Summary for oxidized aluminum Discussion
oxidized aluminum plate can usually be cleaned with an acidic etch, according to Dan Zinman, who said a phosphoric blend or a blend of phosphoric, hydrofluoric, and nitric acids is the best bet for restoring 5086 plate toward weldable condition. He cautioned that oxidation may have damaged the substrate itself, so the surface can end up uneven and the etch may need to be fairly aggressive depending on how severe the oxidation is. He also noted that the bath temperature should be kept between 110 and 140. In a later, separate question about hand-forged aluminum pieces, Ted Mooney suggested Mothers Polish from Amazon or eBay as a possible cleaning/restoration product. The thread does not promise a perfect restoration, and the advice is to choose the process based on the extent of the damage.
Need suggestions on cleaning 5086 Aluminum plate that has been oxidized while exposed to atmosphere. Are there any ideas from industry on how I might be able to use (preferably liquid) compounds to remove this “oxidation” and restore the plate to “weldable” condition?
Thanks!
Geoff Hall
1997
Your best bet is an acidic etch. It can either be a phosphoric blend, or a blend of phosphoric, hydrofluoric, nitric. When the part is oxidized the actual substrate has been damaged. You are likely to see some unevenness, so the etch will have to be rather aggressive depending on the severity of the oxidization. Temperature should be between 110 to 140.
There are a lot of proprietary products on the market.
Good Luck.
Dan Zinman
Q. I am interested in finding a way to clean and restore hand forged aluminum pieces. I have quite a few and some are in need of restoration.Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Mary B [surname deleted for privacy by Editor]
– Heidelberg, Mississippi
2000
A. Hi, Mary. I think you will want to polish them back to a suitable look with a product like Mothers Mag & Aluminum Polish
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link] . I believe you’ll want to use it on a buffing machine, or at least a grinder or electric drill with a buffing pad, as doing this by hand sounds prohibitive.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com – Pine Beach, New Jersey
Need quick confidential answers? $25
Need project assistance? $100/hr.
January 3, 2009