Pickling process in galvanizing standards and innovations
The steel pickling process in galvanizing consists in dipping said steel objects in varyingly concentrated acidic solutions to remove scales, oxidations or rust. Depending on the used acid’s composition, a pickling process can be defined as hydrochloric, sulfuric or fluo-nitric.
During the pickling stage of the process, the materials’ surface must be completely free from oxides and calamine in order to allow the best reaction between the two metals. Once the pickling is complete, rinsing must follow.
Inhibitors are often added to the solution to decrease its corrosive strength on metal surfaces. A real innovation comes from the possibility to carry out the steel pickling process at high temperatures (up to 40 ° C). This is made possible through the use of closed tunnel facilities, where tanks are placed in an isolated location to serve as an extractor hood. The convenience of this type of steel pickling process during galvanizing becomes evident because it accelerates production times and allows for less condensed acids to be used. An efficient scrubber filtration system guarantees emission abatement and meets the requirements mandated by environmental law.
Steel pickling
