14
3.4 Cau
ti
ons with Stainless Steel
The Stainless Steel may present rust signs, which ARE ALWAYS CAUSED BY EXTERNAL
AGENTS, especially when the cleaning or sani
ti
za
ti
on is not constant and appropriate.
The Stainless Steel resistance towards corrosion is mainly due to the presence of chrome,
which in contact with oxygen allows the forma
ti
on of a very thin protec
ti
ve coat. This
protec
ti
ve coat is formed through the whole surface of the steel, blocking the ac
ti
on of
external corrosive agents.
When the protec
ti
ve coat is broken, the corrosion process begins, being possible to avoid
it by means of constant and adequate cleaning.
Cleaning must always be done immediately a
ft
er using the equipment. For such end, use
water, neutral soap or detergent, and clean the equipment with a so
ft
cloth or a nylon
sponge. Then rinse it with plain running water, and dry immediately with a so
ft
cloth, this
way avoiding humidity on surfaces and especially on gaps.
The rinsing and drying processes are extremely important to prevent stains and corrosion
from arising.
IMPORTANT
Acid solu
ti
ons, salty solu
ti
ons, disinfectants and some sterilizing solu
ti
ons
(hypochlorites, tetravalent ammonia salts, iodine compounds, nitric acid and
others), must be AVOIDED, once they cannot remain for long in contact with the
stainless steel:
These substances a
tt
ack the stainless steel due to the CHLORINE on its composi
ti
on,
causing corrosion spots (pi
tti
ng).
Even detergents used in domes
ti
c cleaning must not remain in contact with the stainless
steel longer than the necessary, being mandatory to remove it with plain water and then
dry the surface completely.
Use of abrasives:
Sponges or steel wool and carbon steel brushes, besides scratching the surface
and compromising the stainless steel protec
ti
on, leave par
ti
cles that rust and react
contamina
ti
ng the stainless steel. That is why such products must not be used for cleaning
and sani
ti
za
ti
on. Scrapings made with sharp instruments or similar must also be avoided.
Main substances that cause stainless steel corrosion:
Dust, grease, acid solu
ti
ons such as vinegar, fruit juices, etc., saltern solu
ti
ons (brine),
blood, detergents (except for the neutral ones), common steel par
ti
cles, residue of sponges
or common steel wool, and also other abrasives.
11
PICTURE 03
01
06
06
05
04
03
02
