Pickling and Passivation - Vecom - EN

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https://www.vecom-group.com/en/services/stainless-steel/pickling/

Pickling and Passivation

Welding / Fabrication
When stainless steel is welded, a scale is formed and on either side of the
weld is a heat affected zone that varies in colour from straw to blue-black,
depending on welding conditions. This area is rich in metal oxides that
possess very little corrosion resistance and will readily allow corrosion to
commence. This effect extends beyond the areas affected by colour change.
This is a very reactive area that will readily rust in a very short time.
Because this is little understood, it is common to find badly corroded areas
where stainless steel is found on site. This is most unfortunate since the
method of avoiding such corrosion is simple and relatively inexpensive.
Descaling, pickling and passivating are separate processes that are often
confused.
Pickling
Pickling removes a thin surface layer from the
stainless, using an acid solution, which is usually
a hydrofluoric and nitric acid mixture. For the
pickling to be effective the surface should be
clean and free of greases and oils. Pickling will
remove embedded iron, surface iron
contamination, heat tint and weld scale. Pickling
will produce a dull matt uniform grey finish.
Iron Contamination
A major cause of corrosion in service is iron
contamination which can arise from a variety of sources. These include
using tools made of mild or constructional steels (fork lifts being a common
cause) abrasives that contain iron and any tool that has previously been
used on non stainless steel. Cross contamination can also arise from
grindings and debris created whilst working close by on steel, either in the
workshop or on site. Iron contamination is not always obvious, if it is
suspected it can be detected using the ASTM A380, ferroxyl test. This is a
rapid test in which a solution turns blue in the presence of iron. Pickling is a
very effective method of removing this iron contamination from the surface.
Heat Tint and weld scale
The heat tint produced by welding is not only unsightly but the thicker oxide
layer includes chromium from the surface of the metal, lowering its
corrosion resistance. Pickling both removes the oxide layer causing the
colour tints and a thin layer of the underlying metal to restore the original
properties.
Stainless Steel owes its corrosion resistance to the formation of a chromium
oxide surface layer and is then referred to as being passive. This occurs
naturally and spontaneously provided sufficient oxygen is available. Even
aerated water provides enough oxygen for this process to occur. Material
supplied by the producing mills is fully passivated and further passivation is
rarely required. However, if the oxide has been stripped, perhaps by
pickling, then the oxide layer takes a short time to reach its full thickness
and this can be accelerated by passivation. This treatment also builds up the
layer in crevices, for example joints, where oxygen could have limited
access.

17-Oct-15 2:59 PM

Pickling and Passivation - Vecom - EN

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https://www.vecom-group.com/en/services/stainless-steel/pickling/

and this can be accelerated by passivation. This treatment also builds up the
layer in crevices, for example joints, where oxygen could have limited
access.
Passivation
Passivation is a separate process to pickling. It can be carried out as an
independent process or as part of pickling involving nitric acid in the
solution. In this case passivation occurs sequentially and not simultaneously.
Nitric acid is the usual strong oxidising agent used for chemical passivation.
On its own it will only remove free iron contamination from the stainless
steel surface and is not an effective acid for pickling stainless steel.
Pickling after the construction phase will remove the chromium
depleted zone and free iron, fully renews the corrosion resistance
and brings it back entirely to the specifications of the original raw
material.

17-Oct-15 2:59 PM