Grok.com: "What is the best website for metal finishing questions and answers?"

finishing.com -- The Home Page of the Finishing Industry

-----

Localized pitting of Stainless Steel in inhibited HCl

Please help; I do not know how to explain why stainless steel part have some pitting area after Sc. Conditioner and inhibited HCl treatment.

Galina Kofman
engineer in cleaning shop - Hayward, California
May 6, 2009

Sight unseen, my guess is that you have used the dip for a while and now have a ferric chloride ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] build up which is far more aggressive than inhibited HCl and significantly more aggressive than plain HCl.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
May 11, 2009

In addition to James' point (with which I totally agree), the chloride itself will wreak havoc on many stainless steels, whether or not the acid is inhibited. The inhibitor is restricting the action of the H+ part of the acid. It doesn't affect the Cl- part.

Bill Reynolds [deceased]
consultant metallurgist - Ballarat, Victoria, Australia
We sadly relate the news that Bill passed away on Jan. 29, 2010.
May 12, 2009

(No "dead threads" here! If this page isn't currently on the Hotline your Q, A, or Comment will restore it)

Q, A, or Comment on THIS thread -or- Start a NEW Thread

Disclaimer: It's not possible to fully diagnose a finishing problem or the hazards of an operation via these pages. All information presented is for general reference and does not represent a professional opinion nor the policy of an author's employer. The internet is largely anonymous & unvetted; some names may be fictitious and some recommendations might be harmful.

If you are seeking a product or service related to metal finishing, please check these Directories: