Cleaning — Process Challenge

Acid Descaling & Pickling Chemicals

Scale, rust and oxide must be stripped and the metal surface activated; design calls for hydrochloric, phosphoric and organic acids
Why It Matters
Scale, rust and oxide must be stripped and the metal surface activated; design calls for hydrochloric, phosphoric and organic acids
Solution Approach

Scale, rust and oxide must be stripped and the metal surface activated; design calls for hydrochloric, phosphoric and organic acids RawSource supplies the base chemicals that go into these programs. We can help with product selection, grade matching, and sourcing from multiple origins for supply security.

Typical Treatment Workflow
1
System Assessment
Characterize operating conditions—fluid composition, temperature, pressure, flow rates—and benchmark current treatment performance.
2
Chemistry Selection
Match base chemicals to your operating envelope. Factor in compatibility with existing programs, regulatory constraints, and downstream impacts.
3
Dosage & Delivery
Determine optimal treat rates through jar testing or field trials. Configure packaging (drums, totes, ISO tanks) to match consumption and storage logistics.
4
Monitoring & Adjustment
Track KPIs—coupon rates, residuals, separator performance, water quality. Adjust chemistry and dosage as conditions change.
Recommended Chemistries (5)
Hydrochloric Acid
CAS 7647-01-0
Acids & Salts
Acid descaling and pickling
1789 (HYDROCHLORIC ACID, SOLUTION) · Class
Dissolves iron-oxide mill scale and rust to soluble ferrous chloride - the workhorse strong-acid pickle for carbon steel
Melting Point: -115 °C (Melting point is -25 °C for a 39.17% w…   Boiling Point: 51 °C at 760 mmHg   Density: 1.05 at 15 °C for 10.17% weight/weight solution
Full Details
Phosphoric acid
CAS 7664-38-2
Acids & Salts
Rust removal and phosphate conversion
1805 (Phosphoric acid, solution) · Class
Strips rust while leaving a thin protective iron-phosphate film, so it both descales and passivates ahead of painting
Melting Point: 42 °C   Boiling Point: > 130 °C at 760 mmHg   Density: 1.892 at 25 °C
Full Details
Sulfamic Acid
CAS 5329-14-6
Acids & Salts
Cleaning / Degreasing
2967 (SULFAMIC ACID) · Class
Sulfamic acid (H3NO3S) is a solid INORGANIC acid - not organic - that descales carbonate and oxide scale with low fuming and without the chloride attack of HCl, making it safer for mixed-metal parts
Melting Point: Melting point equals 205 °C   Boiling Point: DECOMP @ BOILING POINT   Density: 2.15
Full Details
Citric Acid (Anhydrous, FCC Food Grade)
CAS 77-92-9
Acids & Salts
Chelation / Sequestration
Mild organic acid that chelates iron as it dissolves rust, giving controlled passivation pickling for stainless and precision parts
Melting Point: 153 °C (anhydrous)   Boiling Point: Decomposes   Density: 1.54 at 20 °C
Full Details
Sulfuric Acid 93%
CAS 7664-93-9
Acids & Salts
pH Adjustment
1830 (SULFURIC ACID) · Class
Hot dilute sulfuric is the high-throughput pickle for hot-rolled steel scale removal
Melting Point: 10 °C   Boiling Point: 290 °C at 760 mmHg   Density: 1.841
Full Details

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