Surface treatment of stainless and carbon steels

For aerospace parts, we apply special technological procedures to ensure continuous supervision of the order. Qualified technicians perform visual inspections, on receipt, during processing and before shipment. If any deficiency is discovered, we will consult the customer immediately. The pickling and passivation process itself is carried out in accordance with the ASTM A380/A380M or AMS 2700 standards. On request, we will issue a report on performance of the work, according to CSN EN 10204. We are also able to offer other corrosion resistance tests specified in the above-mentioned standards upon customer request.  

Major players in the nuclear power industry, such as ČEZ and ŠKODA JS, have therefore developed their own technological procedures, regulations and instructions in order to ensure the required quality and safety in accordance with applicable laws. Our expertise and years of experience have enabled us to participate in the development of these regulations and procedures for surface treatment. As a result, we are able to provide customers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia with high quality and meet the requirements of end customers in the field of nuclear power.

Corrosion resistance and optimal surface roughness are essential aspects for efficient maintenance and cleaning of food machinery. We therefore always apply proven and functional pickling and surface passivation procedures. In the FK system, we prefer blasting as the final treatment for a surface, with an emphasis on process cleanliness and minimizing surface damage.

Ra in the range of 0.4-1 μm is ideal to eliminate the risk of bacteria adhering to the surface. Achieving this roughness with conventional blasting is challenging, so the demands on surface treatment are increasing. Our technologies allow for roughness up to Ra 0.8 μm.

Our company performs a wide range of work, including chemical cleaning (pickling and passivation) of the inner surfaces of pipelines, storage tanks and entire technological units for the pharmaceutical industry. These activities are most often performed for two reasons:

• Impurities stick to newly assembled technological units after completion of assembly work or to pipe loops and storage tanks newly added to existing technology. We can easily remove impurities and also provide corrosion resistance for stainless steel surfaces, which are usually disturbed after assembly.
•  Impurities accumulate on existing technological units and storage tanks during downtime and could contaminate the final product. A common reason for performing chemical cleaning of already functional systems is the removal of mechanical impurities detected by a control swab or rouging. We will remove these accumulated impurities and also restore the passive layer that ensures the corrosion resistance of alloyed anti-corrosion steel surfaces.

Stainless advanced materials are stainless steel-based materials that are modified or developed to achieve better properties than standard stainless steels. They may have higher strength, improved corrosion or wear resistance, improved mechanical properties at high temperatures, or specific magnetic or electrical properties.

Such types of materials include:

1. Duplex and superduplex stainless steel
2. Superaustenitic steel
3. Superferritic steel
4. Steel with high nitrogen content
5. Nickel alloys

Chemical cleaning of these types of materials is not sufficiently specified in current standards. Therefore, our company decided to cooperate with research institutes (UCT Prague and BUT) to develop these procedures. We currently offer pickling and passivation of advanced materials to our customers.

As a company specialized in pickling and passivation of stainless steel, we pickle steel with an austenitic structure, as well as pickling and passivation of martensitic and ferritic types of stainless steel.

These types of corrosion-resistant steel require specific procedures to maintain optimal properties. Thanks to our expertise and experience, we ensure that your stainless steel materials are not only perfectly treated, but also protected for long-term use.

One of our specialized services is chemical cleaning of brass and copper, which effectively removes impurities, oxidation and various coatings that interfere with the appearance and functionality of the material. Why chemically clean brass and copper?

• Effective removal of oxidation: Oxidation often forms on the surface of brass and copper due to external conditions. Our chemical cleaning technology reliably removes dark and matte coatings and restores the natural shine of these metals.
• Protection against further deterioration: Our methods not only clean, but also form the basis for possible further surface treatments, thereby protecting metals from damage.

This involves chemical cleaning (most often pickling and passivation) of the inner surfaces of pipes, storage tanks and entire technological units. Through this process we provide protection against corrosion. We achieve different purity levels: conventional, oxygen, pharmaceutical and process for different media with specific requirements. These activities are most often performed for two reasons:

• On newly assembled technological units after completion of assembly work or on elements newly added to existing technology.
• On existing technological units and storage tanks during shutdown.