AIRBUS

PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

01-01-25

Brightening of Aluminum and Aluminum Alloys

in Nitric Acid

The content of this document is the property of Airbus. It is supplied in confidence and commercial security on its contents must
be maintained. It must not be used for any purpose other than that for which it is supplied, nor may information contained in it be
disclosed to unauthorized persons. It must not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission in writing from the owners of
the copyright.
© AIRBUS 2023. All rights reserved.

Issue: Feb 01/93 PMS Ref: 01-01-25

Rev: May 01/23
 ~AIRBUS INDUSTRIE
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
RECORD OF REVISIONS

REV. ISSUE INSERTED REV. ISSUE INSERTED

NO. DATE DATE BY NO. DATE DATE BY

01 Feb 01 /93

Prin1ed in Germany

PMS 01-01-25 May 01/23

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 ~AIRB US INDUS TRIE
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
LIST OF EFFECTIVE PAGES

SUBJECT PAGE DATE

RECORD OF REVISION 1 Feb 01/93

LIST OF EFFECTIVE PAGES 1 Feb 01/93

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Feb 01/93

01-01-25 1 Feb 01/93

01-01-25 2 Feb 01/91
01-01-25 3 Feb 01/91

Prin1ed in Germany

PMS 01-01-25 May 01/23

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 ~AIRBUS INDUSTR IE
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

I TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUBJECT PAGE

1. GENERAL 1

2. EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS, PERSONNEL 1

2.1 Pickling agent 1

2.2 Pickling equipment 1
2.3 Components 1

3. PROCESS 2

3.1 Pickling 2
3.2 Rinsing 2
3.3 Repetition of pickling 2

Appendix 1: Pickling (brightening) of Aluminu~ and Aluminum Alloys 3

in Nitric Acid

Printed in Germany

PMS 01-01-25 May 01/23

Page 3 of 6
 ~AIRBUS INDUSTR IE
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
1. GENERAL
This Document shall not be used as a basis for manufacture and supply of

I original and replacement parts to AIRBUS INDUSTRIE unless specifically

required in a contract or purchase agreement.
Pickling (brightening) in nitric acid is used as an extra process in the
surface treatment of aluminum and aluminum alloys, when required in the
manufacturing instructions.
Brightening serves to remove deposits of heavy metals and heavy metal
oxides from the surface of the component after alkaline degreasing, but
mainly after alkaline pickling per PMS 01-01-15.
A concentrated acid is selected for the brightening process which does not
corrode the base material, but which removes or converts the impurities in
such a way, that the subsequent processes are not disturbed.

2. EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS, PERSONNEL

2.1 Pickling agent
See Appendix 1 .
2.2 Pickling equipment
The containers shall be resistant to the products named in the data sheet
at the production parameters.
The containers must be equipped with a rim siphon device and with a Level
indicator.
A circulation device in the bath is recommended.
2.3 Components
The components may not have narrow hollows (slits, gaps, blind bores) and
may not be riveted or spot welded.
The components subjected to the pickling process must be free of organic
impurities on the surface (such as grease, oil, paint etc.).
Assembled components with the following materials:
steel (nutplates>
magnesium alloys
rubber and synthetic seals
coating materials and fillers
may only be treated when contact between such materials and the treatment
fluids can be definitely avoided.

Printed in Germany

PMS 01-01-25 May 01/23

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 ~AIRBUS INDUSTRIE
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

3. PROCESS
3.1 Pickling
The components must be completely immersed in the bath. Refer to the data
sheets of this manufacturing instruction for bath preparation and bath
maintenance.
Tubes must be placed in the bath in such a way, that the bath liquid can
rise and expel all air. Tubes with sharp bends must be turned during
immersion, if necessary.
If turning cannot ensure that all air can escape, then the bath liquid must
be sucked or pumped throught the tubes.
3.2 Rinsing
Immersion spray rinsing
Rinsing time 3 - 5 minutes
Water Quality demineralized
3.3 Repetition of pickling

If heavy metal of heavy metal oxide deposits remain on the surface of the
component, the pickling process per PMS 01-01-15 must be repeated.
If deposits are still to be found on the surface of the component after
repeated pickling, the following measures must be taken:

fillli..i. Observe the tolerances.

• adjust the upper threshold value of the HN~-concentration
• renew 1 /3 of the bath
• new preparation

Printed in Germany

PMS 01-01-25 May 01/23

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 ~AIRBUS INDUSTRIE
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

1 . Product Nitric acid CHN0 3 )

2. Manufacturer No specifications
3. Condition HN0 3 , technically pure
Density = 1,33 g I cm>
4. Application Brightening
5. Bath prepara- Solution ( g/ l) 400 ± 20 HN0 3
tion and main-
*
tenance bath Bath replenishment :s; 370 HN0 3
(g/l)

Bath renewal When removal of layer

takes longer than
1 5 minutes

Operating temperature Ambient temperature

c·c <K>J

Immersion time (min) 5 to , 5

6. NOT!;;* The specified concentration is achieved with the
following preparation:
concentration of the tech- nitric acid water
nically pure nitric acid
Cg/cm') weight-¾
.Be ml ml
1.33 53 35 600 400

Pickling (Brightening) of Aluminum and

Aluminum Alloys in Nitric Acid
Appendix 1

Printed in Germany

PMS 01-01-25 May 01/23

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