Do You Know the Methods for Rust Removal from Stainless Steel Tubes?

Stainless Steel Tubes can also rust under environmental influences. So what are the methods for rust prevention and removal for Stainless Steel Tubes? Below are some introductions that we hope will be helpful.

Cleaning

Use emulsifiers to clean the surface of Stainless Steel Tubes, which can remove oil, dust, lubricants, and similar organic substances.

However, this method cannot remove rust or oxide scales on the steel surface, so it is only an auxiliary measure in anti-corrosion production.

Manual or Power Tool Polishing

Use wire brushes or other tools to polish the surface of Stainless Steel Tubes, removing loose or raised oxide scales and rust.

Manual tool rust removal can achieve Sa2 level, while power tool rust removal can reach Sa3 level.

If the tube surface has firmly adhered iron oxide scales, tool-based rust removal may not be effective.

Acid Pickling

Common methods include chemical and electrolytic pickling. For pipeline anti-corrosion, only chemical pickling is used.

This can remove oxide scales, rust, and old coatings, and is sometimes used as a follow-up treatment after sandblasting.

Although chemical cleaning can achieve a certain level of surface cleanliness and roughness, the anchor pattern is shallow, and it may cause environmental pollution.

Abrasive Blasting (Shot Blasting)

Uses a high-power motor to drive rotating blades at high speed, propelling abrasives (steel grit, steel shot, wire segments, or minerals) onto the tube surface under centrifugal force.

Effectively removes rust, oxides, and contaminants while creating a uniform surface roughness through intense impact and friction.

After blasting, the physical adsorption capacity of the tube surface increases, enhancing mechanical adhesion between the anti-corrosion layer and the tube surface.

Therefore, abrasive blasting is an effective method for surface treatment and rust prevention of Stainless Steel Tubes.

These methods provide comprehensive solutions for maintaining and protecting Stainless Steel Tubes from rust and corrosion.