Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Can Sulfamic Acid be Used to Clean Cast Iron ?

Can we use sulfamic acid to clean rust from cast iron parts (motor block, engine parts, etc.)? Thanks for any help, resources, directions. Walt

Walt Puryear
- Kansas City, Kansas
2000

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The first problem is that any acid you use will need to be neutralized and any heavy metals removed before dumping, or will have to be hauled offsite for disposal.

An inhibited acid may be fine for removing oxides, but some etching of machined surfaces will occur, especially without proper process control.

Then there are the safety and environmental concerns of using acids (Double containment, safety of the operator).

Is this process going to be used for dipping used parts to clean them up before overhaul? If so, I believe that other alternatives, such as dry blasting, might be better.

  
Tom Pullizzi
Falls Township, Pennsylvania
2000