The stainless steel surface of the insulated stainless steel spherical tank is covered in rust – how should this be dealt with?
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The company has installed several new 500-liter stainless steel ethylene oxide storage tanks. Less than a year after they were put into use, the stainless steel surface of their insulation layer became covered in rust due to the carbon steel platform and screws/nuts located on top of them. It’s very difficult to deal with this rust; do any of you experienced professionals have any methods to remove it? It looks really ugly. Fine chemicals and surfactants
Rust appearing on the surface of stainless steel is usually caused by the destruction of the passivation layer on the metal surface, which allows the iron components within the steel to react with water, moisture, oxides, and other substances to form rust. The following methods can be used to remove rust from stainless steel: 1. **Chemical cleaners**: There are chemical cleaners available on the market specifically designed to remove rust from stainless steel (such as acidic rust removers), which should be used in the appropriate amounts as indicated by the product instructions. Please make sure to read the product instructions before use and take appropriate safety measures, such as wearing gloves and glasses. 2. **Mechanical methods**: Soft polishing cloths or stainless steel wire brushes can be used to remove rust, but care should be taken not to use hard materials (such as carbon steel wire brushes) to avoid causing further damage to the stainless steel surface. 3. **Electrochemical method**: This method removes rust through electrochemical reactions, but it requires specialized equipment and is more suitable for large-scale or deep-seated rust removal tasks. 4. **Polishing method**: Use fine sandpaper, diamond sandpaper, or polishing paste to grind and polish the surface in order to remove rust, and finally rinse it clean with water. 5. **Use natural materials**: Some natural materials such as white vinegar and citric acid can also be used to remove mild rust from stainless steel. Apply these materials to the affected areas, let them sit for a while, and then rinse clean with water. When carrying out rust removal, it is recommended to first test the cleaning effect in a inconspicuous area to ensure that the stainless steel surface will not be damaged before proceeding with a full cleaning. To address the rusting issues caused by the carbon steel platform and screws/nuts at the top, it is recommended that, after removing the rust, consider replacing the components with those made of stainless steel, or apply a protective coating to the surface of the carbon steel parts to prevent similar rusting problems from occurring in the future. At the same time, regular inspection and maintenance of the equipment can also effectively prevent rust from occurring. .
There are special cleaning agents available, but since your container has a lot of carbon steel structures and bolts, rust spots will reappear shortly after cleaning.
I’ve tried several methods of rust removal; it’s time-consuming and laborious, with little satisfactory result.
Check how deep the rust spots are; it is recommended to first use a grinder with coarse-grit blades to lightly abrade the area, and if that removes the rust, then apply passivation paste for passivation. If the rust spots are deep, it’s a problem as it affects the lifespan of the tank. Stainless steel components should be separated from carbon steel, especially rust, as it can cause pitting and **reduce the service life of the tank.
Remove rust, apply a layer of transparent PU – it’s amazing:lol