Alternatives to Acid Pickling:

Pickling is a precision engineering process in which coating is applied to metal substrates in order to decrease the harmful effect of corrosion. Metal pickling process involves several steps to pre treat the weld prior to actually performing the pickling process. This pre treating of the weld removes any residue, foreign substances, markings, dyes, rust, grease or oil. Each step of pre treating uses a different type of cleaning agent such as solvent cleaners, vapor degreasers, etc. Pre-cleaning is not required for all applications but is highly recommended for most as drawing promotes surface adhesion on the metal.

Sheet steel that undergoes acid pickling will oxidize (rust) when exposed to atmospheric conditions of moderately high humidity. For this reason, a thin film of oil or similar waterproof coating is applied to create a barrier to moisture in the air. This oil film must later be removed for many fabrication, plating or painting processes.

Precision engineering company developed a process representing an alternative to acid pickling. In this process, surface oxidation is removed using an engineered abrasive and the process leaves the surface resistant to subsequent oxidation without the need for oil film or other protective coating.

Subsequent to commercialization of this alternative process, the Eco Pickled Surface strip steel processing technology has been developed as a more direct replacement for acid pickling. Whereas acid pickling relies on chemical reactions to accomplish removal of rust and other surface impurities, EPS technology employs "mechanical pickling" to completely remove all surface oxides and contaminants while conditioning the surface to achieve a more uniform texture. The EPS process is considered "environment friendly" compared to acid pickling and it imparts to carbon steel a high degree of rust resistance, eliminating the need to apply the oil coating that serves as a barrier to oxidation for acid-pickled carbon steel.

Lone Star LWD is a precision engineering company that provides precision engineering services with newest technology, qualified engineers and professional methodology. The company can Pickle along with a number of other precision engineering techniques like grinding, passivation, lapping, honing, polishing, shot peening, grit Blasting, hard chroming, electroless Nickel plating, phosphate and spray coating etc.