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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ
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for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Zinc Phosphating process control & analysis
Q. My solution is 5 g/L Zn and 11 g/L and FA/TA is 3/18, my question is that I don't know how to maintain the FA/TA after some batches of phosphating -- what do I add in a bath if FA drops or TA drops?
Waqar Farooq- Adelaide, SA, Australia
March 27, 2019
⇩ Related postings, oldest first ⇩
Q. Is there any automatic device or tester for analyzing free acid and total acid points in zinc phosphate baths?
Ali Yilmaz- Istanbul, Turkey
2002
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Ed. note: Letter 34262, "What is 'P ratio' in zinc phosphating bath and how to determine it?" may be of interest to some readers.
A. Ali, there probably is. The problem is this equipment may not be cost effective. These analysis only takes a few minutes, simple. Most shops that operate zinc phosphate run one analysis for each 8 hour shift. Many shops unfortunately analyze once per week, the operators learn how much to add each 8 hour shift. Some never analyze, even in this day and age on this process.
Bill Hemptech svc. w/ chemical supplier - Grand Rapids, Michigan
2002
A. Look into auto titrators. It will still require off line testing, but it will reduce the operator involvement. Improper care of the electrode will give you bad to very bad data in a matter of days. Follow the instructions. My experience is that the cheap ones are not worth the money and the most expensive are frequently selling service that I doubt if you can get in your area and a lot of it is cost of the name.
James Watts- Navarre, Florida
2002
Multiple threads merged: please forgive chronology errors and repetition 🙂
Q. Hi,
In a flow line process involving Phosphating, I understand that the concentration of Zinc Phosphate will decrease constantly as production progresses.
To Achieve the correct protective layer Thickness of Zinc, the concentration of zinc phosphate should be maintained in a certain range. This will have to be obviously measured. How can I conduct this measurement on line. Is there any measuring meter that can be purchased from the Market for this purpose.
Farrukh Aamirbuying house - New Delhi, New Delhi, India
2004
A. There are basically four process parameters you need to monitor in a Zinc Phosphate coating operation. They are: Temperature, Accelerator, Free Acid and Total Acid. These process parameters are specified by the manufacturer of the chemical you are using, along with instructions on how to measure these parameters. There are several Zinc Phosphate coating products out in the market and they all have different formulations specific to the kind of Zinc Phosphate coating desired and they all run at different process parameters. So the first step I recommend is to contact your chemicals supplier and request this information, and if they do not have it, I recommend switching chemical supplier companies until you find one that provides the customer support you deserve. Jesus Quinonez- Riverbank, California, USA 2004 2004 A. Dear Friend, There is no such instrument available in the market. Titration is the only method to check the concentration. But there is a method to keep your concentration constant throughout your production hours: Please calculate the area you are processing in a day. Take before production the pointage of the bath and after the production. See the difference, get the calculated corresponding replenishment quantity from your chemical supplier and that much daily you have to add. There is a method to add the required quantity: 1. If your line is small, put the required quantity in a suitable plastic can and add the chemical like Doctors give saline to patient with calculated flow per min. Keep the flow rate in a such fashion that the required quantity for the day will drain in the tank till the production is on. 2. If your line is big, go for the auto dosing tanks mainly for degreasing and phosphating tank. Hope this will help in your purpose. Regards SUHAS Suhas S. Mahajan- Pune, India |
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Q. Kindly advise me for this:
My company's zinc phosphate coating is not perfect. So many places are not covered with zinc phosphate coating.
Phosphate tank is like a mess: it is a color like dark green and so much sludge is there -- please advice me to solve this.
I would very much appreciate a person who concentrates on my problem! As soon as possible I want to solve this.
- galle, sri lanka
August 14, 2014
September 11, 2014
A. Hi Madhushanka,
I think this question has been many days on line and no answer; maybe you have solved your issue. If not, please view some of the answers above first. To solve your problem you should give us:
- Phosphate total acid points: 0,1 N sodium hydroxide milliliters per 10 ml sample with phenolphthalein
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as indicator.
- Phosphate free acid points: 0,1 N sodium hydroxide milliliters per 10 ml sample with bromophenol blue
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eBay or
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as indicator.
- Iron content: in g/l sample by permanganate method.
- Temperature.
These are your process parameters IN the phosphate tank, you should maintain your degreasing and pickling process tanks in the correct temperature and concentration just as your phosphate process tank.
Hope this helps, best regards!
- Cañuelas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Q. Hi, Sirs:
I work a zinc phosphate bath in the iron side, 75 °C, 50 TA points, 7 FA points, Iron 01-0.2% for fasteners, but they leave the bath (15 minutes) with good coating but also with with a lot of white powder. Can you please tell me how to avoid such white powder?
Thank you.
- bogota, colombia
October 5, 2014
A. White powder formation is due to excess sludge accumulated at the bottom of tank. Filter the solution and remove sludge, there should be no problem.
Mitesh Bhayani- Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
April 7, 2017
Q. Please tell me about free acid to total acid ratio. I know how to calculate TA/FA by titration, but how do I control it in a Bath?
Irshad Kabir- Lahore , Punjab , Pakistan
February 25, 2015
How to Maintain Phosphate Accelerator Pointage during Continuous Running of Circulation Pumps
Q. Dear Sir,
We have to Run our Phosphate Chemical circulation continuously 24*7, but during continuous circulation our phosphate accelerator pointage goes down and effecting problem on car body. Please provide the solution for this.Is really pointage goes down after continuously running.
We have to Continuous run our phosphate chemical to prevent slurry chemical choking in heat exchanger (PHE).
Regards,
- greater noida, India
September 25, 2017
A. Hi Kunal!
Do you adjust your accelerator pointage by calculating the total volume of your phosphate bath? If you don't add the proportion you need in all the bath, then you won't get the result you want.
Please verify if you are taking all the volume in account. If you do, then you have something in there bringing you accelerator down (I think THAT is much less likely).
Tell us more about your process and parameters, and maybe we can help you!
Regards,
TEL - N FERRARIS - Cañuelas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
September 27, 2017
Q. How can we check the Iron Content and Zinc content of an immersion Zinc Phosphate Bath? any titration method?
Mahmood Hussain- Karachi, Sind, Pakistan
January 4, 2018
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