I was wondering if anyone out there has any experience with a chemical that
will remove aluminum galling from the sides of steel punch press punches
without damaging the steel?
will remove aluminum galling from the sides of steel punch press punches
without damaging the steel?
Caustic Soda will disolve the aluminum without
affecting the steel.
Best Regards
Tom.
Strong acid (e.g. hydrochloric) will also work, although it'll let the steel
rust up pretty quick afterwards...
Just don't get this option mixed (literally) with the other (lye)! ;-)
Tim
--
"That's for the courts to decide." - Homer Simpson
Website @
Definitely use Caustic soda (Sodium Hydroxide) to kill the aluminum.
Hydrochloric acid can pit the steel and if the immersion time is but a few
seconds to run the risk of hydrogen embrittelment of the base metal.
Use a heated solution of the soda. The old cleaning tanks in
rebuilding shops of years ago used a temp of about 180 degrees F.
They'd remove just about anything from steel or iron, and woe to the
new guy who tried to clean aluminum or zinc in it.
Dan
That reminds me... does anyone know exactly what chemical reaction takes
place on zinc? I've never heard of a zincate solution..
Tim
--
"That's for the courts to decide." - Homer Simpson
Website @
Zinc reacts with weak NaOH solutions by forming zinc hydroxide,
which is insoluble in weak NaOH, and forms a white precipitate.
In higher concentrations of NaOH, it forms a soluble complex
called sodium zincate.
Most metals form hydroxides when exposed to weak lye solutions.
Only Al, Pb, and Zn redissolve and form complexes at higher
concentrations. Of those, only zinc hydroxide is soluble in ammonia.
So that's a definite qualitative analysis method of determining if zinc
is present, ie form the precipitate with a weak lye solution, and see
if the precipitate will dissolve in ammonia. If it does, you've got zinc.
Gary
PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.