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DescalingMetallurgicalProcesses
WrittenbyAZoM Aug302013
TopicsCovered
Introduction
TypesofDescaling
MechanicalCleaning
AqueousAlkalineCleaning
AcidCleaning(Pickling)
IndustrialApplications
References
Introduction
Descalingistheprocessofremovingoxidedepositsfromaheatedstock,eitherbeforeor
duringforgingoperations.
Scalesareformedonametalsurfaceduringheattreatmentprocesses.Oxidescales
discolorthemetalsurfaceandhindersubsequentfinishingoperations.
Descalingisametalcleaningprocessthatremovesunwantedsurfacedepositsonmetals
toprovideasmoothsurfacefinishandisapartoftheprefinishingprocesseswhich
includecleaning,strippingandpickling.Oftheseprocessescleaningandpicklingareused
forscaleremoval.
Prefinishingisvitalforsubsequentfinishingoperationslikeelectroplating.Somefinishing
processesrequireahighdegreeofcleanliness,whileothersrequireminimumcleanliness.
Physicalmethodsfordescalingincludeuseofwirebrushes,extrablows,scrapingdevices,
polishingorblasting.Chemicalmethodsthatareusedforscaleremovalareaciddescaling
andalkalidescaling.
TypesofDescaling
Thevariousmethodsofdescalingmetalsarelistedbelow:
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Descaling Metallurgical Processes
MechanicalCleaning
Formetalsthatreactwithchemical,themetalisdescaledbyphysicalmeans.Oxidescale
depositscanberemovedbyusingwirebrushesandscrapingdeviceslikewoolpads.
Abrasiveblastingmethodsandwaterjetsprayingcanalsobeusedfordescaling.
AqueousAlkalineCleaning
Mildalkalinesolutionssuchassodiumhydroxide,sodiumphosphate,sodiummetasilicate
andsodiumcarbonatecanbeusedforcleaningthemetalsurfaceandremovingtheoxide
scales.
Thestrongertheconcentrationofalkali,thefasterthecleaningprocess.Thiscleaning
methodisoftenfollowedbymechanicalcleaningmethods.
AcidCleaning(Pickling)
Acidcleaning,alsoknownaspickling,isyetanotherprocessusedforremovingoxide
scaledepositsfromametalsurface.Itisalsousedtoneutralizeanyremainingalkalisfrom
thepreviouscleaningprocess.
Thismethodofcleaningissuitableforferrous,aluminumandcopperalloys.Anacid
solution,calledthepickleliquor,isusedfordescalingthemetalsurface.Thewasteproduct
formedfromthepicklingofmetalsisknownaspicklingsludge.
IndustrialApplications
Someofthemainapplicationareasofdescalingarelistedbelow:
Descalingofcarbonsteels
Cleaningofferrousalloys
Oxidelayerremovalinjewelry.
References
PrefinishingOperationsUniversityofIllinois
SurfacePreparationUniversityofIllinois
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