Henkel Ag & Company, Kgaa

Henkel Kommanditgesellschaft Auf Aktien (henkel Kgaa)

Henkel Kgaa

Valentino Gasparetto

Paolo Giordani

Mauro Rigamonti

Dario Negri

Stefano Sfolcini

This invention relates to a composition for the brightening and/or passivating of stainless steel after pickling. The invention is based on the discovery that the presence of organic compounds containing multiple hydroxyl groups with at least 3, but not more than 8 carbon atoms as a further ingredient of passivating and brightening solution significantly increases the desmutting performance of pickled stainless steel surfaces. The compositions of the invention are especially useful for the passivating and brightening of stainless steel grades being alloyed with sulfur. The invention thus further encompasses a passivating and brightening process for pickled stainless steel surfaces wherein the stainless steel is alloyed with at least 0.10 at.-% of sulfur.

Brightening and passivation of stainless steel surfaces

The use of complex fluoride ions of elements of groups 4, 13, or 14 of the periodic table of the chemical elements (preferably selected from complex fluoride ions of the elements B, Si, Ti, and Zr) in concentrations from 30 t 500 millimoles per liter in process solutions for pickling steel or for bleaching and/or passivating pickled surfaces of stainless steel; a process solution for pickling steel or bleaching and/or passivating pickled surfaces of stainless steel comprising: a) one or more strong acids, b) one or more oxidizing agents in the bleaching/passisvating process, c) complex fluoride ions of elements of groups 4, 13 or 14 of the periodic table of the chemical elements in concentrations from 50 to 500 mmoles per liter; replenisher or concentrate containing a combination of active substances thereof; a process for pickling steel or for brightening and/or passivating of pickled surfaces of stainless steel, wherein the surfaces are brought into contact with such a process solution.

Pickling or brightening/passivating solution and process for steel and stainless steel

A chromium- and nitrogen-free brightening and passivating treatment for metal surfaces, particularly iron and steel, comprises: at least one acid; at least one substance containing a peroxy moiety; and at least one organic substance selected from the group consisting of; molecules that contain both at least one ether moiety and at least one hydroxyl moiety; molecules that contain at least two ether moieties; and molecules that contain in each molecule both at least one ether moiety and one nitrogen atom that is covalently bonded to at least three carbon atoms. Preferably part of the acid contains phosphorus, which has been found to act synergistically with the organic substance to stabilize peroxy compounds against decomposition, particularly in the presence of metal ions.

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