In many public spaces, I've seen stainless steel becoming more and more popular for walls, ceilings, furniture, elevator cladding, handrails, and more. Naturally, passersby often leave their fingerprints behind. The AFP (Anti-Fingerprint) surface on stainless steel helps to minimize these unsightly marks. It effortlessly wipes away fingerprints, dirt, and even graffiti, with no hassle and no residue left behind.

Nowadays, the anti-fingerprint treatment for decorative stainless steel panels has become the preferred choice for many. It not only extends the lifespan of colored stainless steel sheets but also prevents fingerprints from affecting the aesthetic appeal of stainless steel decorations.

1. What is Anti-Fingerprint Coating?

The anti-fingerprint stainless steel panel refers to a surface coating of a transparent, colorless to light yellow liquid protective layer applied to the stainless steel surface. This transparent nano-metal roll-coating liquid, after drying, forms a firm bond with the various textures of the stainless steel surface, creating a transparent, hard, solid protective film that effectively prevents fingerprints, stains, and other marks from lingering, maintaining the cleanliness and shine of the stainless steel surface.

2.Types of Types of anti-fingerprint

When it comes to anti-fingerprint treatments, it's important to mention the different types. Based on the level of gloss, there are three main categories: glossy anti-fingerprint, semi-matte, and matte anti-fingerprint.

“Glossy anti-fingerprint” surfaces are smooth and have a high level of reflectivity.

“Semi-matte anti-fingerprint “falls between glossy and matte, offering a subtle shine that isn't too glaring.

“Matte anti-fingerprint” surfaces are more understated, giving a simple yet elegant feel.

 No matter your style preference, you can find a suitable option within the anti-fingerprint treatment range.

3.Why does stainless steel need Anti-Fingerprint Coating？

The main benefit of the anti-fingerprint treatment is that it effectively protects the surface from contaminants, making it less prone to corrosion from acids, alkalis, and oxidizing agents. Stainless steel panels are processed with advanced anti-fingerprint technology, which not only enhances their visual appeal but also makes them more durable. This treatment helps prevent fingerprints from marking the surface, keeping it free from oils, sweat, dust, and other residues that can dull its shine. Another key advantage is the protection it provides during post-processing. After laser cutting, bending, and grooving, the panels often develop "scars," and without the anti-fingerprint treatment, these areas are more vulnerable to corrosion.

As an experienced stainless steel manufacturer, I’d like to clarify something important: the anti-fingerprint treatment on stainless steel doesn't mean that no fingerprints will be left when pressed. Instead, it means that any fingerprints left can easily be wiped away with just water. On the other hand, untreated stainless steel surfaces will have fingerprints that cannot be cleaned off with water alone. The anti-fingerprint effect is achieved by coating the surface with a hydrophobic material layer, which makes it difficult for stains and fingerprints to adhere, thus offering the anti-fingerprint benefits.

4.What are the benefits?

1. Anti-Graffiti: Hydrophobic and oleophobic, easy to clean，and stains can be gently wiped away with a damp cloth.

2. Aging Resistance: It offers excellent resistance to water, acids, alkalis, saltwater, humidity, UV rays, and salt spray. The coating remains durable over time, without powdering, cracking, or peeling.

3.Adhesion: The coating has strong adhesion to a variety of materials, including cement, brick, metal, wood, and more.

2. Strong Rust Resistance:After the anti-fingerprint treatment, the rust resistance of colored stainless steel panels is significantly enhanced. The treatment forms a protective layer on the surface of the stainless steel, effectively blocking external elements from corroding the metal underneath. This greatly extends the service life of the stainless steel panels.

3. Enhanced Texture:After the anti-fingerprint treatment, the appearance of colored stainless steel panels is enhanced, giving them a more refined texture with an oily, lustrous finish. The surface feels smoother and softer to the touch, while still preserving the inherent metallic quality of the material.

