Standard Guide for Descaling and Cleaning Titanium and Titanium Alloy Surfaces

1.1 This guide covers a cleaning and descaling procedure useful to producers, users, and fabricators of titanium and titanium alloys for the removal of ordinary shop soils, oxides, and scales resulting from heat treatment operations and foreign substances present as surface contaminants.

1.2 It is not intended that these procedures be mandatory for removal of any of the indicated soils but rather serve as a guide when titanium and titanium alloys are being processed in the wrought, cast, or fabricated form.

1.3 It is the intent that these soils be removed prior to chemical milling, joining, plating, fabrication, and in any situation where foreign substances interfere with the corrosion resistance, stability, and quality of the finished product.

1.4 Acid etching may be required following cleaning when the surface has an oxygen-contaminated layer or alpha case present.

1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values in parentheses are for information only.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address the safety problems, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to consult and establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.