Acid Salts

E-Pik 210 — Deoxidizer and smut remover for aluminum

It is a liquid concentrate which is mixed with water and used at room temperature to remove oxides from aluminum surfaces following etching. It is especially effective on aluminum alloys which contain silica. Aluminum surfaces will be brightened. It does not contain chromates.

E-Pik 210 is used at a concentration of 2% to 20% by volume in water with the preferred concentration being 10%. Immersion times will vary from a few seconds to one or two minutes, depending on the degree of oxidation present or the type of smut. Add E-Pik 210 slowly to the water. DO NOT add water to E-Pik 210.

E-Pik 211 – Acid Salt – Deoxidizer/Activator for Metals

It is a mixture of dry, granular, free-flowing acid salts which is dissolved in water and used to deoxidize and/or activate metal surfaces prior to plating or chemical conversion finishing. The mildly acidic solutions are used at temperatures ranging from ambient to 180° F with elevated temperatures enhancing the activity and are generally required for derusting steel surfaces.

E-Pik 211 is used to remove oxides and to activate steel, stainless steel, zinc plate, zinc diecast, copper, and copper alloys.

E-Pik 211 is not as harsh in its action on metal surfaces as are mineral acids.

E-Pik 211 solutions do not have to be ventilated if used at ambient temperatures.

Solution Make-Up: Prior to charging the production tank, some experimentation should be performed with properly prepared sample parts using various concentrations of E-Pik 211 solution, immersion times and temperatures. The sample parts should be prepared by thoroughly cleaning and degreasing the surfaces with the appropriate EPI E-Kleen* brand of metal cleaner.

As a general guideline the following concentrations of E-Pik 211 are recommended for use at ambient temperatures except for stainless steel:

E-Pik 213 — Acid Salt – Deoxidizer

Is a mixture of dry, granular, free-flowing acid salts and wetters which are dissolved in water and used either electrolytically or as an immersion acid pickle to remove rust, scale or oxidation from steel, iron, zinc diecastings, copper and copper alloys.  The solution is used at temperatures ranging from ambient to 150°F.

E-Pik 215 — Dry Acid Salts

It is a general purpose metal activator and deoxidizer containing fluoride which is used at room temperature on steel, copper, brass, and zinc.

E-Pik 215 is a free flowing mixture of dry acids and is more convenient and safer to use than liquid mineral aids. It does not produce the undesirable fumes given off with strong acids. It is dissolved in water and used at ambient temperatures to remove light to medium surface rust from steel and to activate steel surfaces prior to blackening with EPI’s Insta-Blak or Ultra-Blak solutions. Heavily rusted surfaces may require elevated temperatures of 150°-170° F. No venting required when used at ambient temperatures. It is used following the water rinse after cleaning the steel surfaces with EPI’s E-Kleen alkaline soak and electrocleaners.

E-Pik 215 is more moderate in its action on steel surfaces than mineral acids and produces a uniformly active surface. It is also used to activate zinc plated surfaces, diecast zinc surfaces, and copper and copper alloy surfaces prior to blackening, oxidizing, antiquing, plating, chromating, or other finishing.

E-Pik 216 – Acid Salt – Deoxidizer
It is a mildly acidic liquid concentrate which is used at 5% by volume in water at room temperature.  It is used to prepare diecast zinc surfaces for plating with EPI’s E-Brite Ultra Cu alkaline non-cyanide copper plating process.

It is moderate in its action and will not darken the zinc surfaces with immersion times of up to 2 minutes.

E-Pik 217 — Copper Etchant & Activator

It is a mildly acidic dry salt mixture, which works at room temperature to prepare copper surfaces for finishing with *EPI*’s blackening, antiquing and electroplating processes.

E-Pik 217 does not produce the undesirable fumes given off from strong acids and no venting is required when used at room temperature.

E-Pik 217 is more moderate in its action than mineral acids and peroxide, and produces a defined etch profile and a very consistent surface area.  It leaves a moderately passive surface resistant to rapid re-oxidation allowing for greater time flexibility for subsequent finishing operations.

E-Pik 217 does not contain phosphate, chromate, nitrate, fluoride, chloride or ammonia.

E-Pik 218 — Neutral Deruster

It is a uniquely formulated liquid concentrate used for rust and scale removal from steel and cast iron. The product is used diluted with water at a neutral pH range of 6.0 to 7.5 and operates at room temperature or at elevated temperatures.

E-Pik 218 eliminates the health and handling hazards associated with the use of strong and corrosive mineral acids or high caustic/gluconated products that are normally used by the metal finishing industry for rust and scale removal. And, unlike the use of mineral acids, there is no danger of hydrogen embrittlement with the use of E-Pik 218, since during the derusting process no hydrogen gas is evolved. The derusting is brought about by the complexation of the iron oxides. In this regard E-Pik 218 is considered ideal for use on high precision engineering tools, dies, etc.

