Stainless Steel Pickling Agents: Liquid and Gel Solutions

PRODECAP INOX NEWS is a blend of inorganic acids and surfactants, specifically designed for the deoxidation, pickling, and satin finishing of stainless steels.

The liquid stainless steel pickling agent PRODECAP INOX NEWS completely removes thermal and atmospheric oxides from austenitic stainless steels (300 series) and ferritic stainless steels (400 series). Furthermore, it can also be used for satin finishing, pickling, and bleaching of aluminum alloys, both extruded and die-cast with a high silicon content.

The parts to be pickled are immersed in the pickling product, which is used at room temperature and, depending on the severity of the application, appropriately diluted with water or used neat.

The contact times also depend on the initial condition of the parts: the greater the layer of oxide to be removed, the longer the time required.

Tanks and systems that involve the use of this type of product must be made of suitable acid-resistant materials, such as PVC, polypropylene (moplen), and Teflon.

After the pickling process, it is always essential to rinse thoroughly with water.

Stainless Steel Pickling Gel

This category includes all those products commonly called acid paste, pickling paste, or pickling gel.

These are thickened pickling agents that come in the form of a gel. This allows them to adhere to vertical surfaces, in order to have the necessary time to react with the oxides to be removed.

Conversely, a liquid pickling agent, applied to a vertical surface, would drip and would not have the necessary time to completely remove the oxides.

This type of product is normally used to remove thermal oxides produced by welding from industrial artifacts and large-scale systems made of stainless steel.

Specifically, Surfatek offers SURFADEK INOX GEL, a strongly acidic pickling gel that removes thermal oxide and rust from all 300 series stainless steels.

It should be used undiluted and must be applied locally with a special acid-resistant brush. It is not recommended to work in direct sunlight.

Before use, it is important to mix the pickling gel to make it homogeneous. For this purpose, use a plastic or stainless steel rod; never use anything made of iron.

Once the surface to be pickled is clean, spread a homogeneous layer of SURFADEK INOX GEL, using a brush with acid-resistant bristles.

Wait the necessary time for the product to react with the oxide. The contact time can vary from 10 minutes to 2 hours depending on the type of steel to be treated, the type of welding, and, last but not least, the external temperature.

When the gel turns a green-brown color, the reaction is complete.

Then rinse thoroughly with water that must not contain iron ions and chlorides.

If, after pickling, you want to give the treated material further corrosion resistance, proceed with the passivation of the surface using SURFA INOX 300.

Once the reaction time has elapsed, rinse thoroughly with running water.