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F-I-T 11-26-2012 17:43:12 184.6.247.3 Report to Moderator

Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Yes. Muriatic, which is very strong molarity HCl, is so aggressive so as to erode so much metal, that you can ruin a thin tank wall very quickly. Additionally, the chloride salts that are left behind are near impossible to completely rinse out of the metal pores, so further deterioration can continue over time. Phosphoric acid, H3PO4, is pretty mild, and just barely etches the steel. It's the active ingredient in a "self-etching" primer. Also, when it reacts with red rust, it converts the red oxide to black oxide, which is inert to further oxidation, and can be painted over. It's the black finish on good tools and some gun parts. H3PO4 also leaves behind a phosphate flash that will further inhibit red rust from forming. When I use electrolysis to clean and de-rust parts, I spritz them with H3PO4 since they as so rust free they will begin for flash rust if not treated. I can store cleaned sheet metal or wheel rims for years in my very humid Florida shop once they have been treated with phosphoric acid. [Reply]   [No Email]