ASTM International Standard Guide for Descaling and Cleaning Titanium and Titanium Alloy Surfaces ASTM B600-91(2002)e1

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.