Anyone that has ever paid attention to the cleaning section on their strip processing line, and the steel strip surface quality going in and out of the cleaning section, knows that abrasive bristle brushing doesn’t really get the job done.

That is to say, the majority of the strip cleaning brush machines and the abrasive bristle brushes used to cleaning the steel strip surface, have not dialed in all that cleaning capability these tools can provide, but that is a topic for another article.

This article is to have a look at changing the type of tool being used completely. We are talking about removing the abrasive bristle brush, and putting a non-woven abrasive brush on the brush shaft, to use for descaling steel strip. Thats right, I said it and we mean it!

NON-WOVEN ABRASIVE BRUSHES FOR DESCALING STEEL STRIP

APT manufactures non-woven abrasive brushes up to 20” in diameter, and have further developed impregnations that reenforce the abrasive brushes to perform the difficult task of removing surface scale on steel strip. 

On a scale of 1 – 10, 10 being absolutely clean of surface scale, a bristle brush performs a 5, and a non-woven abrasive brush performs a 9+.

A non-woven abrasive brush can be used for descaling in the manufacturing of steel strip, which involves removing scales or surface oxidation from the surface of the steel strip. Here’s a general process for using a non-woven abrasive brush for descaling steel strip:

• Prepare the steel strip: Ensure that the steel strip is properly cleaned and prepared for descaling. This may involve removing any loose debris, dust, or dirt from the surface of the steel strip using suitable cleaning methods.
  • This should all be done in the precleaning section. Usually this is done by means of an alkali spray / dip tank. 
  • APT manufactures hot water high pressure systems that remove 85 – 90% of the hydrocarbons, rolling oil, and dirt and debris, by using only water. No Chemistry to buy, use, and depose of.
  • Further, the used water can filter the oil out and be reused in a closed loop circuit. 

CHOOSING THE CORRECT NON-WOVEN ABRASIVE BRUSH

• Choose the right brush: Select a non-woven abrasive brush that is suitable for the descaling task at hand. Consider factors such as the abrasive material, grit size, brush size, and density to match the specific requirements of your descaling application. The choice of brush will depend on the type of scales or oxidation present on the steel strip and the desired level of descaling.
  • • Call APT, and we handle the whole consultation of non-woven abrasive brush selection.

IN-PROCESS BRUSH DRESSING WITH OUR BRUSH MACHINES

Attach the brush to a suitable tool: that would be one of APT’s state-of-the-art brush machines with brush traversing to continually dress the brushes in-process, for the entire life of the brush.

That’s correct! No more dog bone abrasive brush! No more shiny edges and dirty center metal strip!

• Adjust the speed and pressure: Set the machinery to an appropriate speed and apply the desired pressure on the brush against the steel strip. The exact speed and pressure may vary depending on the type and thickness of the steel strip, the level of descaling required, and the brush used. It’s recommended to start with lower speeds and pressures and gradually increase as needed, while avoiding excessive pressure.

The non-woven abrasive brush will come in complete contact with the steel strip and remove the scales or oxidation from the surface.

FILTRATION SYSTEM UPGRADES

We will be removing a lot of oxide scale, dirt, debris, from the strip surface, which means the filtration system needs to be able to handle everything we will be taking off the strip surface. We have developed these filtration systems to perform this task!

With a mix of the correct pre-cleaning process equipment,  non-woven abrasive brush and brush machine, and filtration system all dialed-in, you will be able to dramatically increase your strip surface. How much is a clean strip surface worth to you?

Give us a call for a free consultation!

Stay Healthy & Safe!

Sincerely,

David Thiemann 

The post DESCALING STEEL STRIP WITH A NON-WOVEN ABRASIVE FLAP BRUSH first appeared on APT.

Hello, my name is David Thiemann and I am a Director at APT. We are a manufacture of wide face non-woven abrasive brushes, cleaning section process equipment, and customized brush machines for metal surface cleaning, degreasing, deoxidizing, descaling, and finishing flat metal strip, sheet, plate, and large and small parts.

Today we’d like to ask the questions to you, the galvanizers producing galvanized steel strip, sheet, and plate.

How much is an ultra clean steel surface, prior to galvanizing, worth to you? What is the value of a clean steel surface?

The value of a clean steel surface to a galvanizing line depends on several factors including:

• • the size and condition of the steel surface, 
  • the type of galvanizing process being used
  • the market demand for galvanized steel. 

Generally, a clean steel surface is essential for achieving a high-quality galvanized coating with good adhesion and uniform coverage.

How clean are you currently getting your steel strip? How clean would you like it to be?

In the galvanizing industry, the cost of surface preparation, which includes cleaning and pre-treatment of the steel surface, is typically considered as part of the overall production cost. The cost of surface preparation can vary depending on the size and complexity of the steel structure, the type of contaminants on the steel surface, and the required level of surface cleanliness. 

Surface preparation methods may include mechanical strip cleaning and chemical strip cleaning. 

Examples of mechanical cleaning strip surface would be using abrasive industrial bristle brushes and non-woven abrasive brushes. Another way of mechanical cleaning is using shot blasting or abrasive blasting.

Examples of chemical cleaning using caustic alkali spray and dunk tanks for degreasing and removing oils and hydrocarbons, along with pickling and using acid to soften up the oxidizes and scale on the strip surface.

Usually a combination of both mechanical and chemical cleaning are used in the cleaning sections of metal strip process lines.  

Why is a clean steel surface prior to galvanizing important?

A clean steel surface is important because it helps ensure proper zinc coating adhesion and uniformity, which are critical for the performance and longevity of the galvanized steel. A poorly cleaned or contaminated steel surface may result in inadequate coating adhesion, uneven coating thickness, or coating defects, which can reduce the quality and durability of the final galvanized product.

What are the cost savings of producing clean steel strip?

The value of a clean steel surface to a galvanizing line can be assessed in terms of the potential cost savings from:

• • Reduced coating defects, 
  • Increased production efficiency
  • Improved product quality. 

It can also impact the market demand for the galvanized steel product, as customers may be willing to pay a premium for high-quality, defect-free galvanized steel.

What is the conclusion?

In summary, while it may be challenging to assign a specific monetary value to a clean steel surface in the context of a galvanizing line, it is considered essential for producing high-quality galvanized steel and can impact production costs, product quality, and market demand. Proper surface preparation, including achieving a clean steel surface, is a critical step in the galvanizing process and is typically considered an important investment for galvanizers.

We here at APT focus solely on the cleaning section process and have a team of knowledgeable and experienced people available to you, for consultation on state-or-the-art process technology and tools to optimize your process line surface cleaning capabilities!

Please give us a call anytime to discuss your application and parameters.

Stay Healthy & Safe!

Sincerely,

David Thiemann 

The post How much is a clean steel strip surface worth to you? first appeared on APT.

This wisdom applies to many facets of life, but since APT is in the business of process line improvement, we will apply this wisdom to brush scrubber calibration. The calibration of your brushes should be completed before any production, as part of getting the scrubber ready to do its job.

A variable (small step) in mechanical cleaning and finishing of flat metal strip surfaces removing oil, smut, and iron fines is to consistently have a known amount of pressure, evenly across the width, of the metal in process. This is governed by the brush and backup roll axis being parallel to each other. You can use a level as a means to check this quickly.

• When using abrasive and non-abrasive industrial bristle brushes we have a max compression of 3mm.
• When using a wide face abrasive non-woven (scotchbrite™) type brush for metal surface cleaning, deburring, and finishing, you want to find the minimum amount of pressure to get the job done.

The post Metal Strip Cleaning Section Brush Machine Calibration first appeared on APT.