Stainless steel acid treatment

摘要

The invention includes a method for cleaning and passivating a stainless steel surface comprising: 1) contacting the surface with 1548 ml/liter of an acid formulation comprising between about 1 and 60% acid component, about 1-15% surfactant, and between about 39 and 98% water; 2) maintaining contact to dislodge and remove residue from the surface; 3) continuing contact to complex free iron ions liberated from the surface to form an oxide film on the surface; and 4) continuing contact to precipitate the complexed ions into the oxide film.