Pickling and passivation of carbon steel in Brno

Dimensions and capacities

Offered operations

Handling and packaging

Materials

Quality, audits, certificates

Pickling ensures perfect removal of impurities, oxides and weld defects from material surfaces. This process increases not only the aesthetic quality of the steel, but also its corrosion resistance. As a result, its service life is significantly extended.

Pickling can be carried out by immersion in pickling baths or spraying. Subsequent passivation can be carried out in the same way. If necessary, we will also provide degreasing of the parts and preparation of the surface for immersion in the bath.

Dimensions and capacities

The following bath is available for pickling by immersion:

Length (mm)	Depth (mm)	Šířka (mm)	Number
17,000	2,000	2,000	1 bath

Offered operations

Pickling of carbon steel

Pickling of carbon steel is the process by which oxidation layers, scale, impurities and coatings that may appear on the surface of carbon steel during processing or heat treatment are thoroughly removed. This process not only increases the aesthetic quality, but above all protects the steel against further damage. Pickling effectively increases the material’s corrosion resistance, in addition to improving adhesion for further surface treatments.

What is the purpose of pickling carbon steels and why is it so important?

No more scale and impurities: Oxides, scale and dirt can often form during production, heat treatment and welding on the surface of low-alloy carbon steel, which can weaken its resistance and affect its appearance. Pickling effectively removes these unwanted layers and prepares the steel for further treatment or use.
Significant improvement in corrosion protection: Pickling reliably removes all impurities from the steel surface and prepares it for the application of protective layers, such as painting, galvanizing and preservation. This procedure significantly increases the material’s corrosion resistance.
Preparation for further treatment: Pickling ensures a clean and uniform steel surface that is ready for subsequent treatments, such as passivation, phosphating or other protective processes.

When is pickling of low-alloy carbon steel necessary?

After welding and heat treatment: Welding and other thermal processes cause the formation of scale and other coatings that reduce the surface quality and threaten its functionality. Pickling ensures a clean surface of carbon steel that is ready for further use.
Before protective coatings: Pickling thoroughly prepares the steel surface for the application of protective layers. This step leads to improved adhesion of these layers and extends the service life of the coatings.
For material restoration: Pickling can remove corrosion even on older components, restore the original appearance of the material and prepare it for further treatments.

Preservation of carbon steels

The preservation of carbon steels reliably protects the material from corrosion and degradation. We use proven surface protection methods to ensure that your steel components remain in perfect condition, even when stored for long periods of time or exposed to harsh conditions.

Preservation methods offered

Inter-operative passivation with an inhibitory agent
Painting
On request and after consultation with us, we are able to perform preservation by another method

Handling and packaging

The goal of each technological process is to optimize the final product with respect to the cost of the process performed. For this reason, we carry out all work in our pickling shop in several modes, which differ in the manner of inspection, handling of parts and packaging. The procedures described above can be performed for all types of structures, material grades, technological procedures with regard to the composition of the pickling bath, pickling length, bath temperature, etc.

Pickling (without package)

If the customer does not specify the required service in the order, we will process and package the parts as they were handed over to us. On request, it is possible to pack each part separately or pack the ends of pipes or flanges, or to fit the ends of pipes with caps.

Pickling + Packaging EXTRA mode

If components are delivered separately, they do not touch each other or their parts are protected in another way, we carry out the work in Pickling + Packaging EXTRA mode.

Special mode

If we accept a job for which each part is wrapped separately (in mirelon, bubble wrap, etc.), we process the job in Special mode. We also choose this mode whenever the order states for example: visible part, special treatment, do not scratch, carefully, etc. It is suitable and almost always used by customers from the aerospace, nuclear and automotive industries.

Materials

Carbon (black) steel
Low-alloy steel

Quality, audits, certificates

The resulting surface after pickling and passivation is degreased, clean and free of corrosion. Passivation solution can cause a brownish appearance on the surface. Pickling, however, does not remove slag, burnt grease in welds, deep inclusions of carbon material, impurities ground into the surface, baked-on protective film residues, markings and other flaws. The passive layer protects the surface of carbon steel against corrosion on the order of days to weeks, depending on the storage method. Passivated parts must be stored appropriately and used and put into service or otherwise protected as soon as possible.

The final surface quality is supervised by our team of technicians from the quality department. On request, they will issue a report on performance of work on the order, according to CSN EN 10204 – Declaration of Conformity with the Order. If necessary, it is possible to agree with the quality manager on the issuance of an Inspection Certificate according to CSN EN 10240. It is necessary to know according to what standard you require the test and to have defined parameters for it. Learn more about conducting tests in our blog.