~AIRBUS

PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

PROCESS SPECIFICATION

01-01-33

Acidic Pickling of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy

Printed in Germany
 ~AIRBUS
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
80-T-35-0100

Process Specification

Acidic Pickling of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy

CONTENTS

1 Scope and Application All directives are originally, checked and approved in the
2 Related Documents German language. In case of discrepancies which could
3 Prerequisites result from possible translation errors or wrong interpretation
4 Materials and Equipment of the English text, the German version of these directives
5 Process shall always be binding.

6 Quality Assurance
7 Safety and Health
8 Process Flow Chart

Data Sheet 1: Deoxidizer 6/16, sulfric

Data Sheet 2: Turco-Smutgo No. I
Data Sheet 3: Surtec 495 - WITHDRAWN
Data Sheet 4: Turco-Smutgo No. IV - WITHDRAWN
Data Sheet 5 SvB917 - WITHDRAWN
Data Sheet 6 Turco Liquid-Smutgo No. 4-D/50
Data Sheet 7 Turco Liquid-Smutgo NC
Data Sheet 8 Turco Liquid-Smutgo NC-B (For Pretreatment for Chemical Milling)
Data Sheet 9 Turco Liquid-Smutgo NC-B (For Post-treatment for Chemical Milling)

Previous issue: 04/2008

The reproduction, distribution and utilization of this document as well as the communication of its contents to others without explicit
authorization is prohibited. Offenders will be held liable for the payment of damages. All rights reserved in the event of the grant of a
patent, utility model or design

80-T-35-0100
01-01-33
Issue 11/2009 Page 1
Aug 01/15
Printed in Germany
 ~AIRBUS
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
80-T-35-0100
1 SCOPE AND APPLICATION
This process specification deals with pickling in acid solutions. Components must be pickled ac-
cording to this process specification when this is prescribed in manufacturing documents or other
process specifications.

The described process is an acid pickling process. It is mild pickling without any measurable
metal removal and discernible roughening of the surface, connected with a substantial reduction
in the surface electrical resistance.

The process can be employed on all semi–finished materials whether plated or not, as well as
on forgings and castings of pure aluminum and aluminum alloys.

Aluminum alloys with a Si content • 2 % are to be treated according to 80-T-35-0140.

In the case of alloys containing zinc, the indications in the data sheets must be observed.

2 RELATED DOCUMENTS
QVA-Z09-07-00 Surveillance of Baths for Chemical and Galvanic Surface Treatment
QVA-Z09-07-26 Determination of Hydrogen Ions in Surface Treatment Baths
QVA-Z09-07-27 Determination of Chromium (VI) in Surface Treatment Baths
QVA-Z09-07-33 Determination of Chloride Contamination in Surface Treatment Baths
QVA-Z09-07-34 Determination of Aluminum in Acid Surface Treatment Baths
80-T-34-6100 Resistance Welding
80-T-35-0014 Cleaning with Organic Solvents (Cold Cleaning Agents)
80-T-35-0020 Alkaline Cleaning
80-T-35-0090 Rinsing
80-T-35-0095 Water Quality
80-T-35-0110 Alkaline Pickling of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys
80-T-35-0114 Pickling (Brightening) of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys in Nitric Acid
80-T-35-0140 Pickling of Aluminum Alloys with High Silicon Content
AITM 3-0029 Determination of Iron (III) as an agent in acidic surface treatment bathes

3 PREREQUISITES

3.1 Personnel
The personnel shall be sufficiently familiar with the contents of this process specification.

3.2 Manufacturing documents

The manufacturing documents must contain the following reference to this process specification :
"Acidic pickling of aluminum and aluminum alloys per 80-T-35-0100”.

80-T-35-0100
01-01-33
Issue 11/2009 Page 2
Aug 01/15
Printed in Germany
 ~AIRBUS
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
80-T-35-0100

4 MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

4.1 Equipment
The bath containers as well as the pumps and pipes shall be of acid–resistant chrome nickel steel or
plastic material.

4.2 Bath fluids

Only products listed in the data sheets to this process specification may be used.

Baths must be prepared with water quality B per 80-T-35-0095.

Bath replenishment is to be done with water quality ”A”.

4.3 Production tools

The racks (supports), baskets and tying wires may be made from aluminum and aluminum alloys.

For anodizing, titanium alloys may be used optionally.

For the process of chromate plating, titanium alloys and stainless acid–resistant steels or acid-
resitant plastic materials are also permitted.

4.4 Components
The process must not be used for components with riveted, spot welded 1) or screwed joints.

In addition, aluminum components combined with the following materials must not be treated:

 steel (e.g. anchor nuts)

 magnesium alloys
 rubber and plastic seals
 paints and sealing compounds

1)
Admissible only upon consultation of the technical department concerned.

