soon.

my area of expertise is "tiny and shiny" i.e. jewelry/holloware, (nonferrous). this is a bit out of my realm. i don't do steel (so long as i can avoid it).

**theyork** · 02-20-2012, 02:26 PM

its only 3ft by 14in. maybe i'll try a clamping system and just cold work it to get it as flat as i can. as someone else mentioned, i'll probably get warps in undesired areas with heating anyway.

**nfrine** · 02-20-2012, 03:07 PM

Assume it's a 300 series stainless (common for sinks, etc)...unless you melt it

it should be okay. You may get some "tinting" from the heat that will polish out.

**jrcisu79** · 02-20-2012, 03:16 PM

It will not affect the corrosion resistance at all, but stainless does work harden, meaning the more you mess with it the harder it will get. Think of bending a wire back and forth until it breaks thats work hardening. Heat will do the same thing so be careful. If you can, take it to a machine shop that has a sheet straightener they can get it flat for you.

**Cyclonepride** · 02-20-2012, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by 3TrueFans

I'm sure there's someone with a masters in metalsmithing on this site that can answer that question, he'll probably be around soon.

I forged a butt load of iron daggers in Skyrim. Does that count?

**albsmith** · 07-24-2012, 02:36 AM

The surface staining on stainless steel after pulverize or welding is surface corrosion. At superior hotness, the metal comprising the stainless steel will mingle with oxygen to form an oxide layer on the metal surface. I imagine the gold/brown you are considering is iron oxide--you will see the same color if you bake the metal in air, with the oxidation escalating impartial to the hotness and the time at temperature. Stainless normally has an atomic layer of iron and chromium oxide on the surface which save from harm the steel from corrosive attack--hence, it becomes "stainless"; the layer is thinner than the visible light wavelengths.
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