Composition and process for pickling and removing rust from metal

Abstract

A pickling and rust-removing paste composition suitable for cleaning metal surfaces, including surfaces of steel and aluminum. The composition contains fluoride ions and a mixture of calcium compounds and tervalent iron and/or aluminum compounds and has an acidity corresponding to at least 10% by weight of free acid, calculated at 100% HF. The composition also most preferably contains at least one anion selected from nitrate, sulfate, phosphate and chloride and has an acidity corresponding to from about 15 to 30% by weight of free acid, calculated as 100% HF. The composition is applied to that portion of the metal surface, such as steel or aluminum, to be treated and is retained in contact with the surface for a period of time sufficient to effect the desired pickling and/or removal of rust on the surface.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.