[meteorite-list] Experiment Update #1

From: Göran Axelsson <axelsson_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Mar 2 19:01:37 2006
Message-ID: <44078902.40000_at_acc.umu.se>

This is not a rust cleaner treatment, it is a rust stopper treatment.

To remove the rust you have to use more traditional methods, like polishing.

Acidic solutions with a low Ph makes it easier to dissolv the iron
hydroxides in rust but at the same time the iron will be unprotected
against oxidation. Basic solutions with a high Ph stops the iron
hydroxides to dissolv but protects the iron against oxidation by
passivation, it becomes chemically inert.

The idea behind the hydroxide solution is to protect the iron while
chloride ions are leached out of the meteorite.

I would recommend small volumes in the bath, maybe twice the volume of
the meteorite but at least covering it, combined with numerous
replacement of the solution. In the beginning it should be closer
between the changes of the solution as it faster gets contaminated. When
the chlorine levels in the meteorite and the solution is in balance it
doesn't help to let it lie longer.

Archeologists sometimes uses ordinary tapwater in the initial bath but
at the end they use deionised or distilled water.

And whatever you do, don't use chlorinated water, that could make it
rust even faster.

/G?ran

tracy latimer wrote:

> About 10 days ago I dunked my poor Fredericksburg in what I hoped
> would be a rust removal bath of half Liquid Drano and half anhydrous
> alcohol. Since then, I have swirled it about at least once a day, and
> some of the rust has come off, but not all. The bath is lightly
> tinged with brown and there is a fine peppering of rust flakes on the
> bottom of the glass jar. I will give it another week or so, but if
> there is not a significant change in the quantity of rust in
> suspension rather than on my meteorite, Freddy will be taken out of
> the bath and more old fashioned methods of getting rid of rust will be
> regretfully employed.
>
> Watch this space for more fast-breaking news!
> Tracy Latimer
>
>
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Received on Thu 02 Mar 2006 07:08:34 PM PST