​Degreasing Methods for Common 310S Stainless Steel Tubes

Degreasing Methods for Common 310S Stainless Steel Tubes

If the inner surface of a 310S stainless steel tube has rust and sludge, initial cleaning can be performed using a circular wire brush and cloth strips secured to a thick iron wire or a thin steel cable. This assembly is fed through the tube and pulled back and forth for brushing (for large-diameter stainless steel tube fittings, a winch can also be used to drag the brush through). Subsequently, steam or water should be flushed through the tube for rinsing. The interior is then dried using compressed air or an exhaust fan before proceeding with degreasing.

For the degreasing process, first plug one end of the stainless steel tube. Fill the tube with a volume of degreasing solvent equivalent to 15-20% of its capacity (for tubes with bends, the amount of solvent should be appropriately increased). Then, plug the other end. Place the tube horizontally on a clean, flat surface or on a workbench with sleepers, allowing it to soak for 1 to 1.5 hours. Rotate the stainless steel tube fitting every 15 minutes to ensure all sections are sequentially immersed (alternatively, the tube can be immersed in a sealed, elongated trough filled with degreasing solvent). After soaking, pour out the solvent from the tube. Dry the interior using an exhaust fan, oil-free compressed air, nitrogen, or allow for natural ventilation for 24 hours—the key is to achieve complete dryness.

Following the degreasing treatment, each stainless steel tube must be inspected for qualification. The inspection method involves taking a clean, degreased gauze, forming it into a plug, attaching it to an iron wire, and pulling it through the tube. Examine the gauze to check for any remaining grease.

Stainless steel tubes that have undergone degreasing must have both ends sealed with degreased cloth or plastic film to prevent re-contamination of the inner surface. For installed piping that requires degreasing, it should be disassembled into sections without dead ends before the degreasing procedure is carried out. Stainless steel tube fittings that cannot be disassembled after installation must be degreased prior to installation, ensuring they remain uncontaminated both during and after the installation process.