Technical Bulletin
Technical Bulletins on the Internet: [Link]
Number: 2004/16
September 2004
PHOSPHATING OF CARBON STEEL WITH COLD PHOS / ARO
Introduction
Protective coatings, grease, oil, mill scale, annealing skin and
oxides are the most common contaminants found on carbon
steel. If before installation prefab pipespools are treated by
specialized metal surface treatment companies, there are
reasonable good facilities and inspection possibilities. A problem
arises when such conservations have to be removed from a
complete installation in situ.
The reasons for a chemical pre-commission surface treatment of
Present deposition for treatment
The deposition has been removed and a
phosphate layer has been applied
a carbon steel installation are:
prevention of product contamination.
prevention of damage to machinery (blockage of filters, damaging of turbines, explosion danger in pure
oxygen systems).
prevention of corrosion in specific environments.
reduction of flow.
A surface treatment (internal) of carbon steel generally consists of the removal of
protective coatings and grease, in a hot alkaline solution, the removal of oxides
and mill scale with inhibited acids and a passivation.
Passivation is often chosen as a way to apply a metal conversion layer by means
of phosphating. With this we can kill two birds with one stone: the pickled carbon
steel is passivated (after all, a film of rust may immediately develop after pickling
and rinsing with water) and a solid priming for organic finish coats such as paints
or coatings is created at once.
This Technical Bulletin will investigate the application of metal conversion layer through phosphating on carbon
steel.
Metal conversion layers
A conversion treatment is the chemical or electrochemical process that is applied to obtain a cover layer
(conversion layer) consisting of a compound of the surface material itself. Conversion layers consist of oxides,
chromates, phosphates or sulphides. They are therefore inorganic cover layers. The fluid in which the process
takes place consists of constituents that initially dissolve a part of the metal surface. The solved metal ions react
immediately with constituents from the fluid itself and form the precipitation or conversion layer.
Pag. 1 TB 2004/16
Phosphating
Phosphating is applied on iron and steel, zinc, aluminium, magnesium, cadmium and their alloys, with the aim
to:
Improve the corrosion resistance.
Improve the bond of organic cover layers.
Facilitate the cold deformation.
Reduce friction.
Increase electrical resistance (zinc phosphate layers).
Applying phosphate layers can take place:
In immersion baths (usually for smaller productions).
In spray tunnels.
With a brush.
Cold Phos / ARO
Cold Phos/ARO is applied when sand-blasting, warm phosphating or
pickling in baths is not possible. It is the best product in the Vecom
range of products for the cold phosphating of carbon steel. Cold
Phos/ARO is a product on the basis of phosphoric acid, zinc salts and
moistening agents. As a result a strong penetration and a good
moistening are guaranteed. The formed phosphate layer offers a sound
temporary corrosion protection and an excellent paint adhesion.
Phosphating
First remove any loose rust with a steel brush. After this, dilute
according to Cold Phos / ARO in a proportion of 1 litre on 2 litres of
water (solution of about 35 %). For the preparations it is necessary to
use a plastic bucket or plastic bowl. This solution must be applied with
an acid-proof brush or spray gun. Do not rinse it afterwards.
After it has been completely dried (approx. 6 hours), a protective
phosphate layer has been formed, which offers a sound corrosion
protection to the underlying metal and is responsible for a good pain
adhesion.
Intermezzo
The
electrolytes
phosphatising
phosphoric
zinc/calcium
that
have
acid
are
the
and
used
following
zinc
phosphate,
with
basis:
phosphate,
manganese
phosphate or zinc/nickel/manganese phosphate. When applied, the pH lies between 1.8
and 3.5.
Phosphate baths also contain oxidation agents
such as nitrites, nitrates, hydrogen peroxide or
organic nitro-compounds. Sometimes metal
compounds, polyphosphates, fluorides and
borates are also added.
During the process of phosphatising Fe(II)phosphate is dissolved, which is partly oxidised
to Fe(III)-phosphate and precipitates as socalled phosphoric sludge.
Auteur: ing. J.P. Lange (Research & Development)
Reactions and/or questions: e-mail: tb@[Link]
You will find Vecom in the Netherlands (Maassluis, Rotterdam, Bergen op Zoom, Heerlen, Enschede, Hoogezand) - Belgium (Ranst, Mouscron) Germany (Hamburg, Wetzlar) - United Kingdom (Bury, Barnsley, Sheffield) and Denmark (Lsning)
Pag. 2 TB 2004/16