Process for dezincing galvanized steel

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1998

OSTI ID:871701

Morgan, William A ^[1]; Dudek, Frederick J ^[2]; Daniels, Edward J ^[3]

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1. Hamilton, CA
2. Arlington Heights, IL
3. Oak Lawn, IL

A process for removing zinc from galvanized steel. The galvanized steel is immersed in an electrolyte containing at least about 15% by weight of sodium or potassium hydroxide and having a temperature of at least about 75.degree. C. and the zinc is galvanically corroded from the surface of the galvanized steel. The material serving as the cathode is principally a material having a standard electrode potential which is intermediate of the standard electrode potentials of zinc and cadmium in the electrochemical series. The corrosion rate may be accelerated by (i) increasing the number density of corrosion sites in the galvanized steel by mechanically abrading or deforming the galvanized steel, (ii) heating the galvanized steel to form an alloy of zinc on the surface of the galvanized steel, (iii) mixing the galvanized steel with a material having a standard electrode potential which is intermediate of the standard electrode potentials of zinc and cadmium in the electrochemical series, or (iv) moving the galvanized steel relative to itself and to the electrolyte while immersed in the electrolyte.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• Assignee: Metal Recovery Industries (US) Inc. (East Chicago, IN)
• Patent Number(s): US 5779878
• OSTI ID: 871701
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

process
dezincing
galvanized
steel
removing
zinc
immersed
electrolyte
containing
15
weight
sodium
potassium
hydroxide
temperature
75
degree
galvanically
corroded
surface
material
serving
cathode
principally
standard
electrode
potential
intermediate
potentials
cadmium
electrochemical
series
corrosion
rate
accelerated
increasing
density
sites
mechanically
abrading
deforming
ii
heating
form
alloy
iii
mixing
moving
relative
corrosion rate
electrolyte containing
potassium hydroxide
galvanized steel
electrode potential
/205/