Over 90%* Base Metal Protection Without Compromise on Scale Removal Rate

Mill scale is made up of iron oxides that start to form during the pre-heating and rough mill process, building up as the steel passes through the finishing train of the hot mill, and during the coiling and cooling of the coil. Acid pickling is an essential step in steel production to chemically remove this scale, but the process must be controlled and optimized to prevent over-pickling and achieve the desired surface quality without loss of productivity.

Quaker Houghton provides a comprehensive range of acid inhibitors for use with hydrochloric, sulfuric, hydrofluoric, or nitric acid to optimize your pickling process.

The benefits:

  • Over 90%* base metal protection minimizes gauge loss for improved yield.
  • Scale removal rate equivalent to uninhibited acid for carbon steels.
  • Improves surface quality and prevents hydrogen embrittlement.
  • Effective at low concentrations.
  • Helps reduce energy consumption.
  • CMR free with reduced acid fumes.

*Under common pickling conditions.

Acid Pickling Process Additives

  • Acid Inhibitors
  • Acid Accelerators
  • Rinse Aids

Maintaining Line Speeds and Surface Quality for Difficult-to-Descale Materials

Steels types such as advanced high strength steel (AHSS), stainless and interstitial-free, as well as silicon steel produce thicker, less soluble scale, presenting a greater challenge for scale removal.

QH EVERBLOCK™ A 8905 is an acid accelerator that speeds up scale removal on difficult-to-descale alloys.

  • Enables higher line speeds and lower pickling temperatures.
  • High strip surface quality with no iron oxide residue.
  • Effective at low concentrations.
  • Improves magnetic induction properties of silicon steel through effective scale removal.

QH EVERBLOCK™ A 3600 is an acid accelerator/inhibitor combination product, recommended for use in pickling tanks where both carbon steel and difficult-to-descale steels are processed.

  • Helps maintain line speeds during campaigns of e.g. silicon steel.
  • Produces high quality strip surface of difficult-to-descale alloys, without over-pickling carbon steels.
  • Reduces production complexity through addition of a single additive.
  • Reduces volume of spent pickle liquor and associated disposal costs.
  • Effective at low concentrations to reduce acid costs.