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Unusual reaction of Bohler K390 steel to phosphoric acid
Q. Soaking steel in Boeshield RustFree
⇦ on
eBay or
Amazon [affil link]
(a weak solution of phosphoric acid) usually produces a light gray hazy coating of, I presume, iron phosphate.
Soaking Bohler K390 steel produces a dark black coating.
Why? Is it reacting with the manganese to produce manganese phosphate? Is it carbon? Is it something else?
Here is some information on the K390 alloy.
Carbon: 2.47
Chromium: 4.20
Cobalt: 2.00
Manganese: 0.4
Molybdenum: 3.80
Silicon: 0.55
Tungsten: 1.00
Vanadium: 9.0
Thanks for ideas.
- Chelsea Michigan
October 15, 2020
A. Hi Robert. Both Boeshield RustFree and Bohler K390 steel are proprietary products, so you might see if either supplier can offer a lead. From the SDS for Boeshield RustFree you can see a list of the main ingredients and try the three main ingredients separately to see if it's actually the phosphoric acid, or you can try straight acid, or one of many other brands of rust converter ⇦ on eBay or Amazon [affil link] .
Materials aren't defined solely by their chemical composition of course, but by the steps in their work history as well, and Bohler K390 is a powder metallurgy product, which might be the explanation for it turning black. With only 0.4% Mn, I don't think that's the explanation for the blackening.
But tell us what you're up to. Thanks.
Luck & Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.
November 2020
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