How to prevent 304 stainless steel pipes from rusting？

Although 304 stainless steel pipes contain high amounts of chromium and nickel elements, they are not completely rust-proof. Especially during storage and application, environmental factors surrounding them also have a significant impact. Many purchasers are confused about the causes of rust on stainless steel pipes, how to avoid it, how to remove it, and so on. Today, I will give you a general knowledge of how to prevent 304 stainless steel pipes from rusting.

How to prevent 304 stainless steel pipes from rusting？

When 304 stainless steel pipe is in contact with different metals and rusts：

This is caused by corrosion due to electrode differences. First, separate the stainless steel from it, or use a more active metal to contact with the 304 pipe, which can also play a role in anti-corrosion. If it is not too serious, you can scrub it with sponge or cloth, neutral detergent or soapy water, which can also simply remove rust. Then rinse it with clean water, be careful not to leave the detergent on it. Eradicating rust at this level requires immediate eradication, which is not only simple to protect, but also effective, and the cost of eradication is very low.

Moreover, it will soon form a mixture of iron hydroxide, iron oxide, iron sulfite, etc. and appear in a heavily rusted dark brown state. This condition can be completely removed by cleaning with a cleaning solution or diluted with nitric acid. There are also rusts that cannot be eliminated, which will damage the surface of the 304 pipe. In this case, use sandpaper or steel wire brush to grind and scrub, and then clean with a cleaning solution.

Second, the harmful components in the exhaust gas attached to the 304 stainless steel welded pipe cause rusting：

In the workshop and street environment, the appearance of stainless steel is simply polluted, sometimes with small colored rust. These situations are mostly caused by harmful components in automobiles, air conditioners, and factory exhaust gases. At this time, when the pollution is mild, it can be thoroughly cleaned with neutral detergent or soapy water, but when the pollution is severe, it is not easy to handle. In this environment, it is necessary to conduct comprehensive regular cleaning as much as possible 2-3 times a year, and at least one regular cleaning is necessary.

Third, stainless steel 304 pipe is rusted due to salt adhesion：

When stainless steel is exposed to seawind in coastal areas and other frontiers, it will develop red rust in a short period of time; video production equipment is also prone to salt exposure, and the treatment method is the same. It is also recommended to use detergent to clean the rust. When 304 pipes are used for exterior decoration in coastal areas, it is expected that more corrosion-resistant SUS 316 should be selected as stainless steel. As for using SUS 304 as equipment components, support frames, etc., it is recommended to clean them regularly every year for 3-4 times.

Fourth, stainless steel pipe 304 is rusted due to touch and fingerprints:

If the neutral detergent cannot remove the stain, use a sponge, cloth, and other organic solvents (alcohol, light oil, acetone, etc.) to scrub it. If this method cannot completely eradicate it, use stainless steel cleaner to eradicate it. In short, after cleaning with various cleaning methods, it is necessary to rinse with water again.

Conclusion

How to prevent 304 stainless steel pipes from rusting? Firstly, analyze the cause of rusting. Rusting caused by contact with different metals resulting in an electrode difference needs to be isolated or replaced with a reactive metal to prevent oxidation. If the environment contains exhaust gas causing rusting, regular cleaning is necessary. If the environment contains salt causing rusting, it is recommended to replace it with 316L stainless steel or clean the surface regularly. If the 304 pipe is rusted due to touch or fingerprints, it can be wiped with detergent.

Thank you for reading our article and we hope it can help you have a better understanding of how to prevent 304 stainless steel pipes from rusting. If you want to learn more about 304 stainless steel pipes, we would advise you to visit Sino Stainless Steel.

As a leading supplier of stainless steel products across the world, Sino Stainless Steel offers customers high-quality stainless steel products such as stainless steel pipes, stainless steel strips, stainless steel coils, stainless steel plates, stainless steel sheets, stainless steel bars, and stainless steel tubes at an extremely competitive price.