Stainless Steel Finish Samples

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Stainless Steel (SUS)

Stainless steel has been used in architecture since the early 1900s and its range of applications continues to grow.
A steel alloy, its key characteristic is the minimum 10.5% chromium (Cr) content present in the material. The chromium makes it more resistant to corrosion as it forms a coat of passivation (or oxide film) on the surface. The coat prevents corrosion or prevalent corrosion from spreading which helps maintain the original aesthetics of the material.
The high durability, workability and weatherability of this particular brand of steel makes this metal one of the most functional materials available. Its usage varies from sub-frames for exterior products to facades that rely on the beauty of the material.
In Japan, the most commonly sought type of stainless steel is the austenitic SUS304. The 18% chromium with 8% nickel content composes a metal with higher durability. It is also preferred for its workability in welding or metalworking.
In harsher environments, such as coastal areas, SUS316, ferritic stainless steel or duplex stainless steel may be chosen for its higher corrosion resistance.

*Please note that the photos of the samples are guidelines. Please confirm the finish with an actual sample prior to making your final selection.
Click here to check the contents of KIKUKAWA's Stainless Steel Finish Sample Book

Silky Blast

Silky Blast is a finish that utilizes KIKUKAWA’s shot-blasting technology. This is a finish that maintains the metallic physique of stainless steel while adding a silk-like matte texture.

This finish is suitable for both interior and exterior products, as well as panels, ornaments and perimeters.

The larger the sample reference number is, the coarser the finish. The gloss and the abrasion level could be adjusted as required for the project.

KIKUKAWA is able to recreate the passivation coating that was interrupted by any metalworking or the finishing process. Please consult us for further information.

*Please note that for B-series, the maximum available material thickness is 2mm, and the maximum available material width is 1219mm.

-Please refer to the following link-

Silky Blast Custom

This is an excerpt from the Silky Blast finish lineup.
M-R10 is a finish that has a higher sheen than B-R10. This subtle differentiation is achieved by altering the base material.
B-AR10 is a finish that utilized Silky Blast finish with alumina blasting. The resulting physique is matte with the metallic sheen subdued.
2-Z+R10 is a finish that was developed for the MIHO art school. By suppressing the gloss level to that less than B-R10, the consistency of the finish is maintained despite the quality of the surface material that tends to drop with wide-sized panels and extra long panels.
*Please note that for B-series, the maximum available material thickness is 2mm, and the maximum available material width is 1219mm.

-Please refer to the following link-

Project Gallery: MIHO Art School

Hairline (HL)

This is one of the classics for stainless steel: hairline finish has long, continuous and uni-directional grind marks parallel to the longitude of the panel.

By using specialized grinding technique, the grain size can be adjusted, as exemplified by defined hairline (D-HL) and scratch hairline (scratch HL). As a guideline, the quality of the finish is equivalent to that applied by the material provider.

This finish is suitable for both interior and exterior products, as well as panels, ornaments and perimeters.

-Please refer to the following link-

Project Gallery: Hairline Finish

Cross Hairline (C-HL)

Cross hairline (Cross HL) has matrix-like grind marks at a 45degrees angle.

This finish is suitable for both interior and exterior products, as well as panels, ornaments and perimeters.

The grain size and direction can be adjusted as per the project requirements.

Mirror Polished Finish #800 (MF)

Mirror polished materials are so finely grinded that there are no buff marks on the surface of the material, actualizing a mirror-like brightness.

This finish is suitable for both interior and exterior products, as well as panels, ornaments and perimeters for a luxurious ambiance.

The quality, smoothness of the finish and the flatness of the material, can be adjusted as per the project requirements. Please note that the material thickness and the systematic details would affect the quality of the surface finish available. Therefore please confirm the specifications prior to making your final selection.

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Vibration

Vibration is a non-directional hairline finish. It is the second most common finish for stainless steel.

By using specialized grinding technique, the grain size can be adjusted.

This finish is suitable for both interior and exterior products, as well as panels and handrails.

By adjusting the base material from 2B, BA or one that has been mirror polished, the sheen of the finish can be adjusted as per the project requirements.

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Pearl Vibration (P-VIB)

Pearl vibration is a myriad of circular grind marks applied by specialized polishing equipment. The relatively high brightness of the material along with the diffused reflection emulate a complex yet luxurious ambiance.

KIKUKAWA is able to recreate the passivation coating that was interrupted by any metalworking or finishing process. Please consult us for further information.

KS-Coating + Silica Coating (SPT)

KS-Coating is a finish achieved by sputtering, also known as PVD (physical vapor deposition), which creates a thin ceramic layer on the material.
By adding a layer of silica coating, the material becomes more resistant to corrosion and stains.

This finish is available in variety of colours and is highly regarded for enhancing the beauty of the material. Colour availability includes black, gold and bronze as well as subtle hues such as Champagne Gold.

A greater variety of finishes are available by combining this colouring technology and other finishes. Listed here is an example of Champagne Gold KS-Coating with defined vibration (D-PHL) finish.

Please consult us on the pairing options or for more information.

KC-Colour + Silica Coating (SAN)

KC-Colour, or simply Coloured Stainless Steel (Inco colouring), is achieved by chemically applying and controlling the thickness of an additional layer of chrome oxide. The layer can vary from 100~300µm; the thicker the layer the darker the colour.

This coating has high weatherability and is corrosion resistant, but tends to be more vulnerable to abrasions.

The finish enhances the beauty of the material while also adding a hue that is absent in the regular material. It is suitable for both interior and exterior products, as well as doors.

Please note that silica coating is necessary for antique colours. It should also be noted that these colours exude its natural physique by subtle inconsistencies in its finish. Thus please confirm the finish with a sample prior to making your final selection.

A variety of colours are available thus please consult us for further information.

-Please refer to the following link-

Project Gallery: Coloured Stainless Steel

Minamo panel®

The naturally uneven surface achieves the visualization of a natural water ripple effect, reflecting the surrounding scenery in a subtle way and bringing spaces a dazzling, vivid and luxurious ambience.
The fabrication technique used to manufacture the product is the embossing finish developed uniquely by Kikukawa. This technique enables the formation of unevenness on both sides (respectively) of the surface of the mirror finished stainless steel.

※Images taken outdoors with panels reflecting the sky
※Minamo panel is a registered trademark and a registered design of Kikukawa.

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Material Property

SUS Type	Chemical Composition	Classification	Characteristics
304	Cr 18% Ni 8%	Austenitic	Most commonly used metal architectural material in Japan.
316	Cr 18% Ni 8% Mo 2.5%	Austenitic	304 with molybdenum. Has good corrosion resistance.
445	Cr 22% Mo 1.2% (Includes Nb, Ti, Al)	Ferritic	Has lower thermal expansion than 304 and 316. Commonly used for roofing and external cladding.
329 J4L	Cr 25% Ni 4.5% Mo 2%	Duplex	Contains a mixed microstructure of autenite and ferrite. Has better strength than austenitic stainless steels and better resistance to localised corrosion; particularly pitting, crevice corrosion and stress corrosion cracking.