Coloring of stainless steel is not a new concept. Any color can be obtained but only the surface color is changed – the base metal is inherently silver. Coatings and surface chemical treatments are the most common coloring methods. These methods can achieve grey and black colors but there are also other options, which will be addressed separately. The underlying finish affects both electrochemical and Physically Vapor Deposited (PVD) color, so both finishing steps must be carefully specified.
Alloy specification should be conservative. Superficial corrosion staining, which can often be removed from uncolored mechanical finishes without causing permanent damage, destroys PVD and electrochemical color and requires panel replacement. If the location has salt (coastal or deicing) or higher pollution exposure, the minimum specification should be Type 316/316L or alloys with equivalent or higher corrosion resistance. One illustration of this is a colored residential roof application described in the article Stainless Steel for Severe Coastal Environments.
Abrasion also removes surface color, so it is important to determine if wind-blown abrasives will be present (e.g. sand storms) and whether accidental or deliberate scratching is likely, before selecting a colored finish. An appropriate cleaning regime should be obtained from the finish supplier.
Some types of fabrication must be done before coloring. For example, welding melts the stainless steel and destroys color. Fabrication plans should be discussed with the finish supplier during design.
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Electrochemical Color
Any color is achievable. The color is translucent, so the substrate finish affects color, and appearance will vary with the lighting and angle at which the installation is observed. There are spectacular early projects where the original appearance of colored stainless steel has remained unchanged for decades – like Tokyo’s Reiyukai Shakaden Temple (completed ).
It is possible to achieve coloring by applying chemicals until the desired color change is achieved without an electrochemical bath, in an older and less expensive process. Electrochemical coloring was developed to create a more stable, durable and abrasion-resistant finish and should be preferred for longer-term projects over simply applying chemicals.
Opaque and Translucent Paints & Enameling
Paint and enamel are the oldest coloring methods for stainless steel, with the first large curtain wall installations appearing in the early ’s. Standard coating systems developed for metal are used on stainless steel.
To avoid delamination, stainless steel’s protective passive film must be removed immediately before applying the coating. This is done with chemicals, abrasives or by using an etchant primer. Unlike other metals, stainless steel lasts 100 years or more. The alloy itself should therefore be corrosion resistant enough for the environment should the owner choose to revert to bare metal after the coating system fails. In a location with salt or higher pollution levels, Type 316 or a similar stainless steel should be used.
Stainless steel coated with color will have an attractive surface, high aesthetic value and become a high-end material for interior, equipment and architectural applications. Does colored stainless steel still retain the properties and strength of regular stainless steel?
Stainless steel usually has a shiny, silver surface but to diversify the material's application, the mill can coat it with many different colors such as yellow, black, blue,... The color not only increases aesthetics but also hides fingerprints and smudges.
Colored stainless steel still retains the strengths of regular stainless steel such as high durability, good resistance to corrosion and rust and easy to clean. However, without appropriate preservation methods, the color layer can still peel off if exposed to sunlight and detergents for a long time.
Colored stainless steel is coated with a large amount of paint on the surface by physical vapor deposition (PVD) and light interference coloring (LIC). Commonly used stainless steel colors include black, yellow, blue, bronze, green, brown and dark gray.
Black stainless steel
This type of stainless steel has a matte black coating on the surface to provide the desired aesthetic effect. Most of these materials are commonly used in interior decoration, wall panels, household appliances,...
Golden stainless steel
Sparkling yellow color helps increase the luxury and shine of stainless steel surfaces, suitable for exterior and interior buildings. The fields of art, sculpture, handicrafts,... also combine yellow stainless steel with other materials to create works of art that are highly durable, resistant to corrosion and scratches.
Blue stainless steel
Blue represents the sky or the vast ocean, bringing a mysterious, fresh beauty to the interior of the building. Many customers choose green stainless steel for walls, ceilings and decorations to create a unique, classy living space.
Red copper stainless steel
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The red copper alloy layer plated onto the stainless steel surface provides a perfect aesthetic effect without losing the outstanding properties of traditional stainless steel. They are also commonly used for hardware, doors and cladding.
Green stainless steel
Green is close to nature and the environment, making the space bright and airy. Green stainless steel brings a new and outstanding beauty to architectural works. Customers can choose green colors of different shades and intensities based on the RAL standard table. Additionally, the luster of green stainless steel can be adjusted through different coating techniques and materials during the manufacturing process.
Enhanced aesthetics
One of the biggest benefits of using colored stainless steel is that it can improve the efficiency of applications and designs. Stainless steel has a variety of colors, high durability and good corrosion resistance, suitable for all architectural styles.
Improved durability
Colored stainless steel has superior durability than regular stainless steel and adds good resistance to fingerprints and scratches. This means that the material will withstand wear and tear better over time and can be used in elevators and ladders.
Guaranteed safety
Another benefit of colored stainless steel is that it improves safety because of its anti-corrosion and rust-resistant properties, making the material durable over time and difficult to degrade or damage.
Increased value
Colored stainless steel has a higher cost than conventional materials, so it is mainly popular in high-end products. If you use colored stainless steel for furniture, it will also be easier to attract people's attention.
Based on a number of criteria, colored stainless steel has many outstanding advantages compared to stainless steel such as resistance to fingerprints, stains, scratches,... The coloring process does not affect the characteristics of stainless steel. Metal's inherent properties mean you don't need to worry about their quality and strength.
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