Pickling

It has been proven that electrochemical pickling is the most efficient and cost-effective method of cleaning steel details from corrosion-promoting impurities. Mechanical cleaning is typically unsuccessful, particularly for complex shapes, and therefore not a viable option from a business perspective. Pickling is a process that enhances the corrosion resistance of components made of stainless steel, thereby extending their service life and ensuring they remain fit for purpose. It also improves the visual appeal of the surface, eliminates sharp edges, removes colour stains from welds or cuts, and prepares the surface for subsequent processing steps, such as passivation or electropolishing. Pickling is an effective method for cleaning and activating metal surfaces by removing a thin layer of the material being processed. The result is a surface that is free of oxides and contamination from other metals, and that is of a high degree of purity. The primary effect of pickling is to affect the grain boundaries of the metal structure, resulting in a matte to satin gloss finish.

In practice, it turns out that chemical or electrochemical etching is the most effective and economically justified process of cleaning surfaces from the remains of corrosion promoting contaminants. In addition, etching improves the appearance of the surface: it smoothes scratches and sharp edges, removes discoloration in places of welding, cutting or welding, ensures the proper degree of surface preparation for more advanced final product processing processes, such as passivation or electropolishing.

Types of steel

Fast contact

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	ELEKTROPOL-R Electrochemical services Wagonowa 14 53-609 Wrocław

	Contact details:
	+48 71 356 73 19
	k.janowski@elektropol-r.com.pl