The Advantage of Passivation, Why Do We Need to Passivate and How Is It Done?

I am working in petrochemical plant and some cooling water passivation work is now needed. I would like some information on why should we do it and the how is usually done

Thank you,

Tom,

I would start with reviewing AMS2700 and/or SAE AMSQQP35 [canceled]. After reviewing these documents you may be able to come back with more specific questions relating to your particular situation.

I assume you mean passivation of stainless steel.

In a nutshell, it is removing the free iron from the surface to enable the remaining chromium to form a protective, passive, chrome oxide layer, thereby resisting corrosion. This is achieved with nitric acid or, increasingly, citric acid based formulations.