Long products encompasses finished wire rod and bar products, including billets and blooms, which are the feedstock for bar rod, flange production and seamless tube.
LONG PRODUCTS
Major applications for wire rod include bolts, screws, springs, rods, bright bar and welding wire. Bar products are often used to manufacture components in pumps and valves. Outokumpu stainless manufacturing units for long products include Degerfors Stainless in Sweden, Alloy Steel Rods (ASR) in United Kingdom, Richburg in South Carolina USA, and a joint venture interest in Fagesta Stainless that also is in Sweden. Outokumpu stainless is a world class supplier of wire rod and semi finished long products. The Group`s wire rod product range is further enhanced through Fagersta Stainless. As the only dedicated supplier of semi finished stainless steel long products, Degerfors stainless offers the flexibility required to provide a much enhanced level of service. Continuously cast and rolled products are offered, with focus on customized and special grades in addition to standard grades. All sales are backed by world-class technical support. The ASR Business Unit is the most flexible producer of stainless wire rod in coil in Europe. An extensive rounds size range is complemented with flats, hexagons, squares and reinforcing bar. The grade range is also extensive and includes special grades such as duplex, heat resisting grades. Continued investments in finishing facilities and non-destructive testing ensure that ASR remains at the forefront of quality stainless wire rod producers.
WELDING CONSUMABLES
For many of our customers, welding is an essential part of stainless fabrication. Post-welding corrosion protection, cleanliness, and steel homogeneity are issues that they constantly have to address. To offer the best welding performance Outokumpu Stainless` subsidiary Avesta Welding offers a complete range of welding consumables from welding electrodes and wire for automatic welding machines, to pickling products and neutralising agents for post-weld surface treatments. The company is a recognised leader in the production of these consumables and in providing detailed technical information. The product range covers all standard grades as well as tailored products for the more demanding special and highly alloyed grades.
Finishing Products
Surface treatment is an essential part of stainless fabrication. Post-fabrication corrosion protection, cleanliness, and appearance are issues constantly addressed. To offer the best surface performance Avesta finishing chemicals offers a complete range of pickling products and equipment from paste and spray for surface treatment, to designing and supplying complete pickling systems. Stainless steels are pickled to remove certain surface defects and contaminations, such as welding oxide, heat tint or scale formed during fabrication. If left on the final product surface, these oxides will reduce the corrosion resistance of the stainless steel surface. Avesta finishing chemicals is a recognized leader in the development and production of these chemicals and in providing detailed technical information. The product range covers all standard grades as well as tailored products for the more demanding special and highly alloyed grades. Our pickles include:
- pickling paste
- pickling solution
- pickling bath
- other products
PICKLING PASTE AND PICKLING GEL
Avesta pickling pastes and pickling gels are used to remove welding oxides and the underlying chromium-depleted layer. The paste and the gel also remove micro slag particles and other contaminants that may cause local corrosion. To assist pickling, this process may sometimes be combined with some form of simultaneous mechanical treatment, for example brushing. After pickling, the workpiece should be thoroughly rinsed with tap water. The best results are achieved by using a high-pressure water jet. This operation instantly passivates the steel surface. Avesta pickling paste and pickling gel follow the recommendations of ASTM A-380 A.1 and BS CP-312.
SPRAY PICKLE GEL
Avesta spray pickle gels are used to restore larger stainless steel surfaces that have been damaged by working operations such as welding, forming, cutting and blasting. The gel also removes welding oxides, the underlying chromium-depleted layer, micro-slag particles and other contaminants that may cause local corrosion. To assist pickling, this process may sometimes be combined with some form of simultaneous mechanical treatment, for example brushing. After pickling, the workpiece should be thoroughly rinsed with tap water. The best results are achieved by using a high-pressure water jet. This operation instantly passivates the steel surface. In this way the surface is passivated quicker – otherwise the passivation reaction may take up to 12 hours. Avesta spray pickle gels follow the recommendations of ASTM A-380 A.1 and BS CP-312.
PICKLING BATH
Avesta Bath Pickling is used to restore larger stainless steel surfaces that have been damaged by working operations such as welding, forming, cutting and blasting. The bath also removes welding oxides, the underlying chromium-depleted layer, micro-slag particles and other contaminants that may cause local corrosion. To assist pickling, this process may sometimes be combined with some form of simultaneous mechanical treatment, for example brushing. After pickling, the workpiece should be thoroughly rinsed with tap water. The best results are achieved by using a high-pressure water jet. This operation instantly passivates the steel surface. In this way the surface is passivated quicker – otherwise the passivation reaction may take up to 12 hours. Avesta Bath Pickling follows the recommendations of ASTM A-380 A.1 and BS CP-312. The bath pickling operation can be improved by using equipment for recycling the consumed acids and for stirring and heating the bath.
Other Pickling Products
The pickling process must often be completed with a pre-treatment, an after-treatment and a waste treatment to reach the required result and to meet environmental requirements. In addition to the wide range of active pickling products AvestaPolarit Welding offers surface treatment chemicals for all steps in the pickling process: a cleaner to remove organic contaminants prior to pickling, a passivating agent to accomplish the after-treatment and a neutralising agent to handle the waste water. The product range also includes the following items: a first aid for workers` safety, a drop test to distinguish different stainless steel grades, a pickle pump, and different brushes.
