Water Plating Stainless Steel Sheet
During water plating, stainless steel sheets are immersed in a special "water plating" solution at room temperature (15-40°C) with slight agitation for a short period. The resulting decorative stainless steel sheets have a more vivid appearance and better wear resistance. The color of water-plated stainless steel sheets typically lasts for about 10 years.
For 201 and 304 grade stainless steel sheets, different coloring solutions are used, and different machines are required. Extended high-temperature exposure can cause the sheets to corrode and turn red.
Water Plating Stainless Steel Sheet Processing
Generally speaking, it takes about 1.5 hours to color 16 stainless steel sheets, although the actual time depends on the material, surface, and thickness of the sheets. Because prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause the sheets to deteriorate and turn red, the time control in the water plating process is crucial.
- Punching: Punch holes in the stainless steel sheet for hanging during plating.
- Electrolytic Treatment: Clean the surface through electrolysis to ensure the color won't fade, for 10 minutes.
- High-Temperature Coloring: Color the sheet at a high temperature of 80-90°C for 1 hour.
- Curing Treatment: Cure the color by cooling and washing, ensuring color stability, for 10 minutes.
- Cleaning: Thoroughly clean the stainless steel sheet to remove surface residues.
- Drying: Dry the cleaned stainless steel sheet to ensure the surface is dry.
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Contact UsPVD Coated Finish Stainless Steel Sheet vs Water Plating Finish
Grades of Sanmei Metal's Water Plating Stainless Steel Sheets
Different stainless steel grades may show color variations when processed with the same color by water plating and PVD coating. For example, water-plated black titanium on 201 stainless steel has a truer black compared to the grayish tone in PVD-coated 201. On 304 stainless steel, water-plated black titanium appears black with a hint of blue, while PVD-coated is gray-black.
201 J1 J2 J3 J4 Stainless Steel Sheet
Characteristics: 201 stainless steel contains higher manganese and lower nickel, offering good corrosion resistance and strength, but its corrosion resistance is not as strong as that of 304 and 316. It is relatively inexpensive.
Common Applications: Often used in kitchen equipment, tableware, furniture, and some architectural decorative materials.
304/304L Stainless Steel Sheet
304 is a standard stainless steel with higher carbon content, while 304L is a low-carbon version that offers better corrosion resistance and weldability.
Applications:
- 304 Stainless Steel: Widely used in food processing, chemical handling, and construction.
- 304L Stainless Steel: Typically used in environments that require welding, such as chemical equipment and oil pipelines.
316/316L Stainless Steel Sheet
- 316 stainless steel offers excellent corrosion resistance and high-temperature strength, commonly used in marine and chemical environments.
- 316L stainless steel is a low-carbon version of 316, providing better weldability and resistance to intergranular corrosion.
Application:
316 Stainless Steel: Marine environments, chemical equipment, food processing.
430 Stainless Steel Sheet
Characteristics: 430 stainless steel is a ferritic stainless steel with high chromium content, offering good corrosion resistance but lower strength and toughness, and it does not have good weldability.
Common Applications: Commonly used in automotive exhaust systems, appliance exteriors, kitchen utensils, and decorative purposes.
Specification of Sanmei Metal's Water Plating Stainless Steel Sheets
| Grade | Width * Length(mm) | Thickness(mm) | Origin Mill | |
| 201 | 1000 * 2000 1219 * 2438（4*8） 1219 * 3048（4*10） 1500 * 3000 | 0.3-3.0 | Hongwang, Lisco | |
| 304L | Yongjin, Jisco, Posco Pzss, Tisco, Lisco | |||
| 316 | Posco Pzss, Tisco | |||
| 316L | Posco Pzss, Tisco | |||
| 304 | 1000 * 2000 1219 * 2438（4*8） 1219 * 3048（4*10） 1500 * 3000 1250 * 2000 1250 * 2438（4*8） 1250 * 3048（4*10） 1250 * 3000 | Yongjin, Jisco, Posco Pzss, Tisco, Lisco | ||
| 430 | Jisco, Krupp | |||
Decorative Stainless Steel Sheets Don't Need to Be Too Thick
- Before purchasing, you should estimate the overall weight of the finished decorative sheet and the load-bearing capacity of the application area to avoid overloading.
- Since decorative sheets are primarily used for aesthetic purposes, a smaller thickness is sufficient, which not only saves costs but also meets the requirements. Whether for indoor or outdoor use, the ideal thickness range for stainless steel decorative sheets is between 0.5mm and 2.0mm.
- Sheets thinner than 0.5mm are too fragile and can be easily damaged during handling and manufacturing.
- Sheets thicker than 2.0mm are difficult to process and challenging to use in practical applications.
Explore More Patterns for Your Decorative Stainless Steel Sheets
Stainless steel sheets can be applied in a wide range of settings, whether indoors or outdoors, and they always look beautiful no matter where they are. Whether you prefer a smooth surface or a more textured feel, there’s a decorative stainless steel sheet that suits you.
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