Stainless steel can be ordered from Austral Wright Metals with one of three different plastic films applied for temporary surface protection. There are significant differences in the purpose and performance of the plastic films.
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The stainless steel protective films are intended to protect the surface of the stainless steel from scratches and scuffing during storage, handling and working prior to and during installation. They should be removed once in service.
The appropriate protective film for most applications is polyethylene (PE), with a rubber adhesive layer. This film is applied by default as to the protected surface when the quality of the film to be used is not specified.
The sheet plastic material is nominally 80 micrometres thick. It is white and may have two blue stripes printed at intervals across the width. The stripes have no significance.
The adhesive may be clear or black. Clear adhesive looks white on the film.
To prevent adhesive transfer, film with clear adhesive should not be exposed to the sun for more than a few hours to avoid breakdown of the adhesive, which will leave a residue on the surface of the stainless when the film is stripped off. Film with a black adhesive should be stable in the sun for a few months as they absorb heat.
The protected surface may be plasma or laser cut with the film in place, as it does not produce toxic or corrosive products when burnt. When laser cutting, for best results cut from the side which does not have the plastic applied, or use oxygen to assist and cut from the protected side.
This film is appropriate for deep drawing application, particularly multi-stage deep drawing. It is a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film, with a rubber adhesive layer.
The film is nominally 70 micrometres thick, and is light blue in colour.
The film should be used at a temperature between 15°C and 40°C.
The film should not be exposed to the sun for more than a few hours to avoid breakdown of the adhesive, which can cause adhesive transfer, which may interfere with deep drawing or leave a residue on the surface of the stainless when the film is stripped off.
The steel should not be plasma or laser cut with the film in place, as the film will produce fumes containing hydrochloric acid which are toxic and corrosive.
The film should be removed from the steel after pressing, at a temperature between 15°C and 40°C.
This stainless steel protection film is appropriate for heavy roll forming and other applications requiring heavy surface protection. It is a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film, with an acrylic adhesive layer, and a very high level of adhesion.
The film is nominally 120 micrometres thick, and black in colour.
The film should be used at a temperature between 15°C and 40°C.
The film is weather resistant, and can be exposed to the sun for several months while offering reliable protection.
The steel should not be plasma or laser cut with the film in place, as the film will produce fumes containing hydrochloric acid which are toxic and corrosive.
Austral Wright Metals are able to supply sheet coated with a polyethylene film specially formulated to work well in the demanding process of laser cutting. Special films are required for both CO2 and fibre optic laser cutting technologies. Appropriate laser absorption and resistance to cutting gas pressures have always been the main prerequisites needed for these films. Contact Austral Wright Metals for what is needed for your specific application.
Other suppliers may use white PVC films for general surface protection. This is less likely than hitherto as PVC films are significantly more expensive than PE films.
On occasions, the stainless steel protection film is left in place for too long. It may become very hard to strip, and may also leave a gummy or friable residue of degraded adhesive on the steel surface require extensive cleaning time on the protected surface side.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Laser Protection Film. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
The residue is unsightly, makes achieving smooth surfaces difficult, and may also impair corrosion resistance by retaining atmospheric corrodents which settle on the steel surface.
Even if the stainless steel protection film is stripped promptly, there may be small amounts of this residue left, although they may not be visible. It is prudent to clean the surface after stripping the film.
The adhesive residue can be cleaned from the surface of the steel with a solvent such as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), eucalyptus oil or a similar solvent.
The surface should be swabbed with the solvent on a clean, soft, grit free cloth, left to soak in, then the solvent wiped off (and use elbow grease). The intent is to dissolve the adhesive into the solvent, then wipe off the solution. Hence the solvent chosen should not evaporate too rapidly. Consideration should also be given to the flashpoint and toxicity of the solvent.
Care should be taken to avoid marking the stainless – check a small area after the solvent has dried, as fine scratches may not be visible while the surface is wet.
Highly adherent films which have baked onto the steel may require an extended soaking period with the solvent, preferably after pulling away strips of film to allow access of the solvent to the adhesive.
The solvent may leave tide marks, which can usually be removed with an alkaline detergent and hot water, well rinsed. Allow the steel surface to dry naturally, blot dry with a clean rag, or blow dry with clean air.
The steel industry has been one of the hardest hit since the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to higher-than-ever demand and never-ending price increases. With this demand continuing to soar, protecting metal workpieces is vital for minimizing costs and limiting damages during manufacturing and delivery.
It’s here that protective film can be an effective tool to manage the supply of steel by reducing material waste and helping companies avoid costly damages that affect their throughput.
Products that arrive to end users with scratches or dents will likely lead to significant return and repair costs on behalf of a company. Even worse, damage produces material waste, which is harmful to the environment. On a surface level, the last thing a customer wants is a shipment to arrive with dents or scratches. Pregis PolyMask temporary protective film ensures items remain damage-free throughout the manufacturing, shipment, and delivery process.
Service centers that deal with the fabrication, handling, and shipping of metals can get enormous benefit from protective film. When service centers produce the metal sheets, they need those sheets to arrive at their customers plants unscathed.
Another industry that is well suited for protective film is transportation. Because the interior and exterior of cars, planes, trains, buses, and RVs are typically constructed with steel and other metals, protection throughout this process is all the more important to combat rust and corrosion. Then there are products like mirrors and stainless steel appliances, which also benefit from protective film.
In the manufacturing process, laser cutting without protective film creates a high risk for burn marks or frayed edges. Think about companies that manufacture refrigerators or design cabinets and countertops — protective film can help protect against damage during the cutting and shaping processes.
Protective film allows producers to skip a step and perform laser cutting right away, saving time and money and creating a more stable supply chain. Plus, ensuring the accuracy of metal cutting means large bulk orders will arrive to customers on time with no need for repairs.
The more refined the process, the less likely there is to be damage when the product reaches an end user, meaning companies can keep their customers happy.
As much as possible, manufacturers want to limit damage — and returns — when those materials reach fabricators or manufacturers using those materials to build new products. The alternative is frustration and delay for the customer and costly replacement and reshipment for the company.
Protective films are designed for protection from the beginning — as a defense mechanism during the cutting process, when a product is sent to manufacturing for product application, and finally when the product is delivered.
They also work to preserve the performance and appearance of plastic surfaces during production, assembling, and finishing processes. A bonus is they’re solvent-based, which means they’re designed to protect metal, plastic, glass, and carpet surfaces. As more appliance manufacturers produce fingerprint-resistant finishes and many industries sell products with specialty coatings, protective film can be used specifically as a safeguard for these items.
Coated and uncoated metals with customizable color options are also protected, as are painted metals that use topcoat paint systems. Carpet surfaces that might be found in a living room or staircase, in addition to windows and coated glass, work well with protective film application too. It’s important to note that metals and carpet surfaces are vulnerable during the assembly, shipping, and application process, so applying protective film is a way to ensure that these products remain unscathed.
Preventing scratches and dents shouldn’t be a constant stressor. Protective film adds another layer of defense during every step of the manufacturing and delivery process, keeping customers happy and companies efficient.