PICKLING (CHEMICAL DESCALING)
Chemical descaling, also known as pickling, is one of several available pre-treatment steps for preparing pipes for additional processing like electropolishing or passivation. It can be used prior to “superior” cleaning operation of welded lines or structures.
Pickling typically is done to remove firmly attached oxide films, commonly caused by heat treating, welding, hot-forming and other high temperature operations. All these oxides, also known as ‘scale’, need to be removed. In some cases, pickling of stainless steels is performed in two steps, one for softening the scale and one for final scale removal. Over-pickling, under-pickling and pitting usually are the direct results of lack of control over process variables including acid concentrations, solution temperature and contact time making the choice to use a professional like the people at Professional Piping Services, Inc a wise decision.
Before the pickling process is performed, heavy surface soils like, heavy rust, dye, adhesive residue, grease, some scale, oil and other types of foreign materials need to removed. This is commonly done by the use of solvent or chemical cleaning, steam cleaning, water jetting and mechanical cleaning like pipe pigging.
Contact Professional Piping Services Inc. toll free at 800-780-6098 for those outside the Tampa Bay area or locally at 813-994-0032 to discuss your piping needs and to discuss a plan that’s right for your situation.
