US2011056516A1PendingUtilityA1

Process for surface treatment of metals

42
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Feb 28, 2007Filed: Nov 17, 2010Published: Mar 10, 2011
Est. expiryFeb 28, 2027(~0.6 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Richard E. AdairAndreas Lindert
C23G 1/081C11D 3/044C23G 1/103C11D 3/042C23G 1/10C11D 3/30C11D 3/046C11D 7/10C23G 1/125C11D 7/08C11D 7/04C11D 2111/16
42
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Claims

Abstract

An environmentally acceptable and comparatively safe acid cleaning solution containing sulfuric acid, water and amine containing inhibitors that adequately remove oxidation or contaminants from surfaces without excessively damaging equipment. The sulfuric acid is effective in removing impurities and contaminants, while the amine moieties or amine salts reduce the otherwise damaging effect of sulfuric acid on equipment and on human skin and tissue.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An environmentally friendly process for treating metal comprising the step of:
 contacting a surface of said metal with a formulation that does not remove excess metal, wherein said formulation includes sulfuric acid, water, and at least one substance selected from the group consisting of amines and sulfate salts of amines.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein said formulation further includes an organic acid, an inorganic acid or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2  wherein said acid is hydrofluoric acid and present from about 0.1 to 3% by weight of said formulation. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3  where said formulation is employed for the cleaning of aluminum containers particularly beverage and food containers. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said formulation comprises:
 sulfuric acid from about 46% to about 67% by weight;   water from about 25% to about 46% by weight; and   anhydrous ammonia from about 0.1 to about 8.0% by weight.   
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said formulation comprises:
 sulfuric acid from about 51% to about 62% by weight;   water from about 35% to about 46% by weight; and   anhydrous ammonia from about 2.2% to about 3.0% by weight.   
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said formulation comprises:
 sulfuric acid from about 54% to about 56% by weight;   water from about 41% to about 43% by weight; and   anhydrous ammonia from about 2.4% to about 2.9% by weight.   
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said formulation is prepared by blending said sulfuric acid and said water to obtain a mixture thereof and then adding said anhydrous ammonia to the mixture. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said formulation further comprises an inhibitor for inhibiting etching of the metal. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein said inhibitor is selected from a group consisting of a primary amine, a secondary amine, a tertiary amine, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein said inhibitor contains amine moieties incorporated within a polymeric structure. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , wherein said amine containing polymeric structure is generated by radical, ionic, condensation polymerization or by grafting. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said formulation further comprises an etching accelerator. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said formulation further comprises a buffer. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said formulation further comprises a surfactant. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said formulation is present in a concentration from about 0.5% to about 60% by weight. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said formulation is present in a concentration from about 3% to about 25% by weight. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said formulation is present in a concentration at about 6.25% by weight. 
     
     
         19 . A process for removing surface impurities from metal comprising the steps of
 applying to said metal a formulation that comprises sulfuric acid, water, and a substance selected from the group consisting of anhydrous ammonia, ammonia and a sulfate salt of ammonia; and   reducing a substantial quantity of metal ions from being released from said metal when applying said formulation to said metal.   
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 19  wherein said formulation is present in a concentration from about 3% about 25% by weight. 
     
     
         21 . The process of  claim 19  wherein said formulation is present in a concentration of about 6.25% by weight. 
     
     
         22 . The process of  claim 19  wherein said formulation further comprises an inhibitor for inhibiting etching of the metal. 
     
     
         23 . The process of  claim 22  wherein said inhibitor is selected from a group consisting of a primary amine, a secondary amine, a tertiary amine, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The process of  claim 22  wherein said inhibitor is incorporated into a polymeric structure. 
     
     
         25 . The process of  claim 22  wherein said formulation is applied to said to metal to remove surface impurities from the metal and wherein said formulation further comprises a metal cleaning agent; a mixture of sulfuric acid and water; and a substance selected from the group consisting of anhydrous ammonia, ammonia, and a sulfate salt of ammonia. 
     
     
         26 . The process of  claim 25  wherein said formulation is present in a concentration from about 3% to about 25% by weight. 
     
     
         27 . The process of  claim 25  wherein said formulation is present in a concentration of about 6.25% by weight. 
     
     
         28 . A metal product resulting from a process comprising the steps of:
 providing a metal piece having oxidation or contaminants; and   treating said metal piece to reduce said oxidation or contaminants by contacting said metal piece with a formulation that includes sulfuric acid, water, and a substance selected from the group consisting of anhydrous ammonia, ammonia and a sulfate salt of ammonia.   
     
     
         29 . The metal product of  claim 28  wherein said formulation is present at about 6.25% by weight. 
     
     
         30 . A process for removing minerals from a water handling system having metal components comprising the step of:
 applying to the system a formulation that includes sulfuric acid, water, and a substance selected from the group consisting of anhydrous ammonia, ammonia and a sulfate salt of ammonia.

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