Pickling and Passivation

Astro Pak performs on-site chemical cleaning as well as pickling (non-selective removal of surface contaminates or "etching") and passivation (selective removal of surface iron) using citric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfamic acid or hydrofluoric acid on various stainless steel alloys following the methods and chemistries defined in ASTM A380 and ASTM A967. To ensure longevity and productivity, it is necessary to passivate stainless steel utilized in corrosive or reactive environments. Astro Pak has over 48 years of experience in providing pickling and passivation services to the Aerospace, Petroleum, Petrochemical, Pharmaceutical and Biotech, Power Generation, Hydraulic, and Water and Wastewater treatment Industries. In addition to our pickling and passivation services, our on-going R&D program continually formulates and tests new chemistries to achieve better chromium to iron ratios in stainless steel, thus improving its corrosion resistance.

Astro Pak also provides pickling and passivation of systems fabricated of carbon steel. In reactive environments such as those present in liquid and gaseous chlorine and oxygen, it is imperative that weld slag and other contaminates formed during cutting and welding are removed prior to operational use. As the leading service provider, Astro Pak not only provides pickling and passivation services, but also performs chemical cleaning services to achieve the desired clean and passive surfaces in carbon steel systems. We utilize various acids and other chemical cleaning processes with their respective Rodine inhibitors including citric acid, hydrochloric acid, phosphoric acid or sulfamic acid as required by our customer's specifications.

Astro Pak's extensive inventory of equipment can apply these chemistries to your stainless or carbon steel systems anywhere in the world. Our offices in the Continental U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico each have the required equipment and expertise to accomplish projects large and small. We welcome the opportunity to provide a quotation for your project.

Types of Systems Serviced

High-purity Gas -
Breathing Air
Fuel Hydrogen
Inert Gas Argon Helium Nitrogen
Oxidizer Chlorine Fluorine Oxygen Ozone
High-purity Liquid -
Fuel RP-1 Hydrazine Liquid Hydrogen (cryogenic)
Hydraulic fluid
Lubricating oil
Cryogenic Liquid -
Fuel Hydrogen
Inert Helium Nitrogen
Oxidizer Chlorine Oxygen

Applicable Standards