This afternoon I was in Global browsing steels for my next nightmare project.

 

I do like to get the best advice of course from the staff, so with a large price tag on the floor clearly stating the price/size/IP I asked 4 bods individually.

These were the replies:

 

"Excuse me what does IP mean?"

…..sorry, one moment

…….it means tainler

…..Tainlert Teel krap pom

…..Teel

…arai na?....pochee?

…..internet provided from China

…oh; tainler much better

 

Now I have to admit I didn’t know what those initials stood for until I googled it but I certainly had serious doubts that it was stainless steel based on the price.

 A standard 2x1 steel and a standard 3x1.5 steel is only 40baht more expensive per length for IP (than dirty greasy oily ferrous)

 

So it means Ion Plated, a chemical cleaning process that protects the steel but not to the extent of real stainless steel. Which is I understand an amalgam of  chromium/nickel etc.

 

It looks like there is no need for primer, indeed a neighbour has used them for his roof and they are exposed, still as shiny 18 months later

 

Anyone else had a misconception that this beautiful shiny jobbing steel was Stainless or even misled into buying it by one of the numpties I spoke to?.

Ion plating (physical vapour deposition (PVD) is some form of coating that happens at the molecular level. I think one of the crucial factors is what material is "bombarded" onto what surface: e.g. aluminium oxide, titanium nitride.

 

Apparently the added layers will be very thin, but can be quite durable depending on the surface and base material. You can have stainless steel ion plaited.

 

But the problem, I'd imagine, is working with the material. With every cut, hole, grinding, you damage the surface removing the protective coating.

 

 

https://www.corrosionpedia.com/definition/685/ion-plating