Sucelsteel's stainless steel products are made from high-quality, durable stainless steel sheets that meet national standards. These materials undergo a series of processes, including cutting, pressing, bending, welding, oil treatment (AFP & RFP), and more, to ensure precision and quality. Finally, the surface is treated with the most advanced anti-fingerprint technology available internationally. The result is a product that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also of superior quality. It is easy to clean, maintenance-free, resistant to impact, compression, scratches, and fingerprints, with excellent wear resistance. The overall quality far exceeds that of standard stainless steel sheets.

What you don’t know is that AFP not only has the above characteristics, it can also adjust the color, which is particularly evident in colored stainless steel plates.

Below I will use one of our products - black titanium stainless steel as a reference to show you the comparison between stainless steel plates using APF and those not using AFP, as shown in the figure below:

(1) The two photos both feature black titanium mirror panels. The one on the left has undergone AFP treatment, while the one on the right has not. You can clearly see a difference in their appearance. The surface on the left appears noticeably more delicate, smooth, and flat, with a refined finish, while the one on the right lacks this level of smoothness and precision.

(2) When pressing fingerprints onto the surfaces with the same amount of force, it's clear that the fingerprints on the AFP-treated surface are barely visible and can be easily wiped away. In contrast, the fingerprints on the untreated surface are much more noticeable and harder to remove.

1. Combinations with Other Metal Finishes

（1）Entique copper and Anti-fingerprint

Retro stainless steel sheets undergo a series complex surface treatment process so as to make the stainless steel finish presents a aged appearance and distinct levels of natural texture. Antique copper stainless steel sheets are coated with an anti-fingerprint layer, enhancing their durability and corrosion resistance. This makes them the preferred choice for high-end decorative applications.

（2）Embossed and Anti-fingerprint

Decorative embossing metal sheets, also known as 3D stainless steel sheet.such as water ripple stainless steel sheet, diamond embossed stainless steel sheet, stainless steel checkered sheet, hammered stainless steel sheet,etc. The surface is coated with an anti-fingerprint layer, which enhances its texture. The finish can be adjusted to the desired level of brightness, such as glossy or matte, and can even be customized to a specific ratio, like 50% matte/50% glossy, depending on the requirements.

（3）Etched and Anti-fingerprint

Etched stainless steel sheet with the based plate of 8K mirror stainless steel sheet, drawing sheet and sandblasting stainless steel plate are utilized to chemically etch variety of patterns onto the surface of etched steel plate to achieve a colorful effect.its surface that has been added an anti-fingerprint coating，Improved corrosion and wear resistance.

（4）Brushed and Anti-fingerprint

The brushed stainless steel panels has an anti-fingerprint coating to make it more resistant to scratches, and the durable surface can withstand daily wear and tear, making it an ideal choice for high-traffic areas.

（5）Vibration and Anti-fingerprint

The surface of vibration stainless steel plate has a uniform texture with random, multi-directional grit lines with a high degree of consistency.its surface that has been added an anti-fingerprint coating,enhanced durability, scratch resistance and balancing reflectivity.

（6）Sandblasted and Anti-fingerprin

Sandblasted stainless steel with an anti-fingerprint coating added to its surface has an excellent ability to hide fingerprints, smudges and scratches, while being easy to clean and maintaining an even and beautiful appearance.

Foshan Sucelsteel Co, Ltd.is a professional company that produces, customizes, and exports stainless steel sheet , stainless steel trim and customized steel products.Here’s an introduction to the AFP series stainless steel plate, which truly achieves the perfect combination of a delicate surface, smooth and flat finish, water-beading properties, and oil-repellent, non-stick characteristics. This innovative treatment enhances both the appearance and functionality of the stainless steel, making it easier to clean and maintain while offering superior resistance to stains and fingerprints.If you're interested in high-end and complex projects, feel free to contact us. SucelSteel is your ideal partner and expert, offering anti-fingerprint and easy-to-clean solutions tailored to your needs.