Stainless steel welding blues get the brush-off with Australian technology
1 min read
Australian product development company Ensitech has worked with two Leeds-based companies in the development of an environmentally friendly solution to 'heat tint' or 'blueing' of welded stainless steel.
Unveiled last week in Leeds by Member of Parliament for Pudsey Stuart Andrew, whose father was a welder, the TB-31ND neutral weld cleaning fluid means that the use of a highly toxic acidic substance called 'pickling paste' is no longer necessary.
Pickling paste requires high levels of personal protection equipment to be used, but, even then, it continues to cause injuries to workers, is extremely difficult to dispose of, and is hazardous to the environment.
The new Ensitech TB-31ND fluid (patent pending) has neutral pH7 and, when used in conjunction with Ensitech's TIG Brush weld cleaning machine (pictured), enables heat tint to be removed with complete safety. Simultaneously, it completes the 'passivation' process that restores stainless steel's corrosion-resistant properties after welding. Any residue is biodegradable and can be washed away with water. The safety of the neutral fluid means it can be air freighted, too.
Engineering Utilities is the UK agent for the new technology, which is available immediately.
