The differences of stainless steel color plates

2025-06-17

Colored stainless steel plates are products that use surface treatment technology (such as PVD coating, electroplating, chemical coloring, etc.) to form a colored coating on the surface of ordinary stainless steel plates. This not only retains the corrosion resistance of stainless steel, but also increases the decorative effect. The following is a detailed comparison of different types of colored stainless steel plates:

I. Classification by color and process

Type	Process principle	Characteristics	Applicable scenarios
PVD coated sheet	Physical vapor deposition (vacuum ion plating)	- Diverse colors (Champagne gold, rose gold, black titanium, etc.) -It has strong wear resistance and a long service life -Environmentally friendly and pollution-free	High-end building curtain walls, elevator decoration, furniture
Electroplated coloring plate	The electrolytic reaction forms an oxide film	- Common colors include titanium gold and bronze - Low cost -It has average wear resistance and is prone to scratches	Interior decoration, signs, lamps
Chemical coloring plate	The acid bath oxidation reaction generates a colored oxide film	-Uniform color (blue, green, purple, etc.) -The film layer is relatively thin and requires a protective coating - Moderate weather resistance	Art installations, small decorations
Sprayed color plate	The surface is sprayed with fluorocarbon paint/polyester paint	- Color customization (can imitate wood grain and stone grain) -Low cost -It is prone to fading and has poor durability (5-8 years outdoors)	Temporary buildings, low-cost interior decoration

2.Classification by base material type of stainless steel

Base material type	Characteristics	Suitable color processing	Representative use
304 color plate	It has strong corrosion resistance and a moderate price	PVD coating, electroplating	Exterior walls of buildings and decoration in coastal areas
201 Color Plate	Low cost, but weak corrosion resistance (prone to rust)	Spraying, chemical coloring (sealing treatment required)	Indoor furniture and decoration for non-humid environments
316 Color plate	High resistance to salt spray corrosion, but high price	PVD coating (High-end scenarios)	Decoration of seaside buildings and chemical equipment

3. Key performance comparison

-Durability
PVD coating > electroplating ≈ chemical coloring > spraying
The hardness of the PVD film layer can reach over HV800 (equivalent to 8H pencil hardness), and its outdoor service life is 15 to 20 years.
-Color stability
PVD and electroplated colors are not prone to fading (with strong resistance to ultraviolet rays), while spray-painted color plates tend to turn yellow outdoors.
- Price range (Taking 304 base material as an example, unit: yuan /㎡)
PVD coated sheet: 300-800
Electroplated titanium gold plate: 200-400
Sprayed color plate: 80-200

4.Selection Suggestions

- High-end outdoor projects (such as curtain walls, sculptures)
The preferred material is 304/316 substrate + PVD coating, which combines weather resistance and decorative properties.
-Low-cost interior decoration
Choose 201 base material + electroplating or spraying, and be careful to avoid damp environments.
-Special color requirements
Chemical coloring boards are optional for art design, but a protective layer (such as transparent nano-coating) needs to be added.

5. Precautions

Surface maintenance: Do not clean the color plate with steel wool balls. It is recommended to wipe it with neutral detergent and a soft cloth.
Processing requirements: PVD boards may experience edge color fading when bent. They need to be processed first and then coated.
Certification standard: For export to Europe and America, it must comply with RoHS environmental protection certification (especially for electroplating processes).