How to remove rust from metal: means for removing corrosion at home

Most metal surfaces subject to corrosion. Rust almost all metals: some faster, others slower. Even aluminum is subject to corrosion. It is expressed in the appearance on the surface of the oxide film. Therefore, for normal use metal objects useful to know how to remove rust from metal. Sooner or later this will have to face anyone.

varieties of corrosion

Rust in the classic sense - it mixture of iron oxides, Each of which is formed at a certain stage the destruction of the metal surface and differs own physical and mechanical properties.

If we consider the corrosion layers from the bottom to the surface, it can be noted following its components:

• The iron oxide. This is a fairly soft layer. It can be of varying thickness, which depends on the conditions of a metal object. Under high humidity and elevated temperature thicker layer of iron oxide.
• Lodestone. This is the iron oxide with magnetic properties. This layer has an even softer and more porous structure.
• Hematite. It is, in fact, we rust visible. It has a reddish-gray color and is securely attached to the surface of the object. In hematite increased density. If it appears on the surface of the moving steel elements, it rapidly causes wear due to the increase of friction coefficient. It is therefore important to know how to remove rust from metal before it will disable any mechanism or tool.

The problem of corrosion metal removal is that initially unknown when and under what conditions turned into magnetic iron hematite. Therefore, before you remove the rust have to know the exact composition of the metal material of the object, and the conditions that led to the appearance on the surface of the visible pockets of corrosion.

Depending on the characteristics of corrosive metal layers on clean it in several ways:

• Mechanical.
• Heat.
• Chemical.

mechanical removal

Clean the metal from rust very simple mechanical means. To do this, using abrasives. For example, using a conventional metallic brush can remove rust in small metal objects. The main condition of success - the complete destruction of all layers of rust.

Unfortunately, this method is not suitable for cleaning large metal parts, as it takes too much time. Remove the corrosion with large metal objects better through sandblasting machines. The essence of the procedure is as follows: to a site affected by corrosion under pressure is fed a mixture of water and sand. It quickly removes rust. Using this means of purification necessary to comply with several conditions:

1. Carefully monitor the impact of the mixture on the metal surface.
2. The wall thickness of the items to be cleaned should be at least 1 mm.
3. Do not spare the water and sand.

Mechanical means of disposal of corrosion can be applied only to large metal objects with thick walls and a simple surface shape. If the thickness of the metal is low, moreover, it has a complex relief surface, then it is better to resort to other means of removing rust.

Chemical substances

Etching chemical solutions - the best means of rust on the metal, if it has a small wall thickness. The weak acid solutions penetrate the most remote places, which ensures removal of rust from metal surfaces with difficult terrain.

Chemical means for removing rust from metal may be applied after degreasing cleaning object. For pre-clearing of channels and gaps in the metal surface can be used beer yeasts. They will reduce the density of the rust.

The chemical solution is poured into a special bath, which subsequently placed cleanable metal object. corrosion removal timing chemical process depend on the depth of corrosion, metal thickness and the required purification level. After the procedure, the item will have to wash the chemical agents.

thermal treatment

This method of removing the corrosion is mainly used in enterprises. The fact that it makes sense to resort to it, unless the subject has a large size.

Homemade methods of removing rust

Remove rust from metal in the home can be a variety of ways. The easiest and most affordable - the use of household alkalis and acids. In fact, a chemical cleaning method.

In some cases you can use a simple mechanical cleaning. However, this method should only be used if in the future the metal piece will be painted.

Avtoochistitel - this tool is sold in any shop of automotive products. It can effectively remove the rust from the metal surfaces in the home. Agent is a paste which is applied for a few minutes at the lesion, and then rinsed. Usually, one treatment is enough to remove a minor corrosion. In extreme cases, the procedure can be repeated.

Rust remover, you can cook at home alone. For this we need the following ingredients:

• 300 ml of pure water.
• 50 g of soda or sodium hydroxide.
• 50 g of ammonium.
• 250 ml formalin diluted to 40%.

All components must be mixed. The resulting solution can be poured in a glass or steel container. An important condition for success: placed in a solution of detail must be previously degreased. In this solution the removal of corrosion typically takes less than 35 minutes.

After this the home cleaning of rust must be thoroughly rinsed metal member with hot water and wiped dry.

What other chemicals to cut off the rust at home? Several of them:

1. Sulphuric acid. The use of the inhibitor - the main condition for the safety of its use. Otherwise, the metal can be destroyed together with the metal. The most affordable inhibitor - methenamine. For example, for the removal of pitting corrosion with small metal objects can be used a mixture of 1 liter of 5% sulfuric acid solution and a half grams of hexamine. The same mixture can be used for cleaning large metal objects, but the cleaner will have to be applied with a brush.
2. Rust converters. They remove hematite and iron oxide, and magnetite is converted to a solid coating. The most common transducer - 15% aqueous phosphoric acid solution. But much better corrosion copes mixture consisting of 5 ml of butanol, 15 ml of tartaric acid and 1 liter of 15% phosphoric acid solution.

If you need to loosen rusted nut, then getting rid of the need to corrosion moisten it with turpentine. Cleaning rust takes a few hours.

To disconnect welded corrosion of objects can also be used mixture of sulfuric acid and zinc. On the corrosion of rust in this solution usually takes about a day.

Prevention of corrosion

The easiest way to prevent the occurrence of corrosion. To do this, you need only to protect metal surfaces. For example, to protect the metal from various tools can be applied wax and gasoline solution. Apply it on the tool, and it will not rust even in wet conditions.

Polished metal surface it keeps paraffin wax or a mixture of kerosene.