Thermal deburring
is a technique increasingly used in the metal industry to remove burrs on not
easily accessible metal items of steel or aluminium. Examples of not easily
accessible areas are internal holes in hydraulic blocks.
Thermal deburring takes place in a closed chamber in a
controlled explosion caused by high pressure and in the presence of oxygen and
methane. In the explosion, the temperature reaches approx. 3,000°C where the
burrs on the item are "burnt" away.
Subsequently, the item surface is coated with burning
products in the form of metal oxides/rust. This coating has to be removed
before any further processing takes place and is usually removed by strong
acids such as phosphoric acid or sulphuric acid which pickles the metal oxides
from the surface.
With this in mind, DST-KEMI has developed a product
range to replace the otherwise well-known pickling baths. The products are pH
neutral, readily biodegradable and do not irritate the skin.
The optimum result is achieved in a multistage washing
plant with ultrasound in at least the first stage. Using these products will
typically extend the bath life and the quality of the washed items is improved
so that the items can be laser welded directly.
The products contribute to an improved
environment, easier waste handling and improved and optimised processes and
quality.
