Stainless Steel Coil

The pickling required during the forming of the steel can be a decisive factor in minimizing the environmental footprint and reducing production costs. For this to succeed, a rethink is needed in the industry regarding the use of harmful chemicals such as nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid.

Innovations from BONDERITE^® boost performance, efficiency and sustainability at every stage in the process of manufacturing and using stainless steel coil.

Stainless Steel Pickling

Traditional methods of pickling stainless steel involve a mixture of nitric acid (HNO3) and hydrofluoric acid (HF). This mixed-acid approach delivers great results, but also has big disadvantages. It’s difficult to control. It releases NOx emissions into the air, which can cause serious health risks. And it can also lead to nitrate ions entering wastewater and triggering excessive growth of algae in lakes and rivers. As a result, companies that use traditional stainless steel pickling methods need to invest in expensive equipment like catalytic towers or hydrogen peroxide dosing.

Now, there’s a safe and sustainable alternative: BONDERITE^® nitric acid-free stainless steel pickling solutions.

Efficiency, Quality and Sustainability

Nitric-free stainless steel pickling solutions from BONDERITE^® deliver high-quality results for almost any grade of steel, including strip, wire and pipe. They can be applied in spray or immersion processes. Importantly, these technologies feature inhibitors that make sure the pickling process takes place in a controlled way. This reduces metal loss and also extends the overall bath life because hydrogen development and acid consumption are lower than traditional processes.

These innovations offer a safe and sustainable alternative to mixed-acid approaches, without compromising on quality or corrosion resistance. They do not contain hexavalent chromium, nitric acid or alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs). This means they do not generate NOx emissions or nitrate in wastewater. As a result, pickling jobbers and manufacturers of stainless-steel products are able to stay ahead of changing regulations and cut costs related to managing toxic waste from stainless steel pickling – while improving efficiency, quality, safety and sustainability too.