AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE MANUAL - Job Instruction Cards

SURFACE FINISH TREATMENT FOR TITANIUM

1. General

This topic details the requirements and procedures for the cleaning and
surface preparation of titanium and its alloys.
Il also specifies the inspections to be carried out on the process and on the
parts produced.

2. Specifications

This topic classifies the procedures to be used according to the condition

of the parts, for the following methods:

- cleaning without chemical etch,

- pickling with nitrohydrofluoric acid,
- sandblasting,
- mechanical cleaning.

3. Materials and Equipment

A. Materials

- Solvents: Acetone/Careclean AS1 (Mat. No. 11-003E (Ref. 20-31-00)),

- Nitric acid 40-42 Bé,
- Sodium dichromate,
- Hydrofluoric acid 70%,
- Oxide conditioner: Turco 4338 (D9808, F3172, 61102 (Ref. 20-31-00)),
- Wetting agent: Activol 1357 or Turco Form Ti-Etch Additive 200 (D8908,
F3172, 61102 (Ref. 20-31-00)),
- Aluminium oxide sand 180 Mesh or finer,
- Aluminium oxide abrasive paper, 180 Mesh or finer or Scotch Brite Type
A, fine, ultrafine,
- Neutral kraft paper,
- Steel wool (plain steel),
- Stainless steel brushes,
- White gloves, cleaning cloths,
- Pumice 350 Mesh.

CAUTION: THE PRODUCTS USED ARE TOXIC, CORROSIVE AND INFLAMMABLE.

THE USE OF CHLORINATED SOLVENTS IN THE LIQUID OR VAPOUR PHASE IS

PROHIBITED.

WHEN USING CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS ARRANGE THE PARTS SO THAT THEY DO

NOT TOUCH ONE ANOTHER AND ARE NOT IN CONTACT WITH DIFFERENT TYPES
OF METAL, TO PREVENT GALVANIC "PITTING".

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B. Equipment

All tanks with process solutions at either ambient temperatures or

different temperatures, and coated as stated in Table 2 must:

- temperature regulators and thermometers,

- mechanical or air stirring such to obtain a solution with a 5°C (41°F)
change between the hottest and the coldest points during the process,
- deionised drinking water,
- suction.

4. Procedure

A. General cleaning without chemical etching – METHOD I

(Ref. Fig. 1)

B. Cleaning, deoxidation and nitrohydrofluoric acid etching – METHOD II

(Ref. Fig. 2)

C. Abrasive deoxidation – METHOD III

(Ref. Fig. 3)

D. Mechanical cleaning – METHOD IV

(Ref. Fig. 4)

NOTE: The methods to be used are defined in the Table 1 on the ground of
surface contamination, next surface treatment to be applied and
relevant alloys of faying surface.
The Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 show the different methods.

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ITEM METHOD NOTE

Method I
Cleaning prior to heat treatments
Method III
Preparation for painting or Method II
application of conversion coatings Method III
Removal of surface contaminants
Method I
derived from tools made of low
Method III
fusion point alloys
Preparation of parts before
Methods II, III, IV
welding
Preparation of parts before liquid Method II Smeared surfaces are:
penetrant inspection Parts which have
1) Parts without heat oxides and undergone a reworking
with non-smeared surfaces process able to hide any
---------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- existing defects:
2) Parts with non-tough tough Method II (e.g. sandblasting,
oxides and/or with "smeared" lapping, fitting using
surfaces shavehook, deep-drawing,
---------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- machining)
3) Parts with tough heat oxides Method III

Removal of tough heat oxides
Removal of graphite and molybdenum
sulphide based separator films or
lubricants normally used in
machining process
Cleaning of machined parts to
remove refrigerant or lubricants
which can be emulsified with water
Removal of materials for liquid
penetrant inspection with or
without tracer
Removal of alpha layer
Methods III, IV (1)
Method III
" IV
CTR 72252 followed by pressure washing (3)
Spray washing or immersion
alkaline chemical degreasing
Alkaline degreasing
Chemical milling
Apply method IV only when
the others have been
found to be inoperative
followed by
(2) (3)
Apply when a specific
treatment is not required
(e.g. preparation for
painting) (5)
Use the relevant
specification provided
for by the customer