E-Pik 218 does not attack copper, brass, zinc diecastings and aluminum. Hence, it offers the added advantage of rust removal from steel even in the presence of other mixed non-ferrous metals.

Note: Generally for light rust removal, use E-Pik 218 at the lower recommended concentration and temperature. For heavy rust and/or heat treat scale removal, use at the higher concentration and temperature.

E-Pik 219 — Copper Etchant & Deoxidizer

It is a mildly acidic dry salt mixture, which works at room temperature to prepare copper surfaces for finishing with EPI’s blackening, antiquing and electroplating processes.

E-Pik 219 does not produce the undesirable fumes given off from strong acids and no venting is required when used at room temperature.

E-Pik 219 is more moderate in its action than mineral acids and peroxide, and produces a defined etch profile and a very consistent surface area.  It leaves a moderately passive surface resistant to rapid re-oxidation allowing for greater time flexibility for subsequent finishing operations.

If E-Pik 219 is utilized prior to E-Brite 50/50 alkaline non-cyanide silver plating then the make up water must be D.I. water or softened R.O. water.

E-Pik 230 — Alkaline Deruster

It is a highly alkaline powdered mixture of chemical components which are used in water to remove rust and oxidation from ferrous metals without attacking the base metal or causing hydrogen embrittlement. It does not change dimensions of the ferrous surfaces. The derusted surface will exhibit nominal corrosion resistance and will not flash rust (re-rust).

E-Pik 230 is used at a concentration of one to three pounds per gallon of water at temperatures of 180° F to boiling in plain steel tanks. The concentration and length of immersion and temperature will depend upon the degree of rust present. Prior to charging a production tank, some experimentation should be done with thoroughly cleaned parts to determine the optimum parameters for derusting.

Highly rusted steel surfaces can be derusted and cleaned in one step by adding 4-8 ounces per gallon of E-Pik 230 to one of EPI’s E-Kleen alkaline soak steel cleaners.

E-Pik 232 — Etchant for Aluminum

It is a granular mixture of chemical components which is dissolved in water to etch and produce a satin finish on aluminum. It has a controlled etching action with a minimum foam level. Formation of undissolvable aluminum oxide on tank walls is minimized which aids in tank clean up when it becomes necessary to discard the solution.

E-Pik 232 is dissolved in water at a concentration of 3-6 ounces per gallon. Prior to charging a production tank, some experimentation should be done with properly prepared sample parts to determine the concentration of E-Pik 232 and temperature (130°-160° F) required to produce the desired degree of etch and speed of the reaction. Cold water must be used in preparing a new solution because considerable heat is generated when the salts are added to water. A full face shield, rubber gloves and apron must be worn when mixing the solution.

Etching Procedure

E-Pik 232 may be used as a combination cleaner and etchant (begin the procedure at step 5 below) if the aluminum surfaces are fairly free of dirt, oils and working inks. If the surfaces are soiled, then the recommended procedure begins with step 1.

• Clean: Using a solution of EPI’s E-Kleen 130 or E-Kleen 131 non-etch aluminum soak cleaner.
• Rinse: Using a bottom-fed overflowing cold water rinse tank.
• Deoxidize: Using a solution of EPI’s E-Pik 210.
• Rinse: Using a bottom-fed overflowing rinse tank.
• Etch: Using E-Pik 232 at 3-6 oz/gallon of water at 130°-160° F and with immersion times as required to produce the desired degree of etch. An increase in any one of these variables will produce an increased rate of attack.
• Rinse: Using a bottom-fed overflowing rinse tank.
• De-Smut: Using EPI’s E-Pik 210.
• Rinse: Using a bottom-fed overflowing cold water rinse tank.

Proceed with further finishing steps.

E-Pik 271 — Inhibited Acid Deruster/Descaler

It is a liquid acid concentrate which is diluted with water and is used for rust and scale removal from steel and stainless steel without severe attack of the base metal. E-Pik 271 can remove heavy rust, heat treat scale and hard water scale without the danger of hydrogen embrittlement. The presence of the inhibitor in E-Pik 271 also helps to minimize smut formation while pickling high carbon steel.

E-Pik 271 normally works at room temperature, but for faster speed or greater economy it can be used at slightly elevated temperatures. It does not contain any phosphates or chelates to interfere with waste treatment.

Operating Conditions

E-Pik 272 – A Highly Alkaline Strong Oxidizer Descaler for Steel

Used at 1-2 lbs/gallon at 200-220 degrees F to soften heavy heat treat and annealing scale and weld scale.