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    1.1.4 Millscale

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    568974
    Millscale is an iron oxide that forms on the surface of steel during the hot rolling process, giving it a smooth bluish-grey appearance. Millscale is not uniformly or well-adhered to the steel and painting directly over it can cause the coating to fail quickly as the millscale allows moisture to penetrate and causes corrosion under the coating. The only way to properly prepare the steel is to remove all millscale through abrasive blasting to clean the surface to a SA 2 1/2 standard, which will remove the millscale and provide an adhered surface profile for the coating. Painting over millscale without removal will accelerate corrosion of the underlying steel.

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    1.1.4 Millscale

    Uploaded by

    568974
    72 views1 page
    Millscale is an iron oxide that forms on the surface of steel during the hot rolling process, giving it a smooth bluish-grey appearance. Millscale is not uniformly or well-adhered to the steel and painting directly over it can cause the coating to fail quickly as the millscale allows moisture to penetrate and causes corrosion under the coating. The only way to properly prepare the steel is to remove all millscale through abrasive blasting to clean the surface to a SA 2 1/2 standard, which will remove the millscale and provide an adhered surface profile for the coating. Painting over millscale without removal will accelerate corrosion of the underlying steel.

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    Millscale is an iron oxide that forms on the surface of steel during the hot rolling process, giving it a smooth bluish-grey appearance. Millscale is not uniformly or well-adhered to the steel and painting directly over it can cause the coating to fail quickly as the millscale allows moisture to penetrate and causes corrosion under the coating. The only way to properly prepare the steel is to remove all millscale through abrasive blasting to clean the surface to a SA 2 1/2 standard, which will remove the millscale and provide an adhered surface profile for the coating. Painting over millscale without removal will accelerate corrosion of the underlying steel.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    72 views1 page

    1.1.4 Millscale

    Uploaded by

    568974
    Millscale is an iron oxide that forms on the surface of steel during the hot rolling process, giving it a smooth bluish-grey appearance. Millscale is not uniformly or well-adhered to the steel and painting directly over it can cause the coating to fail quickly as the millscale allows moisture to penetrate and causes corrosion under the coating. The only way to properly prepare the steel is to remove all millscale through abrasive blasting to clean the surface to a SA 2 1/2 standard, which will remove the millscale and provide an adhered surface profile for the coating. Painting over millscale without removal will accelerate corrosion of the underlying steel.

    Copyright:

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    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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    Millscale 1.1.

    What is Millscale?
    Millscale is often present on raw steel and is frequently
    mistaken for a blue-coloured primer.
    Millscale is a type of iron oxide that is formed on the surface
    of the steel during the hot-rolling process. The very high surface
    temperature combined with high roller pressures result in a
    smooth, bluish grey surface.

    Can I Paint Over Millscale?


    If millscale were a uniformly well-adhered covering to the steel
    section, then it would make an ideal protective barrier.
    Unfortunately, millscale is not uniform, nor is it
    well-adhered.
    This latter item is of concern in that many projects have had high quality, expensive protective coatings applied directly
    over millscale and inadequately prepared steel only to have the entire structure and coating system fail within a very short
    period of time.
    Millscale is less reactive (more “noble”) than the steel
    underneath, and consistent with the behaviour of two
    dissimilar metals when in contact, the more reactive
    metal (in this case steel) will oxidise (rust) at the expense
    of the less reactive metal (millscale).
    The millscale in fact looks like a scale and it can “pop
    off” the surface, cracking the coating and allowing
    moisture to penetrate. This allows a “galvanic reaction”
    to occur which results in pitting corrosion (rust) to the
    base steel. This will result in a growth of the corrosion
    under the scale and produce further cracking to the
    coating and expose greater areas and thus more corrosion.
    All millscale must be removed to present a uniform and clean surface.

    How Do I Remove Millscale?


    Removal of millscale is virtually impossible by hand, and extremely tedious and time-consuming using power tool
    cleaning methods. Neither gives a good base to start. Factory steel has no surface profile, which is most important to the
    overall adhesion strength and integrity of the coating system. The steel must be cleaned with AS1627.4 Class 2.5 (SA 2
    ½, SSPC 10 or 6 depending on use) abrasive blast. This will remove the millscale and provide a surface profile that will
    give the system its design requirements. (For information regarding surface preparation and profiles, please see Dulux PC
    Tech Note 1.1.2 – Mild Steel Surface Preparation.)
    Painting over millscale, however tempting, is a futile exercise, as the presence of millscale on the steel surface
    accelerates the corrosion of the underlying steel.
    For more information, please contact the Dulux Protective Coatings Technical Consultant in your state.

    1.1.4 Millscale Sep-09 Page 1 of 1

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