How to select a good kitchen sink?(3) – Stainless Steel Sink

1. MATERIAL OF STAINLESS STEEL SINK

The service life of the stainless steel sink mainly depends on the steel material. Good stainless steel has a chromium content of not less than 18% and a nickel content of not less than 10%. It has high drawing strength, certain elasticity and is not easy to deform.

A. Classification of Stainless Steel Sink Materials:

(1) 304 # stainless steel

(2) 202 # stainless steel

(3) 201 # stainless steel

The biggest difference between the above types of stainless steel materials is the difference in corrosion resistance, 304 is the best, 202 is slightly worse, 201 is the worst, of course the price is also difference.

B. Whether there is magnetism or not cannot judge the quality of stainless steel (304 # stainless steel also has magnetism)

People often verify the quality and authenticity of stainless steel by whether the magnet absorbs it.

Stainless steel is considered to be good if it does not absorb magnets. On the other hand, it is considered fake. 

In fact, this is a wrong identification method.

There are many kinds of stainless steel, which can be divided into several types according to their structure at room temperature:

(1) Austenite type: 304, 321, 316, 310, etc. 

(2) Martensite or ferrite type: 430, 420, 410, etc. 

Austenite is nonmagnetic or weakly magnetic, while martensite and ferrite are magnetic.

Most stainless steels used as decorative sheets are austenitic 304 materials, which are generally nonmagnetic or weak magnetic. However, magnetism may also occur due to fluctuations in chemical composition or different processing states caused by smelting.

What is the reason?

Due to composition segregation during smelting or improper heat treatment, a small amount of martensite or ferrite structure will be produced in austenitic 304 stainless steel. In this way, 304 stainless steel will have weak magnetism.

In addition, the microstructure of 304 stainless steel will also transform to martensite after cold working. The greater the degree of cold working deformation, the more martensite transformation, and the greater the magnetic properties of steel. 

Like a batch of steel strip, Φ 76 tubes are produced without obvious magnetic induction. For Φ 9.5 tubes, the magnetic induction is more obvious due to large bending deformation. 

The deformation of the square rectangular tube is larger than that of the round tube, especially at the corner, which results in more intense deformation and more obvious magnetism.

In order to completely eliminate the magnetism of 304 steel caused by the above reasons, stable austenite structure can be restored by high temperature solid solution treatment, thus eliminating the magnetism.

2. CLASSIFICATION OF SURFACE TREATMENT

Matte, wiredrawing and mercerizing refer to the surface of the sink that has been polished once, twice and three times respectively.

Polishing treatment can improve the abrasion resistance and pH resistance of the sink. Among them, the mercerizing water tank after three polishing treatments has the highest brightness, sparkling and delicate touch.

On the other hand, the matte and brushed sink is slightly inferior in brightness, but its durability and smoothness are as satisfactory.

(1) Matte sandblasting pearl silver surface

Matte pearl silver surface is more popular now, and its process is to sandblast its surface first, and then carry out chemical surface treatment on it. The surface is luxurious, lasting and new, with both high gloss brightness and sanding durability. 

Its advantages are oil-proof and beautiful. But it is not as wear-resistant as embossing and sanding.

(2) Scrubbed and brushed surface

Wire drawing is also a common treatment method. Linear stripes are formed on the surface of stainless steel, which is easy to distinguish and reflects the true color of stainless steel. 

Its advantage is that the more it is used, the newer it is.

(3) Mercerized Surface

Mercerized surface is becoming more and more popular. Its characteristic is that it combines the advantages of frosted wire drawing process with the advantages of polished mirror surface. It is delicate and silky like satin.

(4) Polishing Mirror

Polished like a mirror, it has a high degree of finish, but it is prone to scratches. It looks good, but many scratches will occur when it is used for a long time. So this kind of sink gradually withdrew from the market.

(5) Embossed surface

Embossed surface is made of embossed material, but its cost is relatively high and it is very wear-resistant. Durability is above the above four water tanks.

(6) Spray layer treatment method

This is a cheap treatment method, mainly spraying a layer of material on the surface of stainless steel to make the surface more wear-resistant and do some color treatment.

You may interesting in 

1. How to select a good kitchen sink? (1) – Sink material

2. How to select a good kitchen sink?(2) – Style

3. How to select a good kitchen sink?(4) – Size

4. How to select a good kitchen sink?(5) – Manufacturing Process

5. How to select a good kitchen sink?(6) – Faucet of sink

TAGS: ALLPRODUCT

Leave a Comment