Finger print proof stainless steel 1

[elroy]

I am working on a medical equipment design where desire is to have a brushed stainless steel enclosure. The appearance of fingerprints on the panels is a concern. I know that many household appliance manufacturers are using "fingerprint proof stainless steel" panels on refrigerators. I have been told that some are using a clear powder coated finish over the stainless to accomplish this. Is this how this is done? How else might I achieve the stainless steel look without the issue of visible finger prints.

 

[kenvlach]

This is a bigger problem with polished SS than brushed, but in any case it arises from the corrosive combination of salt and urea in sweat. There are a variety of methods of combating it. Go to finishing.com and search for 'fingerprint stainless.'

http://64.253.46.155/html/site_search.html

 

[unclesyd]

Try this website:

http://www.frigodesign.com/

I don't whether they make it or just use it

 

[kenvlach]

I followed unclesyd’s advice and browsed the frigo site; this is what I found:

“Fingerprint-less Stainless Steel
· Genuine 304 stainless steel with all the unique and desirable properties of stainless steel - including antibacterial, anti-stain and rust proof, and yet it does not, and will never show fingerprints.
· licensed/patented product of Frigo Design.
· Available in plain, quilted and V-formation patterns and has the same brilliance associated with real Stainless
· Easier to clean than standard stainless steel. No special cleaners! Just simply wipe with any household cleaner or warm water.
TL Sets and/or Panels Only for refrigerators - Upcharge = $100.”

http://www.frigodesign.com/steel.html

It is clearly an extra processing step applied to their stainless steel products, and does not sound like a coating. My educated guess is that a heavy-duty passivation treatment is applied to maximize the Cr/Fe ratio of the surface. This gives the purest, most protective Cr oxide film. [Note: it probably doesn’t involve electropolishing as no appearance change is mentioned.] Anyone seriously interested in frigo's can try a patent search (please post results).

So, to elroy and others, passivation is one means of minimizing the fingerprint problem, as pointed out in some of the finishing.com answers.
As the fingerprint problem is similar to salt corrosion near seacoasts, this bulletin on preventing coastal corrosion may be of practical interest:

http://www.assda.asn.au/Teastain.pdf

 

[unclesyd]

Just found out that Sanyo makes a refrigerator with Finger-Print Less S/S as selling point.

"elroy" if you check patents also check the Japanese patents also.

 

[quark]

I posted a similar question in 'Material Engineering Other Topics' forum sometime back and got some good advice. Check thread367-72702. I think I should look into unclesyd's suggestion.

Ken!

What about prebuffed matte(dull) finish sheets? For mirror finish this seems not to be a bigger problem. Is there an effective way to remove the glue without sacrifying the finish?

Regards,


Believe it or not : A cobweb with it's strands a pencil width, can catch hold of a concord. All questions directed to Discovery Channel.

 

[kenvlach]

I looked up a product mentioned by mcguire in quark's thread. The anti-bacterial AgION coating can be applied to stainless steel kitchen appliances:

http://www.agion-tech.com/NewsDetail.asp?PressID=6

Additionally, AK Steel has built a house with this AgION coating on SS and carbon steel in the kitchen and other 'high touch' areas, including door handles. So, it sounds as if may be fingerprint-proof, too.

http://www.agion-tech.com/NewsDetail.asp?PressID=55

So, these properties seem to match those claimed by frigo design. I would now guess that the SS is coated with a very thin, clear polymer film incorporating slow-release silver ions (the anti-bacterial agent).

quark re your SS sheets from which you peel the protective plastic sheeting. There must be a trace of stickiness left on the SS. Try cleaning with hot detergent and then do a DI waterbreak-free test.

 

[unclesyd]

elroy,
I think you might have found your material:

http://www.aksteel.com/markets_products/agion.asp

 

[unclesyd]

Just to give a credit to kenvlach. Was on the AK website and saw the AgION reference.