ASTM B600-22

Standard Guide for Descaling and Cleaning Titanium and Titanium Alloy Surfaces

ABSTRACT
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. It is recommended that the materials shall be subjected to soil removal prior to heat treatment or application of acid treatment. Mechanical descaling methods such as sandblasting, shot blasting, and vapor blasting may be used to remove hot work scales and lubricants from titanium surfaces. Recommended post treatment of shot or abrasive blasted titanium surfaces may include acid pickling to ensure complete removal of surface contaminants. For chemically milled materials, salt bath conditioning may be required to remove the oxygen-contaminated layer. Acid etching treatment may be required following mechanical abrading or chemical conditioning of materials to completely clean the surface.
SCOPE
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 standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2022
• ICS: 77.150.50 - Titanium products
• Technical Committee: B10 - Reactive and Refractory Metals and Alloys
• Drafting Committee: B10.01 - Titanium

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: B600 − 22
Standard Guide for
Descaling and Cleaning Titanium and Titanium Alloy
1
Surfaces
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B600; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope 2. Processing Soil Removal
1.1 This guide covers a cleaning and descaling procedure 2.1 It is recommended that grease, oil, and lubricants
useful to producers, users, and fabricators of titanium and employedinmachining,forming,andfabricatingoperationson
titanium alloys for the removal of ordinary shop soils, oxides, titanium and titanium alloys be removed by alkaline or
and scales resulting from heat treatment operations and foreign emulsion soak-type cleaners and electrolytic alkaline cleaning
substances present as surface contaminants. systems. In the electrolytic system the work may be either
anodic or cathodic polarity. Removal of these soils is recom-
1.2 It is not intended that these procedures be mandatory for
mended prior to heat treatment or application of acid treatment
removal of any of the indicated soils but rather serve as a guide
designated in 4.2.When electrolytic systems are employed, the
when titanium and titanium alloys are being processed in the
voltage should be controlled to prevent the occurrence of spark
wrought, cast, or fabricated form.
discharge and subsequent pitting.
1.3 It is the intent that these soils be removed prior to
chemical milling, joining, plating, fabrication, and in any
3. Blast Cleaning
situation where foreign substances interfere with the corrosion
3.1 Mechanical descaling methods such as sandblasting,
resistance, stability, and quality of the finished product.
shot blasting, and vapor blasting may be used to remove hot
1.4 Acid etching may be required following cleaning when
work scales and lubricants from titanium surfaces if followed
the surface has an oxygen-contaminated layer or alpha case
by thorough conditioning and cleaning as described in Section
present.
4.
1.5 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
3.2 The sand used for blasting should be a high-grade,
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
washed, iron-free, silica sand or other ceramic media. If carbon
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
or low-alloy steel products are sandblasted in the same facility,
and are not considered standard.
thesandusedforcleaningtheseproductsshouldnotbeusedon
titanium surfaces and a separate sand supply should be
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
provided.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.3 Roughening of exposed surface areas may occur from
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
grit or shot if cleaning of the entire surface is accomplished by
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
blasting. Partial cleaning for preserving the surface finish is to
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
be preferred in conjunction with proper pickling procedures.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
3.4 Blast cleaning that utilizes steel grit, steel shot, or sand
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
containing appreciable amounts of iron should be followed by
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
acid pickling to remove any embedded steel particles on the
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
surface of the titanium.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
3.5 Any abrasive or shot blast cleaning may induce residual
compressive stresses in the surface of the material or titanium
structure. Warpage may occur in thinner sections that are
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee B10 on Reactive and
subsequently chemical milled or contour machined.
Refractory Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
B10.01 on Titanium.
3.6 In most cases, blast cleaning is not intended to eliminate
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2022. Published October 2022. Originally
pickling procedures completely. Abrasives will not remove
approved in 1974. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as B600 – 11 (2017).
DOI: 10.1520/B0600-22. surface layers contaminated with interstitial elements such as
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: B600 − 11 (Reapproved 2017) B600 − 22
Standard Guide for
Descaling and Cleaning Titanium and Titanium Alloy
1
Surfaces
This standard is issued under the fixed designation B600; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope
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 standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to consult and establish appropriate safety safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and
determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Processing Soil Removal
2.1 It is recommended that grease, oil, and lubricants employed in machining, forming, and fabricating operations on titanium and
titanium alloys be removed by alkaline or emulsion soak-type cleaners and electrolytic alkaline cleaning systems. In the electrolytic
system the work may be either anodic or cathodic polarity. Removal of these soils is recommended prior to heat treatment or
application of acid treatment designated in 4.2. When electrolytic systems are employed, the voltage should be controlled to
prevent the occurrence of spark discharge and subsequent pitting.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee B10 on Reactive and Refractory Metals and Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee B10.01
on Titanium.
Current edition approved May 1, 2017Oct. 1, 2022. Published May 2017October 2022. Originally approved in 1974. Last previous edition approved in 20112017 as
B600 – 11.B600 – 11 (2017). DOI: 10.1520/B0600-11R17.10.1520/B0600-22.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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B600 − 22
3. Blast Cleaning
3.1 Mechanical descaling methods such as sandblasting, shot blasting, and vapor blasting may be used to remove hot work scales
and lubricants from titanium surfaces if followed by thorough conditioning and cleaning as described in Section 4.
3.2 The sand used for blasting should be a high-grade, washed, iron-free, silica sand. sand or other ceramic media. If carbon or
low-alloy steel products are sandblasted in the same facility, the sand used for cleaning these products should not be used on
titanium surfaces and a separate sand supply should be provided.
3.3 Roughening of exposed surface areas may occur from grit or shot if cleaning of the entire surface is accomplished by blasting.
Partial cleaning for preserving the surface finish is to be preferred in conjunction with proper pickling procedures.
3.4 Blast cleaning that utilizes steel grit, steel shot, or sand containing appreciable amounts of iron should be followed by acid
pickling to remove any embedded steel particles on the surface of t
...