Method for chemical removal of oxide layers from objects of metal

Abstract

A method for the chemical removal of oxide layers from the surface of objects made of metals, in particular those made of titanium, titanium alloys, nickel, nickel alloys and chrome-nickel steels, so that these objects can subsequently be effectively coated with metals. The removal of the oxide layers is effected in a nonaqueous organic medium containing a mixture of hydrogen fluoride and one or more alkali fluorides and/or ammonium fluoride. By practice of this method, interfering oxide films can be removed from the surfaces of workpieces made of the above-named metals or metal alloys, while maintaining stable dimensional accuracy, prior to a subsequent coating of the workpiece with other metals, in particular metal coating compositions such as aluminum, zinc or silver.

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