49491

Stainless Steel Handrails are rusting in under a month [UAE] 

July 28, 2008

Hello,

we are the fabricator and a 20 days before we put some stainless steel handrails on dubai. all tubes are in hairlin finish and used in a balcony of the buildings

and now they all give some indications of rust, not 100% but at some parts of the tubes,

so anyone can help me in that why 316 ss attracts rust?

Regards,

Mark James
industrialist - Dubai, UAE

Hi Mark,

I suspect that the problem is not due to the 316 SS but inclusions (embedded particles) from the scratch brushing (my interpretation of "hairlin"). Suggest modifying the brushing process - perhaps an additional fine brush or change of type of brush.

Being a chemist, my mind turns to chemical treatments but I know that adding wet chemical processes in an otherwise dry environment is not readily welcomed!

Harry Parkes

Harry Parkes
- Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom

Hello Mark,

last year we did some tests with stainless steel 316 in Dubai, the outcome of those tests were that 316 + electropolishing the best treatment is for stainless steel in those environment (maritime + dessert) All other treatments did show corrosion or staining within a few weeks. If I am right they are now using grinded stainless steel tubes for the facade of the Burj Dubai (>800 mtr. high) so within a few weeks/months they will have the same problem as you.

Klaas de Boer
- Heerenveen, the Netherlands

It depends a lot upon the environment. The chlorides that sea water puts into the air are very harsh on stainless. In a coastal area, even 316 will always eventually start showing signs of corrosion. Passivation can hold it off for longer, but not permanently. Periodic repassivation treatment is generally required.

Wiping on a very thin coating of fish oil or WD 40 type of product can help protect the surface from the chlorides, as can a regular rinsing with fresh water.

Ray Kremer Stellar Solutions, Inc. Algonquin, IL, USA