Does the stainless steel exterior of an upright refrigerator have an anti-fingerprint and anti-scratch coating?
Publish Time: 2025-08-26
Upright refrigerators feature stainless steel exteriors, which are popular not only for their excellent corrosion resistance, high strength, and modern appearance, but also for their exceptional durability and easy cleaning in high-use commercial environments. However, ordinary stainless steel surfaces are easily marked by fingerprints, oil stains, and scratches from frequent daily contact, which detracts from the overall appearance and increases maintenance difficulties. Therefore, high-end upright refrigerators often use anti-fingerprint and anti-scratch coatings on their stainless steel exteriors. Through advanced surface treatment processes, these coatings significantly improve the ease of cleaning and durability of the exterior in actual use.The key to anti-fingerprint coatings lies in their oleophobic and hydrophobic properties. These coatings typically utilize nano-sized silicone or fluorocarbon materials, applied uniformly to the stainless steel surface by spraying or electrophoresis, forming an extremely thin yet dense protective film. This film has a low surface energy, effectively repelling liquids such as water and oil, and making it difficult for contaminants such as fingerprints, handprints, and kitchen fumes to adhere. Even if traces remain after contact, they can be removed with a gentle wipe of a dry cloth, eliminating the need for detergents or repeated scrubbing, significantly reducing ongoing maintenance costs. This characteristic is particularly important in environments with stringent hygiene requirements, such as hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories, and high-end restaurants. It not only maintains a clean appearance but also reduces the risk of bacterial growth, complying with HACCP, GMP, and other hygiene management standards.Anti-scratch coatings focus on improving the mechanical durability of stainless steel surfaces. In commercial environments, refrigerators are often located in narrow aisles and high-traffic areas, making them susceptible to collisions and scrapes from carts, tools, and other moving items. Despite its high hardness, ordinary stainless steel can still be scratched by sharp objects, affecting its appearance and even damaging the surface passivation layer, leading to localized rust. Anti-scratch coatings significantly enhance surface hardness and toughness by introducing ceramic particles or cross-linked polymer structures. The treated stainless steel surface has an increased Mohs hardness, allowing it to withstand the minor friction and impacts of daily use, maintaining its pristine appearance for a long time. Some high-end products even use multi-layer composite coating technology to integrate anti-fingerprint and anti-scratch properties, achieving dual protection without compromising gloss.The choice of coating process directly impacts the final result. Electrophoretic coating is a common and highly effective treatment method. It uses stainless steel components as electrodes, placed in a coating solution. The electric field causes the coating particles to evenly deposit on the surface, forming a coating of uniform thickness and strong adhesion. Electrophoretic coatings are not only dense and uniform, but also fully cover complex areas such as edges, corners, and welds, ensuring comprehensive protection. Furthermore, some products utilize advanced processes such as vacuum sputtering or plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) to further enhance the coating's wear and weather resistance.Notably, high-quality anti-fingerprint and scratch-resistant coatings enhance functionality without sacrificing the inherent texture and gloss of stainless steel. The treated surface retains the metal's characteristic cool luster and is available in a variety of textures, including matte, brushed, and mirrored, to meet the aesthetic needs of various spaces. The coating itself also exhibits excellent heat and chemical resistance, can withstand repeated wiping with common cleaning agents and disinfectants, and will not peel or discolor with long-term use.In practice, upright refrigerators equipped with this coating not only enhance the user experience but also extend the life of the appliance. Whether in a busy central kitchen, a convenience store cold drink area, a hospital pharmacy, or a laboratory, the equipment maintains a clean appearance despite intensive use, reducing the need for replacement due to surface damage and lowering overall lifecycle costs.In summary, the application of anti-fingerprint and scratch-resistant coating technology enhances the practicality and aesthetics of stainless steel upright refrigerators while maintaining the advantages of the material. This surface treatment not only reflects technological advancements but also directly responds to the demand for high reliability and easy maintenance in commercial equipment, setting a higher quality standard for modern professional refrigeration equipment.