Preparation for temporary gluing

Manual degreasing with solvent Glue within 4 hours max.
for moulding operations

(1) Method III is applicable to titanium limiting the flow to only sandblasting and alkaline degreasing,
washing and desiccation

(2) Use different washing tanks if of the immersion type

(3) The alkaline solution must preferably be different from that used in the flow of the surface treatments
to prevent pollution

Method to be used
Table 1
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MANUAL DEGREASING WITH SOLVENT

ALKALINE DEGREASING AND WASHING

IMMERSION OF THE PARTS IN SOLUTION No. 1

(REF. TABLE 2)

FINAL WASHING FOR APPROX. 5 MINUTES

IN COLD WATER AND SUBSEQUENTLY (OPTIONAL)
IN HOT WATER (REF. TABLE 2)

COMPLETE DESSICATION WITH FILTERED HOT AIR:

TEMP 55 TO 70°C (131 TO 158°F)

General Cleaning without

Chemical Etching (METHOD I)
Figure 1
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MANUAL DEGREASING WITH SOLVENT

PROTECT VENTS OR AREAS

WITH CRITICAL TOLERANCES

ALKALINE DEGREASING AND WASHING

PARTS WITHOUT HEAT OXIDES PARTS WITH SLIGHT HEAT

DISCOLORATION

IMMERSE IN THE CONDITIONING

SOLUTION OF OXIDES No. 3
(REF. TABLE 2)

WASHING IN WATER FOR 3 MN

TO 5 MN (REF. TABLE 2)

IMMERSE THE PARTS IN THE NITROHYDROFLUORIC

TANK SOLUTION No. 2 (REF. TABLE 2)

WASHING FOR 3 MN TO 5 MN WITH WATER WITH

THE SPECIFICATIONS STATED (REF. TABLE 2)

IMMERSION IN SOLUTION No. 1 OR No. 4 FOR

30 TO 60 SECONDS TO REMOVE ANY SMUT PRESENT

FINAL WASHING FOR 5 MN MINIMUM IN COLD

WATER AND SUBSEQUENTLY (OPTIONAL) WITH HOT
WATER (REF. TABLE 2)

COMPLETE THE DESSICATION WITH FILTERED HOT

AIR – TEMP 55 TO 70°C (131 TO 158°F)

Cleaning, Deoxidisation and

Nitrohydrofluoric Acid Etching (METHOD II)
Figure 2
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MANUAL DEGREASING WITH SOLVENT

SANDBLAST THE PARTS USING ALUMINIUM OXIDE (USED ONLY FOR

TITANIUM) 180 MESH OR FINER WITH WORK PRESSURE NO HIGHER
THAN 30 PSI – SEE NOTES 1, 2 AND 3

WASH THE PARTS FOR 3 MN TO 5 MN WITH COLD WATER

(REF. TABLE 2) REMOVING TRACES OF RESIDUAL ABRASIVE

ALKALINE DEGREASING

IMMERSION OF THE PARTS IN SOLUTION No. 2

(REF. TABLE 2) FOR THE TIME PROVIDED

WASHING FOR 3 MN TO 5 MN WITH WATER (REF. TABLE 2)

IMMERSION IN SOLUTION No. 1 OR No. 4 FOR

30 TO 60 SECONDS TO REMOVE ANY SMUT PRESENT

FINAL WASHING FOR 5 MN MINIMUM IN COLD WATER AND

SUBSEQUENTLY (OPTIONAL) WITH HOT WATER (REF. TABLE 2)

COMPLETE THE DESSICATION WITH FILTERED HOT AIR

TEMP. 55 TO 70°C (131 TO 158°F)

NOTE: 1. When sandblasting titanium, do not use sand which has also been used for
other materials.

2. Sandblasting titanium may cause sparks and parts overheating.

Move the jet at constant speed.

3. Sandblasting fine thicknesses may cause distorted parts and reduced

dimensions.
Work at the specified pressure or even at a lower pressure.
Protect vents and surfaces with close tolerances.

