Stainless Steel as reflector in electonics.
Stainless Steel as reflector in electonics.
(OP)
I'm designing a cover (100 mm dia, 25 mm tall) that will fit over some heated fiber optics that we want to keep at 65 C (-5 C ambient). I'm thinking of making it out of stainless steel (303?) because it has a low enough thermal conductivity and its emissivity is low enough. The electonics equipment is not in any chemically harsh environment, just telecommunications, where there may be some humidity.
Do I need to passivate the surface to keep it from dulling over time?
Thanks for any help.
Do I need to passivate the surface to keep it from dulling over time?
Thanks for any help.





RE: Stainless Steel as reflector in electonics.
If the project will afford it, ideally I would use 316 SS polished and if possible passivated with HNO3. If just polished with a polish such as Semichrome it will last quite a long time and the surface can easily be renewed
The starting material should have a good finish.
You can get the polish locally or at the website below. It is also very good on aluminum
www.winterbrookefarm.com
If this is large project come back with size and quantities as there are some other avenues of approach to your problem
RE: Stainless Steel as reflector in electonics.
RE: Stainless Steel as reflector in electonics.
Thanks for you feedback and advice! I think I'll have the parts passivated or electropolished.