What impact does pickling treatment have on the performance of Stainless steel AP pipe?

2024-04-18

Improved surface quality
During the production, transportation and installation of stainless steel AP pipes, a layer of oxide scale often forms on the surface of the pipe, which is caused by the reaction between the steel and oxygen in the air. In addition, oil, welding slag, rust or other contaminants may adhere. These impurities not only affect the aesthetics of the pipeline, but more importantly, they may become the starting point of corrosion, gradually destroying the integrity of the stainless steel, thereby affecting its service life. These surface impurities can be effectively removed through pickling treatment. The acidic solution used in the pickling process chemically reacts with scale and rust to dissolve and remove it. At the same time, oil and other contaminants will also be removed during the pickling process. In this way, the surface of the pickled stainless steel AP pipe will become smoother and cleaner, greatly improving its surface quality.

2. Enhanced corrosion resistance
The excellent corrosion resistance of stainless steel is largely due to the passivation film on its surface. However, during processing and welding, this passivation film may be damaged. The pickling treatment can re-form a uniform and dense passivation film, thereby improving the corrosion resistance of stainless steel AP pipes. Especially in environments containing chloride ions or other corrosive ions, this newly formed passivation film can effectively resist corrosion and extend the service life of the pipeline.

3. Improvement of mechanical properties
Pickling treatment can also improve the mechanical properties of stainless steel AP pipes to a certain extent. By removing oxides and impurities from the surface, pickling purifies the internal structure of the material, thereby increasing its tensile strength and yield strength. In addition, pickling can also help eliminate residual stress inside the material and improve the toughness and ductility of stainless steel AP pipes.

4. Optimization of welding performance
For stainless steel AP pipes that need to be welded, pickling treatment can significantly improve the quality of the welded joints. Pickling before welding can remove oxides and oil from the weld and its surroundings, creating good conditions for welding. This can not only improve the strength and sealing of the weld, but also reduce defects such as pores and slag inclusions produced during the welding process.

5. Improved fluid fluidity
Stainless steel AP pipes are often used to transport fluids, such as gases, liquids, etc. Pickling treatment can remove impurities and protrusions from the inner wall of the pipe, making the inner wall of the pipe smoother. This not only reduces the resistance to fluid flow and improves fluid mobility, but also helps reduce fluid retention and contamination in the pipeline.

6. Improved biocompatibility
Pickling treatment can thoroughly clean the surface of stainless steel pipes and effectively remove possible harmful substances, microorganisms and other pollutants. If these contaminants are not removed in time, they may be released into the contact media during use, thus posing a threat to human health or product quality. Through pickling, this risk can be greatly reduced, making stainless steel pipes more suitable for direct contact with living organisms or for the production of products with extremely high hygiene requirements. The smooth, clean surface created by pickling also helps reduce the attachment and growth of microorganisms. Microbial contamination is a serious problem during biopharmaceutical or food processing, which can lead to reduced product quality, spoilage and even safety issues. The pickled stainless steel surface is less likely to provide a breeding ground for microorganisms to grow, thus helping to maintain the purity and safety of the product. Pickling treatment removes impurities and oxide layers on the surface of stainless steel, and can also reduce particles generated due to friction or chemical reactions during use. These particles may cause adverse reactions or contamination if they enter organisms or products. Therefore, pickling treatment not only improves the biocompatibility of stainless steel pipes, but also enhances their safety and reliability during use.

7. Easy to follow-up
The surface of stainless steel AP pipes after pickling is more uniform, which provides a good foundation for subsequent coating, electroplating or other surface treatments. A uniform surface can improve the adhesion and uniformity of the coating or plating layer, thereby further improving the corrosion resistance and aesthetics of the pipeline.

1. The pickling treatment may also have some negative effects on stainless steel AP pipes. For example, excessive pickling may cause the pipe wall to become thinner, affecting its structural strength and pressure-bearing capacity. In addition, the acidic solution used in the pickling process may cause environmental pollution if not handled properly. Therefore, when performing pickling treatment, process parameters need to be strictly controlled to ensure the treatment effect while avoiding damage to the pipeline and the environment.