80-T-35-0100
01-01-33
Issue 11/2009 Page 3
Aug 01/15
Printed in Germany
 ~AIRBUS
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
80-T-35-0100
5 PROCESS

5.1 Pretreatment
5.1.1 Cleaning with organic solvents
Per 80-T-35-0014

5.1.2 Alkaline cleaning

Per 80-T-35-0020

5.1.3 Alkaline pickling

All components must be subjected to alkaline pickling per 80–T–35–0110 prior to acidic pickling.
For components with fits pickling per 80-T-35-0110 is not permitted (see 8).

Note: To increase the life of the pickling bath (80-T-35-0100), additional pretreatment per
80-T-35-0114 may be carried out following alkaline pickling per 80-T-35-0110.

5.2 Pickling
The work must proceed ”wet in wet”. In order to achieve uniform pickling, the components to be
treated must not touch one another during the pickling process. The spacing of the components
must be selected accordingly.

Tubes must be placed in the bath in such a way that the bath solution is capable of rising and the
entire air is expelled in the process. If necessary, tubes with sharp bends must be turned during im-
mersion. If it is not assured by turning that all the air can escape, the bath liquid must be inducted or
pumped through.

For bath parameters see the data sheets of this process specification.

5.3 Post-treatment

5.3.1 Rinsing
Immersion spray rinsing per : 80-T-35-0090
Rinsing time : 1 - 5 minutes

Water quality per 80-T-35-0095 :B

5.3.2 Drying
Drying components to be resistance–welded is to be effected by hot air or by rinsing in hot, still wa-
ter at a temperature of ” 60 °C [333 K].

5.4 Storage
If the components are not further treated (e.g. welded) immediately after their post-treatment, they
must be stored in such a way that contamination is excluded.
80-T-35-0100
01-01-33
Issue 11/2009 Page 4
Aug 01/15
Printed in Germany
 ~AIRBUS
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
80-T-35-0100
6 QUALITY ASSURANCE
Unless otherwise specified in process- or component-specific design, manufacturing or QA documents,
the competent organization unit shall ensure that the following measures are taken.

Object Scope of inspection - Inspections -

Component Daily random samples Visual inspection per 6.1

Surveillance per QVA-Z09-07-00

Check for clean bath surface, correct lev-

Daily before start of work
el, temperature

Pickling bath With bath renewal

Analysis see data sheets
and
(except Cl¯ determination, see below)
once weekly

Quarterly Determination of Cl¯ per QVA-Z09-07-33

Test strip For resistance-welded components per 80-T-34-6100

6.1 Visual inspection

Component treatment is considered adequate as soon as the pickled surface shows a
uniform, metallic blank appearance.

80-T-35-0100
01-01-33
Issue 11/2009 Page 5
Aug 01/15
Printed in Germany
 ~AIRBUS
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
80-T-35-0100
7 SAFETY AND HEALTH
Apply the local safety regulations.

It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health
practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

80-T-35-0100
01-01-33
Issue 11/2009 Page 6
Aug 01/15
Printed in Germany
 ~AIRBUS
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
80-T-35-0100
8 PROCESS FLOW CHART

Heavily contaminated
Components components

Cleaning per Degreasing

80-T-35-0020 per 80-T-35-0014

Pickling per 80-T-35-0110

Components
with
fits
Pickling per 80-T-35-0114

Pickling (acid)
per 5.2

Rinsing per 5.3.1

Drying per 5.3.2

Further wet processing

Inspection per 6

80-T-35-0100
01-01-33
Issue 11/2009 Page 7
Aug 01/15
Printed in Germany
 ~AIRBUS
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
80-T-35-0100

Acidic Pickling of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy

Data Sheet 1
Issue: 09/94

– Deoxidizer 6/16, sulfuric –

Product Deoxidizer 6/16, sulfuric

Manufacturer Henkel KGaA, Düsseldorf
Consistency Contains chromate and fluoride, liquid
Deoxidizer 6 for bath preparation
Deoxidizer replenisher 16 for bath replenishment
Application Pickling of aluminum alloys as pretreatment
Aluminum alloys containing zinc may be treated with the brightener bath
per 80–T–35–0114 following alkaline pickling per 80–T–35–0110.
Bath preparationd Concentration
and
bath maintenance Product Ion
Preparation [ml/l] Deoxidizer 6 : 50 ±5 -
Sulfuric acid : 28 ± 3 -
Operating range Deoxidizer 6 : 51 to 60 CrVI : 4.9 to 5.7
[g/l] Total acid** : 92 to 102 H+ : 1.9 to 2.1
Replenishment Deoxidizer 6 : < 52 CrVI : < 4.9
[g/l] * Total acid** : < 93 H+ : < 1.9
Bath renewal: when more than 100 ml/l replenisher 16 have been added,
zinc content > 0.25 g/l,
Cl¯ content > 0.12 g/l
Operating temperature: RT
Immersion time [min]: 1 to 5
Remarks * Deoxidizer : Per missing g/l CrVI, 5.5 ml/l deoxidizer replenisher 16 are
added.
H2SO4 : For missing total acid (H+), H2SO4 replenishment is calculated
as follows
Nominal [ l] - Actual
.,~f1
ff!' H+
H2:S04 [mlll] =
.84
** calculated as H 2SO4

