Metal treatment · fabrication and workshops

Fabrication shops, workshops and plants in Oman use metal treatment chemicals to clean, pickle, passivate and protect steel. Oman Chemical supplies pickling paste and spray for stainless welds, passivation liquids, rust removers and converters, phosphoric acid, galvanising fluxes and test kits to check the result, from Barka with RXSOL part numbers and MSDS.

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  • Trading since 1995
  • Warehouse in Barka
  • About 7,000 products
  • MSDS on request
Chemical dosing skid with pumps at an industrial plant

Metal problems and the chemicals that solve them

Humid, salty coastal air makes corrosion the first problem for steel in Oman. Stainless steel fabricated for oil, gas, desalination and food plants must be pickled and passivated after welding to restore its corrosion resistance, and carbon steel needs rust removal and protection.

  1. Stainless steel pickling

    Welding leaves heat tint and a chromium-depleted layer where corrosion starts.

    Chemical typesPickling paste, gel or spray based on nitric and hydrofluoric acids, then neutralising and rinsing.

  2. Passivation

    Free iron from tools and grinding spoils the passive chromium oxide layer on stainless steel.

    Chemical typesNitric acid or citric acid based passivation solutions, then a ferroxyl or similar test for free iron.

  3. Rust removal and conversion

    Rust on carbon steel must go before painting, and some surfaces cannot be blasted.

    Chemical typesPhosphoric acid rust removers, oxalic acid for rust stains, and rust converters that turn remaining rust into a stable layer for painting.

  4. Pretreatment before painting

    Oil and oxide stop paint and powder coat from bonding.

    Chemical typesAlkaline degreasers and phosphoric acid based phosphating treatments.

  5. Galvanising and soldering

    Steel must be oxide-free for zinc or solder to wet it.

    Chemical typesZinc chloride and ammonium chloride fluxes.

  6. Storage protection

    Machined and stored parts rust between production and use.

    Chemical typesRust preventives and temporary corrosion inhibitors.

Metal treatment chemicals buyers order most

Ordered by our own sales records: the products customers in Oman reorder most come first.

Also supplied for this work

Part numbers are RXSOL codes; quote them when you order. See this industry in the catalogue

Metal treatment product categories

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Metal treatment chemicals: questions buyers ask

Why must stainless steel be pickled and passivated after welding?

Welding heat leaves an oxide tint and a chromium-depleted layer, and fabrication leaves free iron on the surface. Both are points where rust starts. Pickling removes the damaged layer, and passivation rebuilds the protective chromium oxide film.

Nitric acid or citric acid for passivation?

Both remove free iron and let the passive film form. Citric acid is safer to handle and gives off no nitrous fumes; nitric acid is the traditional choice. Follow the specification your client sets.

How is passivation checked?

With a ferroxyl test, where blue spots show free iron, or a copper sulphate test. We supply ferroxyl test kits and copper sulphate for passivation testing.

What is the difference between a rust remover and a rust converter?

A rust remover dissolves rust back to bare metal. A rust converter reacts with rust that remains and turns it into a stable layer that can be painted over. Use a converter where blasting or full removal is not practical.

What safety precautions does pickling paste need?

It contains hydrofluoric acid. Use full acid PPE, ventilation, calcium gluconate gel for first aid, and neutralise the rinse water. Never let paste dry on the surface.

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