The Benefits and Precautions of Pickling Wear Resistant Steel

Pickling is a crucial process in the surface treatment of wear resistant steel, designed to remove oxides, rust, and other impurities. In this blog, we'll explore the advantages of pickling, the precautions to take before and after the process, and the importance of proper post-pickling rust prevention.

The Benefits of Pickling Wear Resistant Steel

1. Removal of Surface Oxides: Pickling utilizes strong acids or corrosive chemicals to eliminate oxides, rust, and other contaminants from the surface of wear resistant steel. This process not only smooths and cleans the surface but also prevents further oxidation and corrosion, enhancing the steel's lifespan and corrosion resistance.
2. Rust Reduction: By removing surface oxides, pickling prevents additional oxidation and corrosion. Wear resistant steel that has undergone pickling tends to have a longer service life and superior resistance to rust, making it ideal for applications in transportation, energy, oil, and chemical industries where metal products are extensively used.

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Precautions Before Pickling Wear Resistant Steel

The oxide layer on the surface of AR500 wear resistant steel is typically thick, and relying solely on chemical pickling with organic acids can be inefficient and costly. To address this, three key pre-pickling treatment methods can be employed to remove, dissolve, and detach the oxide layer, thereby reducing the load during the pickling process.

1. Shot Peening: Shot peening is the most widely used mechanical method for scale removal. It operates on the principle of propelling small steel shots (or sand) from a blasting machine to impact the surface of the wear resistant steel, thereby removing the oxide layer. After shot peening, a portion of the oxide layer is removed, and the remaining oxide layer becomes fragmented and loose, facilitating subsequent pickling processes.
2. Alkaline Immersion: Alkaline immersion is divided into oxidative and reductive types.
3. Neutral Salt Electrolysis: Neutral salt electrolysis uses a Na2SiO4 solution as an electrolyte. The NM500 wear resistant steel undergoes a continuous conversion between cathodic and anodic oxidation due to the electric field between the negative and positive electrodes, removing the surface oxide layer through the action of electric current. The mechanism of this process involves oxidizing the insoluble oxides of chrom

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Rust Prevention After Pickling Wear Resistant Steel

The choice of rust prevention method depends on the subsequent processing steps:

1. If painting is required, phosphating after pickling is ideal for short-term rust prevention and enhances the coating's corrosion resistance.
2. For short-term storage (within a week), a water-based rust inhibitor can be applied for surface protection. The protective film can be easily cleaned or may not require cleaning before further processing.
3. For medium to long-term rust prevention, organic efficient rust inhibitors or oils should be used, possibly in conjunction with rust prevention packaging (such as vapor phase rust-protective film, rust-proof bags, and desiccants).
4. In special cases, a blackening treatment can be applied for both decorative and protective purposes, followed by a protective oil coating.

Baohui Steel Limited as a professional supplier of wear resistant steel with over 20 years of industry experience, represents various special steels from Baosteel Group. For any technical questions, processing requirements, or inquiries about the specifications and performance of wear-resistant steel, please contact us. Our experts are ready to provide one-on-one answers.

Remember, the key to maintaining the longevity and performance of wear resistant steel lies in the careful application of pickling and subsequent rust prevention methods.

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