Carbon steel and stainless steel not suitable for flame cleaning

Flame Clearing for Incompatible Carbon Steel and Stainless Steel

Introduction

For many industrial applications, steel plays a key role and can be found in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Steel is a combination of iron and other minerals which makes up its construction. The iron and minerals can vary depending on what type of steel is used and it can range from soft mild steel all the way up to hard and wear resistant steels. One of the main factors that separate different steel grades, is the combination of iron and the type of other minerals. This combination will vary by steel grade, allowing the users of the steel to choose the right material for their application.

However, when working with steel, there is a big issue that can arise when using incompatible carbon steel and stainless steel products. If these two different types of steel are used together, it can cause flaking, rusting, and other issues. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the correct steel is used for the job and that any possible cross-contamination of either type is prevented. One method that can be used to prevent this cross-contamination, is flame clearing.

Main Points

Flame clearing, is a process that can help to remove any contamination on the surface of steel that can arise from incompatible steel grades. Depending on the level of contamination and area to be cleared, will depend on which type of flame clearing process is used. There are two main categories of flame clearing, light and heavy.

Light flame clearing can be used for steel components that are relatively small in size. This type of process is used to remove any loose oxide debris that can form as a result of two different steel grades being together. The process will use a propane torch and the flame from the torch will be passed over the steel which will remove any loose debris.

On the other hand, heavy flame clearing will require higher temperatures and is mainly used for larger steel components. This type of heavy clearing generates an intense heat that can be used to remove flux residue and any sludge build up. This is a much faster process and it is important to clean the steel of all residue before it is placed back into use.

Conclusion

Flame clearing is a process that can be used to clean and remove any potential contamination that can arise on steel due to incompatible carbon steel and stainless steel products being present. Different types of flame clearing can be used depending on the size of the steel piece and the amount of contamination needed to be removed. This process helps to ensure that contaminated steel is removed and that only quality steel is used in the end product.

Flame Cleaning of Carbon Steel and Stainless Steel

Flame cleaning is a process of removing rusty layers, scale and dirt from surfaces of steel objects by burning off the deposit with a torch. The process is typically used on carbon steel and stainless steel surfaces which dont lend themselves to mechanical cleaning methods.

The process of flame cleaning is iterative, so after the scale and rust is burned off, fresh layers may still appear. The temperature required for successful flame cleaning of carbon steel and stainless steel differs from one another.

Carbon steel needs to be heated to a temperature of between 650 and 850 ⁰C in order for the scale and rust to be removed efficiently. A high quality propane or natural gas flame that is directed on the surface in short bursts provides the right temperature levels.

The heat required for flame cleaning of stainless steel is different. Stainless steel needs to reach a temperature of between 800 and 1200 ⁰C to ensure successful removal of the layer. A different torch is used to get the temperatures needed in order to clean stainless steel surfaces efficiently.

It is important to consider the heat distribution when removing the unwanted layers from steel surfaces as this can adversely affect the integrity and structure of the base material. Care must be taken not to heat a localized spot excessively which can lead to warping or even melting of the material.

Flame cleaning is a common process used for removing rust and scale from carbon steel and stainless steel surfaces. The use of the proper torch for the material being used along with awareness towards heat distributions in order to avoid damage of the material is key when flame cleaning carbon steel and stainless steel surfaces.