Black Oxide Baths for Steel Alloys By Scott Papst Technical Service Director October 9, 2009 Distribution • Formulation • Blending • Packaging Hubbard-Hall Inc. Waterbury, CT 06720 Hot Black Oxide Baths for Steel Alloys Better Better Chemistry. Chemistry. Better Better Business. Business.
What is Black Oxide?
Mild Steel
• Black oxide process converts metallic iron surface Fe0 to Fe3O4
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(magnetite) by controlled oxidation.
• Fe3O4 is a complex of FeO (ferrous oxide) and Fe 2O3
(ferric oxide).
• Red Rust is Fe 2O3
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Hubbard-Hall Inc. Waterbury, CT 06720 Hot Black Oxide Baths for Steel Alloys Better Better Chemistry. Chemistry. Better Better Business. Business.
a) Mild Steel – only when scale, rust or oxides are
present. b) Stainless Steel – all alloys, 2-7 minutes. 4. Blacken: a) Mild Steel - @285°F. rolling boil b) Stainless Steel - @255°F. rolling boil 5. Rinse 6. Sealer Distribution • Formulation • Blending • Packaging Hubbard-Hall Inc. Waterbury, CT 06720 Hot Black Oxide Baths for Steel Alloys Better Better Chemistry. Chemistry. Better Better Business. Business.
Typical Blackening Times
Mild Steel Stainless Steel
Low carbon: 10 min. Need contact with mild steel
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High carbon: 10-15 min. 300 series: 5-7 min. max
Tool steel: 30-60 min. 400 series: 2-5 min. max
Examples: A-3, H11,S7, etc. pH 17-4: 2-5 min. max
Heat Treated Steel: 15-20 min. Ductile and cast iron: 2-7 min.
Distribution • Formulation • Blending • Packaging
Hubbard-Hall Inc. Waterbury, CT 06720 Hot Black Oxide Baths for Steel Alloys Better Better Chemistry. Chemistry. Better Better Business. Business.
Base Metal Effect of Mild Steel
• Rust: Must be removed. Rust in equals rust out
• Scale: Must be removed • SurfaceBetter smut: De-smut Chemistry. prior to blackening Better Business.
• Matte Finish: Results in a matte black
• Polishes Finish: Bright shiny black • Heat Treated: Scale common, prone to smutting • Induction Hardened: May produce off-color results. Require longer activation and blackening times • Tools Steel: Usually require extended blackening times
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Hubbard-Hall Inc. Waterbury, CT 06720 Hot Black Oxide Baths for Steel Alloys Better Better Chemistry. Chemistry. Better Better Business. Business.
Trouble Shooting Hot Black Oxide for Mild Steel
Problem Causes and Corrective Action
Loose, red oxide that wipes off • Transfer time too long Better Chemistry. Better Business.
• Rectifier needed (too much
coloidal iron present) • Temperature too high • Solution dries on
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Hubbard-Hall Inc. Waterbury, CT 06720 Hot Black Oxide Baths for Steel Alloys Better Better Chemistry. Chemistry. Better Better Business. Business.
Trouble Shooting Hot Black Oxide for Mild Steel
Problem Causes and Corrective Action
Red iron oxide that does not wipe off • Transfer too long Better Chemistry. Better Business.
• Temperature too high
• Heat treat scale present
• High silica alloy (>3%)
• High Carbon Alloy (>1%)
Distribution • Formulation • Blending • Packaging
Hubbard-Hall Inc. Waterbury, CT 06720 Hot Black Oxide Baths for Steel Alloys Better Better Chemistry. Chemistry. Better Better Business. Business.
Trouble Shooting Hot Black Oxide for Mild Steel
Problem Causes and Corrective Action
Red cast/ back ground • Galvanic problems Better Chemistry. Better Business.
• High chrome alloy
• Need longer immersion time
• Temperature too high
Distribution • Formulation • Blending • Packaging
Hubbard-Hall Inc. Waterbury, CT 06720 Hot Black Oxide Baths for Steel Alloys Better Better Chemistry. Chemistry. Better Better Business. Business.
Trouble Shooting Hot Black Oxide for Mild Steel
Problem Causes and Corrective Action
Green cast / brown • Temperature too low
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• Add salts
• Increase temperature at boil
• Rust present prior to black
Distribution • Formulation • Blending • Packaging
Hubbard-Hall Inc. Waterbury, CT 06720 Hot Black Oxide Baths for Steel Alloys Better Better Chemistry. Chemistry. Better Better Business. Business.
Trouble Shooting Hot Black Oxide for Mild Steel
Problem Causes and Corrective Action
Blotchy black uncoated areas • Poor cleaning
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• Transfer time too long
• Increase part agitation
• Improve cleaning
Distribution • Formulation • Blending • Packaging
Hubbard-Hall Inc. Waterbury, CT 06720 Hot Black Oxide Baths for Steel Alloys Better Better Chemistry. Chemistry. Better Better Business. Business.
Hubbard-Hall Inc. Waterbury, CT 06720 Hot Black Oxide Baths for Steel Alloys Better Better Chemistry. Chemistry. Better Better Business. Business.
Base Metal Effect on Stainless Steel
• 200 and 300 Series Non magnetic; 3-5 minute activation required. 5-7 minutes blackening. Blackens best in contact with mild steel. Better Chemistry. Better Business.
• 302 and 303 Alloys Sometimes require special activation step.
• 309 and 310 Alloys Requires 3-hour activation.
• 400 Series and PH Series Magnetic; May require pre-passivation.
2-7 minutes activation. 5-7 minutes blackening.
Distribution • Formulation • Blending • Packaging
Hubbard-Hall Inc. Waterbury, CT 06720 Hot Black Oxide Baths for Steel Alloys Better Better Chemistry. Chemistry. Better Better Business. Business.
Trouble Shooting Hot Black Oxide for Stainless Steel
Problem Causes and Corrective Action
No blackening • Contact with mild steel Better Chemistry. Better Business. • Surface not activated
• Increase pickle time
• Surface oxides – requires
passivation
• Bath damaged by overheating
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Hubbard-Hall Inc. Waterbury, CT 06720 Hot Black Oxide Baths for Steel Alloys Better Better Chemistry. Chemistry. Better Better Business. Business.
Trouble Shooting Hot Black Oxide for Stainless Steel
Problem Causes and Corrective Action
Smutty black • Too much pickle time Better Chemistry. Better Business. • Over activation
• Bath requires skimming
• Bath need desludging
• Parts need passivation
• Temperature to high
Distribution • Formulation • Blending • Packaging
Hubbard-Hall Inc. Waterbury, CT 06720 Hot Black Oxide Baths for Steel Alloys Better Better Chemistry. Chemistry. Better Better Business. Business.
Trouble Shooting Hot Black Oxide for Stainless Steel
Problem Causes and Corrective Action
Iridescent colors • Temperature too low Better Chemistry. Better Business. • Temperature too high
• Needs contact with mild steel
• Bath damage by overheating
Distribution • Formulation • Blending • Packaging
Hubbard-Hall Inc. Waterbury, CT 06720 Hot Black Oxide Baths for Steel Alloys Better Better Chemistry. Chemistry. Better Better Business. Business.
Trouble Shooting Hot Black Oxide for Stainless Steel
