This guide covers a cleaning and descaling procedure useful to producers, users, and fabricators of titanium and titanium alloys for the removal of ordinary shop soils, oxides, and scales resulting from heat treatment operations and foreign substances present as surface contaminants. It is recommended that the materials shall be subjected to soil removal prior to heat treatment or application of acid treatment. Mechanical descaling methods such as sandblasting, shot blasting, and vapor blasting may be used to remove hot work scales and lubricants from titanium surfaces. Recommended post treatment of shot or abrasive blasted titanium surfaces may include acid pickling to ensure complete removal of surface contaminants. For chemically milled materials, salt bath conditioning may be required to remove the oxygen-contaminated layer. Acid etching treatment may be required following mechanical abrading or chemical conditioning of materials to completely clean the surface.

1.1 This guide covers a cleaning and descaling procedure useful to producers, users, and fabricators of titanium and titanium alloys for the removal of ordinary shop soils, oxides, and scales resulting from heat treatment operations and foreign substances present as surface contaminants.

1.2 It is not intended that these procedures be mandatory for removal of any of the indicated soils but rather serve as a guide when titanium and titanium alloys are being processed in the wrought, cast, or fabricated form.

1.3 It is the intent that these soils be removed prior to chemical milling, joining, plating, fabrication, and in any situation where foreign substances interfere with the corrosion resistance, stability, and quality of the finished product.

1.4 Acid etching may be required following cleaning when the surface has an oxygen-contaminated layer or alpha case present.

1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to consult and establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.