Does passivation make the surface harder? 1

[heathenx]

When passivating stainless steel, in general, does the surface get slightly harder? If so, how deep into the surface does the passivation impregnate?

 

[swall]

No effect on hardness and no penetration into the surface. Passivation merely removes any free iron that may be present on the surface of the stainless steel.

 

[heathenx]

ahh. thank-you.

 

[SMF1964]

Hmmm. From a scientific standpoint: Passivating the surface produces a very very very thin layer of chromium oxide on the surface of the stainless steel (converts available chromium on the surface to chrome oxide). Since the oxide is harder than the substrate metal, wouldn't this result in an increase in the hardness of the surface?

But since the passivation layer is very very very thin, this is probably not anything that can be practically measured, so from an engineering standpoint, there is no increase in hardness.

 

[tomwalz]

Haircut rule

Sure it is important but it's like losing weight by getting your hair cut.

Thomas J. Walz
Carbide Processors, Inc.

http://www.carbideprocessors.com

 

[SMF1964]

Yes. That's another way of putting it.

 

[EdStainless]

The enhanced formation of a thicker chrome oxide layer that happens durring passivation is not a coherent or continuous layer so it does not contribute to hardness

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