Abrasive Deoxidisation (METHOD III)

Figure 3
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MANUAL DEGREASING OF THE AREA TO DEOXIDISE

WITH SOLVENT

DEOXIDISE THE PARTS BY MANUAL OR MECHANICAL

BRUSHING USING THE BRUSHES OR VIA LOCALISED
DEGREASING OR BY RUBBING THE AREA WITH
350 MESH PUMICE WHICH IS DRY OR DAMPENED
WITH WATER CONTAINING LESS THAN 6 PPM
CHLORINE

IF APPLICABLE, DRY THE AREA WITH A JET OF

DRY AIR.
RUB THE AREA WITH CLEAN CLOTHS SOAKED IN
CARECLEAN AS1

Mechanical Cleaning (METHOD IV)

Figure 4
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SOLUTION CHEMICAL COMPONENT TANK QUANTITY CONTROLS WORK PARAMETERS

COATING PER 100 LITRES G/LITRE

No. 1 INHIBITED NITRIC ACID 20 l (5.284 G) 280 to 310 Temp. 57 to 63°C

NITRIC ACID ------------------ AISI 316 ------------------ ----------- (134.6 to 145.4°F)
SODIUM DICHROMATE 2/3 kg 21 to 25 Immersion time 20 mn to
(4.41/6.61 lb) 40 mn

No.2 NITRIC ACID 45 l (11.89 g) 560 to 670

NITROHYDROF- ------------------- ------------------ -----------
LUORIC ACID HYDROFLUORIC ACID 4.0 l (1.06 g) QTY. NECESSARY Room Temp. +35°C
TO MAINTAIN (95°F)
ETCHING SPEED
MAX.100 Immersion time
KOROSEAL
------------------- ------------------ -----------
WETTING AGENT 0.20 l (0.05 g) 35 to 45 a) normally 1 to
or
ACTIVOL 1357 or DYNE/CM 3 minutes
TURCO TI ETCH ------------------ AT ROOM
PVC
ADDITIVE 200 1.5 g (23.15 g) TEMPERATURE b) etching for smeared
------------------- ------------------ ----------- surfaces for
or
IRON - 5 g/l max. inspection with
------------------- ------------------ ----------- dry penetrants.
CARBON-
TITANIUM - 10 g/l max.
BRICK
------------------- ------------------ ----------- When necessary,
ETCHING SPEED nominally remove 0.05 mm
ON Ti6AL4V (0.0002 in.) based on
0.0025 to the etchning speed value
0.035 supplied by the
INCHES/HOUR Laboratory.

No. 3 OXIDE TURCO 4338 MILD 25 kg (55.12 lb) 240 to 299 Temp. 88°C (176°F) to
CONDITIONER ------------------- STEEL OR ------------------ ----------- BOILING
CARBON
BRICK Time 30 mn minimum

No. 4 NITRIC NITRIC ACID AISI 316 48 l (12.68 g) 665 to 735 Temp. 49 to 54°C
ACID SOLUTION (120.2 to 129.2°F)
Time 20 to 40 minutes

WASHING WATERS WATER PVC INTERMEDIATE WASHES

pH 5 to 9 CHLORINE
30 ppm max.
TDS 750 ppm max.
------------------
FINAL COLD AND/OR
HOT WASHES T (55 to
70°C (131 to 158°F)
– pH 5 to 9
CHLORINE 6 ppm max
– TDS 100 ppm max

Solutions
Table 2
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5. Controls

A. Process control

The processed parts, as visually inspected, must be free from oil, grease,
fingerprints, foreign metal contamination, and oxides.

Cetermine the H2 content, which shall not exceed 20 ppm with a Ti6A14V test
piece (annealed and cleaned with a method other than sandblasting) immersed
for the appropriate time to remove 0.001 inches/surface.

The hydrogen content must be determined using ASTM E 146 or an equivalent

method.

Determine, when in use and as necessary, the etching speed of the solution
using test pieces of annealed TI6A14V of dimensions 2.5" to 3" per surface
and thickness 0.015 to 0.050", with an immersion time of 15 ± 0.5 minutes.

Etching speed, inches/surface/hour

based on a time of 15 minutes = 2 x weight loss x original thickness
initial weight

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