Pickling and Passivation Work Instruction

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Pickling and Passivation Work Instruction

Purpose
The purpose of pickling and passivation is to prepare the final surface of stainless steel to achieve a clean, smooth finish, maximise the final
product’s corrosion resistance and prevent product contamination.
The work instruction serves as a general guideline of the overall cleaning process for manufacturing.

Definitions
In order to avoid ambiguity, certain terms are defined for the purpose of this procedure as follows:
Pickling: Metal cleaning method to remove defects (eg. surface film of inherent or thickened oxide) and some micrometres of the parent metal.
Over-pickling: Overexposure to pickling chemical. This will result in too strong etching of the surface and lead to pitting.
Passivation: Chemical treatment with a mild oxidant to remove free iron from the surface and to speed up the formation of a protective/passive
layer. Passivation does NOT remove heat tint or oxide scale on stainless steel.

Safety
The appropriate PPE must be worn for the pickling/passivation procedure.

Related Documents:
Pickling and Passivation Procedure.

Cycle stages
i) Safety 1) Pre-cleaning/Degreasing
ii) Work Area 2) Pickling – Reaction Time
iii) Pump equipment 3) Rinsing
4) Passivation – Reaction Time
5) Rinsing
6) Inspection
7) Waste Water Disposal
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i) Safety 1) Full Body liquid tight splash protection suit Verify the functionality of:
The following Personal Protection 2) Safety Rubber Boots  Emergency shower
Equipment must be worn during 3) Nitrile/chloroprene rubber gloves  Emergency eyewash
manipulation of pickling acid and passivation 4) Face mask with breathing apparatus
solution: 5) Helmet

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ii) Work Area
 Cleaning takes place in a segregated area.  The floor is elevated to be able to collect waste water.
 Remove all lifting lugs and supports not made of stainless steel.
 Pieces are placed on spacers. Verify stability of set-up. *Chemical waste water is to be handled according to local waste regulation.*
 Secure the area and remove all unnecessary equipment to prevent
accidents.
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iii) Pump equipment

 Pickling acid and passivation solution are applied using a low pressure spray
pump as shown above.
 It is recommended to have 2 pumps for the pickling acid and 2 pumps for
the passivation solution.

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1. Pre-Cleaning Degreasing
Remove dust, chips and all coarse contaminants with a high pressure water jet. Remove organic contaminants (grease, oil, paint, glue, footprints, etc.) with a
chlorine-free degreasing agent and wash off with a high pressure water jet.

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2. Pickling Reaction Time:
 Appropriate personal protection equipment must be worn.  Leave pickling acid for approximately 30-50 minutes or according to
 Spray an even layer of pickling acid (nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid) on ALL pickling acid guidelines.
surfaces using pump for pickling acid.  The reaction time can vary as it depends on the quality of the working
 For better results, use a colored pickling acid or add pigment to clear materials as well as the temperature of the ambient air and materials.
pickling acid to not miss any area.  Do NOT pickle at temperature higher than 400C or in direct sunlight.
 Do NOT over-pickle.
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3. Rinsing
 Rinse with clean tap water at high pressure. (120 bar - 1740 psi)
 It is important to properly rinse the hidden corners and all other hard to reach areas.
 If work piece still has dark stains, fields or heat affected zones left on the surface, the pickling acid can be reapplied.
 Once rinsed, do passivation step RIGHT AWAY. Piece should not dry.
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4. Passivation Reaction
 Appropriate personal protection equipment must be worn.  Leave passivation solution for approximately 30-50 minutes or according to
 Spray an even layer of passivation solution (nitric acid) over ALL surfaces passivation solution guidelines.
using pump for passivation solution.

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5. Rinsing
 Rinse with clean tap water at high pressure. (120 bar - 1740 psi)
 It is important to properly rinse the hidden corners and all other hard to reach areas.

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6. Inspection Iron Indicator strip test:
Do a visual cleanliness inspection to verify the pickling and passivation result. For better results, use Iron Indicator strips to validate efficiency of cleaning
There should not be any dark stain, fields or heat affected zones left on the process.
surface. The surface should be iron free.
After pickling and passivation the product should NOT be touched for a few
days so the passivation can be completed.
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7. Waste Water Disposal

The collected chemical waste water is acidic and contains metal oxides from
the treated metal.

Handle chemical waste water according to local waste regulations.

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ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
IMPROPER CLEANING
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CROSS-CONTAMINATION
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ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA
DRY PICKLING PASTE