Passivation can improve the surface finish of stainless steel by removing surface contaminants and creating a smooth, clean surface.
It is recommended to passivate stainless steel after welding to remove surface contaminants and restore the corrosion resistance of the metal.
Passivation is not the same as plating. Plating involves depositing a layer of one metal onto the surface of another metal, while passivation involves creating a protective oxide layer on the surface of a metal.
If the bath for passivation is too hot, it can cause damage to the metal surface and may affect the effectiveness of the passivation process.
Passivation does not generally affect the ability to perform heat treatment on metal.