With the continuous development of modern industrial technology, stainless steel composite plate, as a material with strength, corrosion resistance and economy, is widely used in chemical industry, shipbuilding, construction, food machinery and other fields. Sheet metal processing, as an important means of metal material forming, is also particularly important in the application of stainless steel composite plate. This article will briefly introduce the basic characteristics of stainless steel composite plate and discuss the main process and precautions in sheet metal processing.



One, The structure and characteristics of stainless steel composite panels

　　Stainless steel composite panels are usually composed of a base layer and an overlay. The base layer is mostly carbon steel or low-alloy steel, used to provide sufficient strength and rigidity; the overlay is stainless steel or other corrosion-resistant materials, used to contact the medium or environment and play a corrosion prevention role. This dual-metal structure makes stainless steel composite panels have excellent surface properties of stainless steel and the high cost-performance of carbon steel.



Two, The main process of sheet metal processing of stainless steel composite panels



1. Blanking

　　Blanking is the first step in sheet metal processing, commonly including shearing with a shear machine, laser cutting, plasma cutting, or water cutting. Due to the higher hardness of the stainless steel overlay, it is recommended to prioritize laser cutting to ensure flat incisions and avoid damage to the composite layer.



2. Stamping forming

　　When stamping stainless steel composite panels, the stamping speed and mold clearance should be controlled to avoid delamination or cracking due to inconsistent deformation between the composite layer and the base layer. The mold surface should be smooth to reduce scratching of the stainless steel layer.



3. Bending processing



Bending is a common process in sheet metal processing. When performing bending operations, attention should be paid to the selection of the bending radius, which should usually not be less than twice the thickness of the material to avoid causing cracks in the composite layer. At the same time, the bending direction should be as far as possible away from the interface between the composite layer and the base layer.



4. Welding



Welding is a key technology in the processing of stainless steel composite panels. When welding, it is necessary to select welding materials that match the overlay material, and prefer argon arc welding (TIG) or gas shielded welding (MIG) to ensure welding quality and reduce the heat affected area. During the welding process, attention should be paid to controlling the heat input to avoid delamination between the base and overlay layers.



5. Surface treatment



After processing, the surface of the stainless steel should be polished or passivated to improve its corrosion resistance and aesthetics. It should be noted that strong acid substances should be avoided as much as possible during the processing to prevent corrosion of the base material.

　　Three, Matters to be noted during the processing process



- Material selection: Appropriate stainless steel overlay materials (such as 304, 316, etc.) should be selected according to the use environment and working conditions.



- Process parameter control: Different processing parameters need to be adopted for composite panels of different thicknesses and structures, and preliminary trial processing is required.



- Tool and mold selection: High-hardness and wear-resistant tools and molds should be selected to prevent damage to the stainless steel layer.



- Anti-pollution measures: During the processing process, it should be avoided that carbon steel tools come into contact with the surface of stainless steel to prevent iron ion contamination and corrosion.



Four, Conclusion



The sheet metal processing of stainless steel composite panels is a highly technical and demanding task. In actual operation, it is not only necessary to master its physical and mechanical properties, but also to comprehensively consider the processing technology, equipment selection, and operation specifications to ensure that the processed parts are both aesthetically pleasing and durable. With the continuous advancement of manufacturing technology, the application of stainless steel composite panels in the sheet metal field will become more extensive, and their processing technology will also be continuously optimized and improved.