Removing rust from metal at home
Rust formation is a fairly common and unpleasant phenomenon. However, cleaning the metal surface is not as difficult as it might seem.
Why does rust appear
Metals are subject to rust due to the fact that they are mined and used not pure, but in the form of chemical compounds with oxygen, carbon, water, sulfur and other elements. For pure metals, corrosion is not terrible, since they do not tend to form compounds with environmental substances. However, there are few such materials - silver, gold and platinum.
Most of the contaminated metals mined are smelted, refined and recovered to make them pure. However, in this case, they become unstable and tend to react with elements of the environment. So, when the metal comes into contact with air, an oxide is formed, and with moisture, a hydroxide is formed. These processes are natural for iron and are called corrosion, and their result is rust.
Since metals are mainly used as durable materials, which are the basis for various structures, they are constantly in contact with the environment and the corrosion process is inevitable. If air oxygen and moisture are constantly present, then after a while the iron can be destroyed to the ground, completely turned into rust.
However, corrosion is not a very fast process, so iron products are destroyed for quite a long time. In addition, new methods are being invented to delay the appearance of rust as much as possible.
Note! High-quality removal of rust from a metal surface is one of the most effective ways to keep a product in proper shape.
At the same time, rusty deposits can often be present on various non-metallic surfaces such as tiles or bathtubs. This is due to rusting plumbing fixtures and other equipment with metal elements that are exposed to the environment. Rust is then carried away by water, contaminating surfaces in addition to limescale. However, all such coatings are fairly easy to clean.
It is worth removing rust in the following cases:
- Before gluing or painting metal products. Traces of corrosion will prevent glue or paint from firmly bonding to the metal surface, and therefore must be removed.
- For protection against destruction.In order for a metal product to serve for a long time, it must be promptly cleaned of iron oxides and covered with anti-corrosion materials such as zinc oxide.
- For aesthetic reasons.
Special removal products
Chemicals allow you to quickly and effectively remove contamination of almost any complexity and age. Such funds can be produced in various forms - liquid, spray or gel. Moreover, all the necessary components are already included in the composition.
Important! When working with a concentrate, the substance must be diluted with water in accordance with the instructions.
The cleaning products contain the following elements:
- Acids such as hydrochloric, sulfuric, orthophosphoric or silicic acids. The substances they contain can only be used to clean acid-resistant surfaces. The strongest acids are used in combination with inhibitors because of their high corrosiveness.
- Inhibitors. These substances slow down the chemical reaction of the acid with the metal surface, which allows the solution to remove only the rust layer without destroying the structure of the product. In this case, a special protective layer is formed on the processed plane.
- Surfactants (surfactants). Nonionic substances are more common because of their high detergency and good compatibility with other components.
- Dyes, water and some other substances.
Note! Special chemicals are highly corrosive, therefore, work with them should be carried out only with the use of thick rubber gloves, respirators and goggles in a well-ventilated area with running water.
Rust converters are quite popular. These substances do not remove existing plaque, but block the development of corrosion. At the same time, the rust turns into a new protective film, which leads to the formation of chemically pure iron. However, after processing with such compounds, the metal surface changes its color, becoming blue-violet.
Mechanical removal
Since corrosion products have low adhesion, they can be easily removed from the surface of the product by mechanical stress. In this way, it is convenient to remove rusty deposits from large flat metal surfaces. It is also advisable to use this method for cleaning heavily rusted products as the first stage of complete removal of contamination.
A sander can be used to clean large items, starting with the coarse grain and finishing with the finest grain. Metal brushes and abrasive nozzles for a grinder or drill are also suitable. Small parts are easier to clean with sandpaper.
Note! The areas of metal treated in this way remain unprotected against the environment, and therefore, without special treatment, they will be covered with rust even faster.
Folk ways
The main rules when using any of these products are strict adherence to the exposure time to prevent damage to the product itself and thorough drying to delay re-corrosion.
Aluminium foil
In this case, the foil acts as an analogue of an abrasive brush, that is, it has an exclusively mechanical effect. A piece of foil must be crumpled into a tight ball that can be used to clean the surface.It should be borne in mind that this method is suitable for light pollution on household appliances. But for cleaning rusty pipes, it is better to use chemicals.
Vinegar
It is worth using white vinegar, as its flavored and colored counterparts will not only not help remove dirt, but can also leave new ones. The order of work is as follows:
- pour vinegar into a spray bottle;
- apply the substance to the site of the lesion;
- leave the treated surface for a couple of hours;
- clean off plaque with a metal brush;
- wash off traces of vinegar with warm water;
- dry the treatment area in the sun or wipe thoroughly with a rag.
Note! Small metal objects can be placed whole in vinegar for up to a day.
Soda
Effective enough for small soiling. Soda must be diluted with water to obtain a pasty mass, which should be applied to the surface in a thick layer. After half an hour, the plaque is easily cleaned off with a metal sponge or brush.
Lemon acid
A fairly effective remedy with a number of advantages:
- availability;
- preservation of the appearance of the paint covering the metal product;
- absence of aggressive chemicals in the composition;
- harmless to the skin of the hands (the use of gloves is still recommended).
