US1545498A - Method of cleaning steel and imparting rust-inhibitive properties thereto and solution therefor - Google Patents

Description

-' v Patented July 1 1,',1'925.

solution containing a'small percentage of a rust-attacking and removing acid, such as UNIT-ED STA;

" JAMES n; KLINGERND cLETE L. BClYLE, 0E n'ETno IT, MICHIGAN, AssIGNoEs To GHEMICAIL PRODUCTS CORPORATION," OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

METHOD or CLEANIN sTEEE AND mmmm nosT-mmrTrvE ritorEaTrEs- THERETO AND SOLUTION THEnEEoE. v

No Drawing.

To all it may concern:

1 Be it known that we,

States, residing at Detroit, county of certain new and useful Improvement in Methods of Cleaning Steel and Imparting Rustlnhibitive Properties Thereto and Solution Therefor, and declare the following to be a full clear, and exact description of the same, such as'will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved inhibitive properties, thereto, and the objectof our invention is to provide an improved method and agent-by means of which steel may be cleanedand rust inhibitive properties may be imparted to the metal.

More specifically, an object is to provide a cheap, inexpensive, rapid process for removing oil, grease, dirt, rust, etc., from the surface of steel, such as for example, the sheet steel generally employed in the manufacture of automobile bodiesyand at the same time imparting to the surface of the steel rust inhibitive properties which will revent the steel from subsequently corroding and rusting.

"Our improved method for treating steel and solution employed therein is' particularly useful in preparing the metal for painting. By following this process the steel is thoroughly cleaned so as to receive [and retain 'a-priming coat of paint and the surface of .the metal is rendered substantially immune to the-action of rust either before or following the painting. We: have. found that by using a soluble salt of chromic acid, such'as otassium chro- 1 mate or sodium. chromate, in our cleaning solation thatsthe rust inhibitive properties of the chnomate preventthe-steel from subsequent rusting. W'e provide a cleaning rem'ovaloidirt is-employed. In this case we use an alcoholor acetone. It has been found that denaturedalcohol containing a s ell JAMES D. KLINGER. and CLETE L. BOYLE, citizens of the United I lVayne, State of Michigan, have invented amethod of cleaning steel and imparting rust" .body construction:

Application filed Hay, 1924. Serial No. 713,778.

amount ofacetone performs very satisfactow.

e have found that an admixture of chromic acid or any soluble salt thereof or any soluble compound containing chromium with sulphuric acid, hydrochloric acid,'nitric acid, or such other acid as possesses the property of attacking and removing rust from metal will serve to impart to the surface of 'the metal when cleaned by the rust-removacid, rust-resisting qualities, and that this process is particularly valuable as a treatment for metal preparatory to paintingghe metal. I r

' e prefer to employ a' fluid-mixture of potassium or sodium chromate, sulphuric acid, denaturedalcohohand acetone. This solution when applied to the metal will remove all oil, dirt, grease, rust, etc., and give the surface of the metal a bright, clean finish and impart thereto rust resisting properties. This solution may be applied to the metal with a brush, sponge, spray, or in any other suitable 'manner. It may be applied either hot or cold. It has been found that if the rust is deep-seated ahot solution will act more quickly than a cold solution; As a further aid in removing deep-seated rust after the solution'has been applied to the metal the badly rusted spots may similar abrasive.

The following method has been found suitable for use in connection with pre aring the sheet steel employed in automo ile The metalis painted or 'spra deep-seated action is accelerated by rubbing the rusty.

spots with emery cloth or a'suitable abrasiye',

being taken to keep the spot wetwith' the cleaning solution; A period of two to care be rubbed with emery cloth or other ed with the cleaning solution. In cases w ere there is rust on the steel the cleaning three minutes is allowed for the solution to act. The cleaning solutioniand the resultant products of the cleaning action are then washed from the steel by. or cold water. If cold water is used it should be flowed "on freely and the water remaining on the surface blown off with air." If hot water is used any water'that has not evaporated should be-blown off with air. The method for proceeding from this rinsing with hot point is to torch oif'ai'ound moulding Qt pockets with a gas'flame, when cleaning all} tomobile bodies, to drive out water. The steel should then be wiped with a cloth saturated with turpentine or alcohol and placed in a pre-heat oven to dry. The steel "is then ready for the priming coat of paint.

The strength of the solution may be Varied depending" upon the Work to be accomplished. A solution of the following ingredients in the proportions setvforth' has been found very satisfactory: four parts of an aqueous solution of potassium or sodium chromate (strength of solution 5%), onehalf of one part of concentrated sulphuric acid, four and one-half parts of denatured alcohol, and one part of acetone.

What we claim is:

1. The method of cleaning steel and imparting thereto rust inhibitive properties consisting in treating the metal with a solution containing a soluble salt of chromic acid, sulphuric acid, and an alcohol.

2. The method of cleaning steel and iniparting rust inhibitive properties thereto which consists in treating the metal with a solution containing sulphuric acid, -a'

soluble chromate, an alcohol, and acetone.

3. The method of cleaning steel and imparting thereto rust inhibitive properties which consists'intreating the metal Wibh a solution containing sulphuric v acid, a soluble chromate, apd acetone.

4. The method .ofcleanihg steel and imparting thereto rust inhibitive properties.

which consists in treating the metal with a solution containing potassium' chromate,

sulphuric acid,'and an alcol kol...

5. The method of cleaning steel and imparting thereto rust inhibitive properties which consists in treating the metal with which consists in treating the metal with a solution composed of denatured alcohol, an

aqueous solution of a soluble chromate, and

a relatively small percentage of sulphuric acid.

7. A solution to. be used in the cleaning,

of steel and the impartingof rust inhibitive properties to the surface thereof containingthe followin ingredients in the approximate volume of four parts of an aqueous solution of asolulole chromate, four and a half parts of an alcohol, one part of" acetone, and one ha-lf of one part sulphuric acid.

8. A solution to be used for cleaning steel and imparting rust inhibitive properties thereto containing an alcohol, a rust-removing acid, and a solution of a soluble salt of chromic acid.

'9. A solution to be used in the cleaning of steel and the imparting of rust inhibitive properties thereto comprising denatured alcohol, acetone,- sulphuric acid, and an aqueous-solution of a salt of chromicacid.

10. A solutionto be used in the cleaning of steel and the imparting of rust inhibitive properties thereto containing an alcohol, sulphuric acid, and potassium chromate.

11. A solution t'o-be, used in the cleaning of steel and the imparting of rust inhibitive properties thereto containing an alcohol, sulphuric acid, and sodium chromate.

In testimony whereof, we sign this specification.

' JAMES D. KLINGER. CLETE L. BOYLE.