Pickling Of Carbon Stel Pipe | Carbon Steel Pickling

Preventative Cleaning Extends Lifespan of Carbon Steel Equipment

Carbon steel pipelines, vessels, heat exchangers and other equipment are often contaminated with scale, deposits and rust. If left untreated, these contaminants can reduce efficiency and even damage your plant. Filters and other small-orifices can become blinded and in high-pressure gas systems, pieces of scale can travel around the system at very high velocities, damaging sensitive equipment and soft seals and gaskets.

Chemically cleaning (pickling) your carbon steel system pre-commissioning can extend its operating lifespan and reduce maintenance costs. Scale and rust can be preferentially removed by the use of inhibited acids. Our chemicals will dissolve the ferrous contaminants, whilst leaving the base material clean and ready for service. After pickling, a temporary corrosion-resistant layer / rust inhibitor is applied.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scale is formed on the surface after hot-working processes. In many cases, this scale appears to be continuous and tightly adhered. However, if the media that is carried in your system is likely to cause any degree of corrosion (including water), then over time, the scale can come loose and detach from the surface. We would always recommend pickling / descaling of carbon steel equipment that is susceptible to damage / restriction from scale and other corrosion debris.

If the pickling process is carefully controlled, it will not damage your equipment. Rigorous checks should be made to confirm that all materials within your equipment/system is compatible with the pickling chemistry.

Pickling times are subject to the system volume, temperatures, severity of corrosion debris, and various other factors. All things being well, a thorough degreasing, pickling and passivation process should be possible within 3 to 4 days. Larger systems will take longer.

No. Passivation is the removal of free-iron contamination from the steel surface so that a passive layer can form. This is not possible with carbon steel. The surface would just start to oxidise (rust). Pickling will remove scale and heavy rust. After pickling, carbon steel will quickly flash-rust. A final process that removes the flash-rusting and leaves a temporary corrosion-resistant layer is required. This is usually achieved by flushing with a phosphate product, ammonium-citrate or other corrosion inhibitor.

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You can ask us for advice or help on any or all of the following:

Passivation
Derouging
Oxygen Cleaning
Biofilm Removal
Riboflavin Testing
Pre-Commissioning Flushing
Carbon Steel Pickling

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