Less Aggresive Oxide Remover

[BMccarthy81]

We're having a problem with some diamond drawn stainless steel wire for medical instrument use. The straightening process of the wire scratches the surface, usually unpercieved by the human eye. The material itself is very hard and needs to have a hole drilled into it, therefor the ends are annealed so the material is soft enough to drill. The annealing process causing oxide to build up on the ends, and because its used in medical instruments it needs to have a uniform bright finish. The discoloration is corrected by immersing the ends in an oxide-remove called Ox-Out. The problem we are having is that the Ox-Out is etching the material where it was scraped by the straightening process, giving it a look of spiral tattoos. Due to budgeting problems we cannot add extra steps, such as polishing, to remove the spirals. We are looking for a less aggresive Oxide remover that will clean off the ends, but not etch the scraps. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[ornerynorsk]

Can you anneal in an atmospheric controlled oven?

 

[Barry1961]

Can you thin the Ox-Out? I would think on the label it would list the inert ingredients.

Barry1961

 

[rorschach]

Not sure you can get there from here. The Ox-Out is a passivation treatment which by it's very nature MUST etch a thin layer off the part to remove the oxidation to allow a fresh undisturbed chrome oxide layer to form. the suggestion about annealing in a controlled atmosphere is probably your best bet and removes the need to etch the part to begin with.

 

[adrianviorel]

Might be that you go deeper into the process, and use softer moulds, to avoid scratches? or, you use moulds that are more carefully polished, or, either, you replace moulds more often?

 

[sacem1]

I would go in search of the cause and stick with a better way to straighten the pieces instead of finding a better cure (a better oxide remover) look there and your costs should go down also.

SACEM1

 

[musashi99]

Can you Vacuum solutionize?

 

[egmr]

Look at annealing under a nitrogen blank. It could eliminate the oxidation that occurs during the annealing process. The annealing may still change the surface structure of the metal enough that there is not a uniform finish.

Good Luck

EGMR