Table of Contents
Preface xi
Chapter 1 Introduction to Stainless Steel 1
Stainless Steel 1
History 9
Modern Production 10
Environmental, Safety, and Hygiene 13
Stainless Steel for the Arts 15
Chapter 2 Alloys 23
Alloys 23
Alloying Elements 24
Tempers and Heat Treatment 27
Stainless Steel Classifications 28
Austenitic Stainless Steels 29
Magnetism and Magnetic Permeability 31
Ferritic Stainless Steels 32
Martensitic Stainless Steels 32
Precipitation-Hardened Stainless Steel 33
Duplex Stainless Steels 34
Choosing the Right Alloy 35
Architectural Alloys: Wrought Sheet, Plate, Bar, Rod, Pipe, Tube, and Wire 38
Architectural Cast Alloys 52
Chapter 3 Surface Finishes 57
Metallic Luster 57
Finish on the Surface 58
Natural Color 59
One Side Prime for Flat Products 63
The Need for a Clean Surface 64
Anti-Fingerprint Coatings 65
Post-Finishing Protection 65
Stainless Steel Finishes 66
Mill Finishes 67
Mechanical Finishes 73
Directional Finishes 74
Non-Directional Finishes 82
Custom Mechanical Finishes 89
Highly Custom Surface Finishes 91
Mirror Finishes 93
Plastic Deformation Surface Finishes 95
“Water” Finish 96
Embossing 96
Selective Embossing 98
Coining 100
Chemical Finishes: Coloring of Stainless Steel 101
Electropolishing: Brightening the Finish 115
Etching 118
Bluing 119
Chapter 4 Expectations of the Stainless Steel Surface 123
Reflectivity: Brightness and Intensity 123
Surface Finish and Reflectivity 135
Arriving At Objective Criteria 143
Flatness 145
The True Nature of the Metal 147
Effects of Fabrication 149
Effects of Temperature Changes 152
The Relationship Between Thickness and Flatness 155
Prototype Viewing Protocol 157
Texturing to Improve Flatness 157
Standards of Flatness 159
Grain Direction 164
Grain Size and Surface Clarity 167
Alloying Constituents and Surface Clarity 168
External Variables: Energy of Light Source 170
External Variables: Angle of Illumination 172
Surface Finish and Perceived Distortion 172
Arriving at the Best Possible Outcome 174
Chapter 5 Designing with Available Forms 177
Basic Forms of Stainless Steel 178
The Stainless Steel Mill 179
Mill Packaging Requirements 183
Sheet: The Architectural Form of Stainless Steel 184
Stainless Steel Sheet Dimensions 185
Perforated and Expanded Stainless Steel 190
Plate 196
Bar and Rod 197
Cold Drawn Stainless Steel Shapes 199
Tubing and Pipe 199
Wire, Woven Wire, and Screens 201
Extrusion 203
Structural Shapes 204
Designing with Stainless Steel Structural Forms 206
Powder, Bead, and Shot 208
Foil 209
Cast Stainless Steel 209
Chapter 6 Fabrication Processes 213
Working With Stainless Steel 213
Temporary Protective Coatings 215
Cutting Stainless Steel 216
Forming 220
V-Cutting 226
Hot Forming 227
Forging 228
Machining 229
Soldering and Brazing 230
Welding 232
Casting 243
Chapter 7 Corrosion Resistance Characteristics 249
Passivity 251
The Chloride Ion 252
Alloying Elements 253
Environmental Exposures 254
Corrosion 256
Passivation 273
Cleaning a Contaminated Surface 273
Conditions That Promote Corrosion in Stainless Steels 275
Chapter 8 Maintaining the Stainless Steel Surface 277
The New Surface 277
Basic Cleaning of a Stainless Steel Surface 277
Achieving Physical Cleanliness 279
Achieving Chemical Cleanliness 287
Achieving Mechanical Cleanliness 314
Distortion Due to Fabrication and Welding 323
Distortion from Cold Forming Operations 326
Hail Damage and Small Dent Repair 326
Appendix A Stainless Steel Specifications Specific to Architectural and Art
Applications (US and European) 331
Standard-Setting Organizations (Partial List) 331
General Specifications 332
Plate, Sheet, and Strip Wrought Products 332
Tubing 333
Bolts 333
Wire and Rod 333
Castings 334
Bars and Shapes 334
Welding 334
Appendix B Relative Cost of Different Finishes of Wrought Stainless Steel 335
Appendix C Relative Gloss/Reflectivity of Different Stainless Steel Finishes 337
Appendix D List of Designers and Finishes Shown in the Book 339
Further Reading 343
Index 345