Is Black Oxide MIL-C-13924 class 4 the same as Black Passivate?

A. As one who has been doing black oxide on stainless per MIL-C-13924, Class 4, for many years, we would consider BLACK PASSIVATE and BLACK OXIDE on STAINLESS to be the same thing. Black Passivate seems to be an old term that isn't used much any more - it's probably in the same old terminology as "immunize" for passivate or "lubrite" for manganese phosphate. The guy calling out "black passivate" probably wants his stainless steel activated by immersing in an "oil of vitriol" bath!

A. To my knowledge passivation of stainless steel refers to removing free iron from the surface using acid (low pH) to inhibit iron oxide formation, whereas block oxide induces iron oxide formation on the surface by means of a caustic (high pH). It seems to me that black passivate would be the opposite of black oxide, chemically speaking.

Thanks, Jay. All three responders offered very good answers, but I think I'd go with Milt as being closest. Terms like "passivate" don't always refer to processes for removing ferrous traces from stainless steel, but are thrown around informally as slang or shorthand -- so I don't think we can limit their meaning easily and put a fine point on them.

By way of example, zinc platers often call their chromate conversion post-dip "passivation", whereas powder coaters sometimes call phosphatization pretreatments "passivation"; and sure enough, the phosphatizer (whose whole process may be called 'passivation' by a powder coater) may call his final chemical rinse "passivation". So I accept Milt's premise that "black oxide" may be called "black passivation" by some people sometimes :-)

We thus see that the big advantage to quoting specs like "MIL-C-13924 Class 4" is that it still allows you to use a quick shorthand without it deteriorating to meaninglessness like the phrase "black passivation" apparently has :-)

Regards,

A. Hi Dan. We appended your inquiry to a thread wherein the possibility is raised that it means "MIL-C-13924 Class 4" ... whereas letter 55810 seems to raise the possibility that your customer's customer might be seeking AMS2700 Class 4. Dangerous guesses.

Regards,

Dan and Ted,
Just to clarify, "Class 4" in AMS 2700 refers to a specific sampling plan for post-passivation testing, that is, how many parts per lot processed you are required to test. This is different from a "Type 4" which refers to a specific set of concentration/time/temperature parameters for the nitric acid passivation bath.

I am often somewhat dismayed at the number of people that are apparently unwilling or unable to ask the customer what process or what standard they are requesting. In this case it is Dan's immediate customer being not willing to ask the ultimate customer about what standard they are taking "Class 4" from. For all we know, it could be a internally developed standard rather than something from one of the usual standards organizations. It's not the responsibility of a job shop to make guesses about what a customer wants, it is the responsibility of the customer to make clear requests.