process for the production of a layer of oxide on the surface of stainless steel

摘要

A method for surface passivating stainless steel articles against, inter alia, corrosion by flushing with a dry gaseous fluid, chemically non-reactive with the stainless steel and containing essentially no oxygen; during such flushing, the articles are baked and cooled. The baking is accomplished at a predetermined temperature and time (preferably between 250 and 500 DEG C for about 4 hours) to effect a reduction in adsorbed moisture and hydroxide content and an increase in chromium content and thereafter cooled. The gaseous fluid can advantageously comprise argon having a moisture content of no greater than 10 ppb and an oxygen content of about 10 ppb. IMAGE