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Metal finishing Q&As since 1989
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Laser marking of passivated parts
When parts are passivated, can they be Laser Marked after passivation?
Pat McKinneyEngineer - Glenolden, PA, U.S.A.
2004
First of two simultaneous responses --
Pat, my company allows it, and we do it on our parts every day. I can't think of a reason I wouldn't allow it.
![lee gearhart](../portraits/lee_gearhart.jpg)
Lee Gearhart
metallurgist - E. Aurora, New York
2004
Second of two simultaneous responses --
Laser marking of passivated stainless is done all the time in the medical industry BUT keep in mind that following laser marking, the parts go through a secondary passivation! The laser marking somehow impacts the passive layer and without the secondary passivation, the parts rust in the region around the marking.
![milt stevenson jr.](../portraits/milt_stevenson.jpg)
Milt Stevenson, Jr.
Syracuse, New York
2004
I do not like most laser mark! Sure it is a nice way to ID a part, but the brown layer is an iron rich layer. I dare say that if you SEM just the laser oxide it would not read like SS. I do like a laser mark that is very deep and with proper means removing the oxide layer and then relying on the depth of laser for contrast. I have run lots of parts through out humidity cabinet. Laser marking fails and the darker the marking the worse it fails.
Jon Quirt- Minneapolis, Minnesota
2004
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