Before starting work, the metal surface must be degreased, which can be done with a dishwashing detergent. Then the product is placed in a concentrated solution (80 g of citric acid per 100 ml of warm water) for several hours. In this case, the reaction begins within a few minutes, which is signaled by the formed bubbles. After the completion of the reaction, the surface must be rinsed under running water, if necessary, removing the remaining contamination with a metal brush.
Oxalic acid
The algorithm for working with this substance is as follows:
- wash the rusted product using any dishwashing detergent;
- dry thoroughly;
- mix six teaspoons of oxalic acid with 300 ml of water;
- immerse the object in the solution for half an hour;
- remove rust residues with a stiff brush;
- dry the product thoroughly.
Important! When working with oxalic acid and its solution, rubber gloves, a respirator and goggles must be worn.
Hydrochloric acid
A 2% hydrochloric acid solution will effectively clean the white thing from rust. In this case, the object to be cleaned is simply enough to treat it with acid until the contamination disappears. After that, it must be rinsed in a solution of ammonia and water (a couple of tablespoons of ammonia per liter of water).
Hydrogen peroxide
This substance has oxidizing and reducing properties, which allows it to effectively remove traces of rust from objects such as bathtubs, toilet bowls, knives or tools.
Note! To increase the effectiveness of peroxide, it can be used in combination with trisodium phosphate.
Hydrogen peroxide is used according to the following scheme:
- dilute four tablespoons of trisodium phosphate powder in three liters of water;
- carefully pour 50 ml of peroxide into the solution, dividing into five portions;
- soak the product in the mixture for half an hour;
- thoroughly wipe the area to be treated with a regular sponge, then leave the product for another ten minutes;
- rinse the surface with clean water.
Coca-Cola
This drink contains phosphoric acid, and therefore can be used to remove rust. It is enough to place a damaged product in a liquid for 25-30 hours, after which it should be rinsed with clean water and wiped dry.
How and how to remove rust from metal
Removing traces of corrosion from various objects has its own specifics, which must be taken into account.
From the car body
Rust often forms on the car body. The following remedies are best for removing it:
- Orthophosphoric acid. Its solution is applied to a sponge, which is used to wipe the car body.
- Zinc. Mixtures are made from it, allowing to get rid of contamination after the first treatment.
From the water tap
The optimal remedy for rust on metal, especially for cleaning metal enamel surfaces, is the Adrilan product, produced for washing household appliances. Since it is very concentrated, it is diluted in warm water before use.
Note! The faucet in the bathroom or kitchen must be cleaned very carefully to avoid damaging the finish.
From the bike
Rust stains that develop on the bike frame can be easily removed with citric acid. In this case, before removing rust from the metal, the surface must be degreased, and then rinsed and dried thoroughly.
From skates
If the skates are stored for a long time in high humidity conditions, rusty deposits begin to form on them. You can remove it with a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice. To do this, the components are mixed until a mushy substance is obtained, which must be applied to the contaminated surface for an hour and a half. After that, the skates need to be rinsed and dried.
From a horseshoe
Old rusty horseshoe can be cleaned with oxalic acid. To create a solution, it is necessary to mix acid and boiled water in a ratio of 1 to 12. A horseshoe is placed in the resulting liquid for forty minutes, after which it is washed with running water.
With tools
Metal tools that are rarely used corrode over time. You can clean them of rusty deposits with a vinegar solution. To prepare it, you need to mix white vinegar with warm water in equal proportions. The resulting liquid is applied to contaminated instruments, after which they can be easily cleaned with a metal brush or sponge.
After cleaning, polished metal tools can be treated with a solution of gasoline and wax or paraffin to protect them from further corrosion. To obtain it, paraffin or wax must be added to gasoline heated in a water bath.
With a nut
You can clean the nuts from corrosive deposits with a vinegar solution. To do this, 100 ml of white vinegar is diluted in a bucket of water, after which all rusted nuts are placed in a container for three to four hours. After this time, the nuts are rinsed with clean water and wiped off from rust residues.
Cleaning small household items
All of the above methods can be used to clean small metal objects. The only difference is the ability to place a rusty product entirely in the used product.
Preventing rust
Various alloys are created to protect metals from rust.So, chromium, molybdenum, nickel, sulfur, titanium and other elements responsible for certain properties of the resulting alloys are often added to the composition. However, this method is not always acceptable, and it is also quite expensive.
A more convenient option is to apply coatings to the existing metal that form a barrier between the surface of the product and the environment, which slows down the corrosion process. Paints or ground enamels are often used as coatings, but the most effective option is to apply a thin layer of another metal that rusts very slowly. For example, iron can be plated with chromium, tin, copper, or nickel. At the moment, zinc is considered the most optimal option, combining ease of application, low cost and high efficiency. It corrodes three times slower than the vast majority of metals and, if applied correctly, can completely stop corrosion for 25-30 years.
Over time, rusty deposits can attack almost any metal. However, with timely cleaning and processing, you can significantly extend the life of the product.
How to remove rust at home