80-T-35-0100
01-01-33
Issue 11/2009 Page 8
Aug 01/15
Printed in Germany
 ~AIRBUS
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
80-T-35-0100

F
Analysis procedure Determination of: prod. (conversion of ion concentration into
product concentration)
QVA–Z09–07–26 H+ 49 (as total acid)
QVA–Z09–07–27 CrVI 10.5 (as deoxidizer)
QVA–Z09–07–33 C l ¯ —
QVA–Z09–07–34 Zn —

80-T-35-0100
01-01-33
Issue 11/2009 Page 9
Aug 01/15
Printed in Germany
 ~AIRBUS
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
80-T-35-0100

Acidic Pickling of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy

Data Sheet 2
Issue: 11/98

– Turco-Smutgo No. I –

Product Turco-Smutgo No. I

Manufacturer Turco-Chemie GmbH, Hamburg
Consistency Contains chromate and fluoride, powder form,
For preparation dissolve powder in water (at RT) as far as possible

Application Pickling of aluminum alloys as pretreatment

Aluminum alloys containing zinc may be treated with the brightener bath
per 80–T–35–0114 following alkaline pickling per 80–T–35–0110.
Bath preparationd Concentration
and
bath maintenance Product Ion
Preparation [gl/l] Turco-Smutgo No. I 110 ±5 -
Operating range
Turco-Smutgo No. I 90 to 120 H+ :0.74 to 0.98
[g/l]
Replenishment
Turco-Smutgo No. I: : < 95 H+ : < 0.78
[g/l] *
New bath: when 30% of the volume has been replenished,
Cl¯ content > 0.12 g/l
zinc content > 0.25 g/l,
Operating RT
temperature:
Immersion time 4 to 6, for spot-welded components, max.8;
[min]:
Analysis procedure Determination of: F
prod. (conversion of ion concentration into product
concentration)
QVA-Z09-07-26 H 122.5 (as Turco Smutgo No. I)
QVA-Z09-07-33 Cl¯ -
QVA-Z09-07-34 Zn -

80-T-35-0100
01-01-33
Issue 11/2009 Page 10
Aug 01/15
Printed in Germany
 ~AIRBUS
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
80-T-35-0100

Acidic Pickling of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy

Data Sheet 6
Issue: 09/94

– Turco Liquid-Smutgo No. 4–D/50-

Product Turco Liquid-Smutgo No. 4-D/50

Manufacturer Turco-Chemie GmbH, Hamburg
Consistency Contains chromate and fluoride, orange-colored liquid,
Application Pickling of aluminum alloys as pretreatment
Bath preparationd Concentration
and
bath maintenance Product Ion
Liquid-Smutgo No. 4-D/50 90 ± 10 -
Preparation [ml/l]
HNO3 (53% ) 150 ± 25 -
Operating range Liquid-Smutgo No. 4-D/50 81 to 120 CrVI 10.1 to 15.0
[g/l] Total acid ** 75 to 125 H+ :1.2 to 2.0

Replenishment Liquid-Smutgo No. 4-D/50: : < 85 CrVI < 10.6

[g/l] * Total acid ** < 80 H+ : < 1.27
Bath renewal: when 50% of the preparation volume has been re-
plenished,
Cl¯ content > 0.12 g/l
Operating Aluminum rivets Other Components
temperature:
20 to 30 (293 to 303) 20 to 40 (293 to 313)
[°C(K)]
Immersion time
5 to 10 1 to 10
[min]:
Remarks
* HNO3 For nnssmg total acid (W ) the HN"O3 replerushment
will be calculated as follows:
Nominal [g/1] - Actual [g/1]
w w • 63
HNO3 [ml/I] = - added volume
1.33 1\!!CO [ml/1]•0.32

** calculated as HNO,

Analysis procedure Determination of: F

prod. (conversion of ion concentration into product
concentration)
QVA-Z09-07-26 H+ 63
QVA-Z09-07-33 CrVI 8.03
QVA-Z09-07-34 Cl¯ -

