What is Rust?
Rust is an oxide formed on iron and alloys like steel that is formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the presence of moisture like water. It is brittle, flaking, and red-colored in nature. The rate of rusting depends on factors like presence of oxygen and moisture, acidity and alkalinity, and surface area.
Common Causes of Rust Formation
Some common causes that lead to Rust Remover t formation on iron and steel surfaces include:
- Exposure to water or moisture in the environment. Water catalyzes the rusting reaction by facilitating the interaction between iron and oxygen.
- Salinity in the atmosphere near coastal areas accelerates corrosion due to high salt concentration.
- Exposure to chemicals that accelerate the rate of corrosion like chlorides and sulfides.
- Surface scratches and cuts that expose fresh metal surface directly to oxygen and moisture.
- Poor surface protection and coatings that degrade over time allowing direct interaction between iron and oxygen.
Mechanical Methods of Rust Removal
Mechanical rust removal methods aim at physically removing rust without relying on chemical reactions. These include:
- Wire brushing - Using stiff-bristle wire brushes to scrub away loose and flaky rust. It is a fast method but can damage the underlying base metal.
- Wet/dry sandpaper - Rubbing the rusty surface with progressively finer grit wet/dry sandpaper (180-400 grit) removes rust and smoothens the surface. It is effective for small and localized rust spots.
- Needle scalers - Manually scraping rust deposits using pointed metal tools. It allows pinpointed removal of rust from hard to reach areas but is time-consuming.
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