80-T-35-0100
01-01-33
Issue 11/2009 Page 11
Aug 01/15
Printed in Germany
 ~AIRBUS
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
80-T-35-0100
Acidic Pickling of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy

Data Sheet 7
Issue: 04/2008

– Turco Liquid-Smutgo NC

Product Turco Liquid-Smutgo NC

Manufacturer Henkel Surface Technologies, Düsseldorf
Consistency Liquid; brownish-yellow
Application Pickling of aluminum and aluminum alloys as pretreatment
Bath preparationd Concentration
and
bath maintenance Product Ion
Smutgo NC. 90 ± 10 -
Preparation [ml/l]
HNO3 53% 1) -
Operating range Smutgo NC 200 to 245 Fe3 13,46,- 16,49
[g/l] HNO3 50 to 80 H+ :0,8 to .1,27

Replenishment Smutgo NC.: : < 210 Fe3 < 14,13

[g/l] * HNO3 < 60 H+ : < 0,95
Bath renewal: If the share of alloy constituents (copper, zinc) • 1g/l
Operating 20°C to 40°C
temperature:
Immersion time
5 to 10
[min]:
Analysis procedure Determination of: F
prod. (conversion of ion concentration into product
concentration)
AITM 3-0002 Fe3
QVA-Z09-07-26 H+ -
Remarks 1) Addition of HNO3 not necessary since already contained in Smutgo NC
(preparation)

80-T-35-0100
01-01-33
Issue 11/2009 Page 12
Aug 01/15
Printed in Germany
 ~AIRBUS
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
80-T-35-0100

Acidic Pickling of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy

Data Sheet 8
Issue: 10/05

– Turco Liquid-Smutgo NC-B

(For Pretreatment of Chemical Milling)

Product Turco Liquid-Smutgo NC-B

Manufacturer Henkel Surface Technologies, Düsseldorf
Consistency Liquid; brownish-yellow
Application Pickling of AL and AL alloys as pretreatment for masking for chemical milling
Bath preparationd Concentration
and
bath maintenance Product Ion
Smutgo NC-B . 280 -
Preparation [ml/l]
HNO3 53% 1) -
Operating range Smutgo NC-B 300 to 400 Fe3 18,1- 24,1
[g/l] HNO3 100 to 160 H+ :1,59 to .2,54

Replenishment Smutgo NC-B.: : < 320 Fe3 < 19,3

[g/l] * HNO3 < 120 H+ : < 1,90
Bath renewal: If the share of alloy constituents (copper, zinc) • 0,5g/l
Operating 20°C to 40°C
temperature:
Immersion time
1 to 15
[min]:
Analysis procedure Determination of: F
prod. (conversion of ion concentration into product
concentration)
AITM 3-0029 Fe3 16;6 (Fe3+ ĺ Smutgo NC-B)
+-
QVA-Z09-07-26 H 63 (H+ ĺHNO3
Remarks NOTE: The fluoride component being used up can be complemented with
Turco Silisol (depending on necessary material removal)
1) Addition of HNO3 not necessary since already contained in Smutgo
NC-B(preparation)

80-T-35-0100
01-01-33
Issue 11/2009 Page 13
Aug 01/15
Printed in Germany
 ~AIRBUS
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
80-T-35-0100

Acidic Pickling of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloy

Data Sheet 9
Issue: 10/05

– Turco Liquid-Smutgo NC-B

(For Post-treatment of Chemical Milling)

Product Turco Liquid-Smutgo NC-B

Manufacturer Henkel Surface Technologies, Düsseldorf
Consistency Liquid; brownish-yellow
Application Pickling of AL and AL alloys as post-treatment for brightening after chemical
milling
Bath preparationd Concentration
and
bath maintenance Product Ion
Smutgo NC-B . 280 -
Preparation [ml/l]
HNO3 53% 150 -
Operating range Smutgo NC-B 300 to 400 Fe3 18,1- 24,1
[g/l] HNO3 220 to 260 H+ :3,49 to .4,13

Replenishment Smutgo NC-B.: : < 320 Fe3 < 19,3

[g/l] * HNO3 < 230 H+ : < 3,65
Bath renewal: If copper deposits occur
Operating 20°C to 40°C
temperature:
Immersion time
1 to 15
[min]:
Analysis procedure Determination of: F
prod. (conversion of ion concentration into product
concentration)
AITM 3-0029 Fe3 16;6 (Fe3+ ĺ Smutgo NC-B)
QVA-Z09-07-26 H+ - 63 (H+ ĺHNO3

80-T-35-0100
01-01-33
Issue 11/2009 Page 14
Aug 01/15
Printed in Germany