Removing Rust from Steel: A Case Study

Taking aim and rust from steelt is something that the experts at Timeframe Group battle all the time. Despite being one of the most commonly used and sturdy construction materials on the market, steel does have one major flaw: it is prone to rust, if not properly maintained.

While rust is growing, it can remain unseen for any length of time, for months, or even years on end. Then, all of a sudden, we’ll see small bubbles start to appear in the paint on concrete walls. If left untreated, eventually, fist sized pieces of concrete will crumble theonto the ground, off the wall.

This is exactly what happened at a job we recently attended. When we arrived onsite, the client told us how there had been a loud crash that sounded like a ton of dishes had been dropped. Upon investigation, it was found that this loud crash had been caused by a concrete head over a window; it had broken off and fallen seven flights, before exploding on the driveway below. tThank goodness no one was walking below when the concrete gave way.

So, wWhat was the causedof this problemthis near disaster?

RUST!

What Causes Rust in Steel?

Any material comprised of iron that is then exposed to oxygen and water will rust. As steel is made almost entirely of iron, it is incredibly prone to rust. When steel rusts, it basically undergoes the chemical reaction that is more commonly known as corrosion. This corrosion is what forms the brown, flaky material to form on the outside of steel.

In the case of our recently job, the reinforced steel that was located within the concrete head above the window had. In actual fact, what occurredwas an explosion of sorts—albeit a very slow explosion. After many months and years of the rust taking hold of the reinforced steel, the surrounding concrete could not hold any longer.,As a result, and the whole entire head gave way and fell to the ground.

Here you can see the size of the section that fell from the top of the window:

So, what is the secret to removing rust from steel? Let’s get this rust under control and put it to bed.

How to Remove Rust from Steel

Our expert commercialand residential painters have been using a product called Rustraintto remove rust from steel, and have had great success. This product is a rust preparation coating that is applied to the surface of steel, create a very stable surface that can then be primed and coated.

Timeframe Group has been using this product for a couple of years nowand, so far, hasnot witnessed even small pits of rust showing through that has been treated.

Is Rustraint a Rust Converter?

Rustraint could fall into the category of rust converters because it actually creates surface that is glazed and stable to be painted. We have tried other brands of rust converters, but these showed instances of rust coming through within just a few weeks We have been given reports on Rustraint over the past 15 years and in all of this time there has been no evidence of rust bleeding through.

Fifteen years’ time is pretty darn impressive!

Other Ways to Remove Rust from Steel

Whether you have structural steel, steel tools, or even shed made entirely of steel, they can all succumb to rust if not properly treated. Apart from Rustraint, there are a number of other ways to prevent rust forming on steel:

  • Keep steel dry: Whether you accidentally leave your steel tools out in the rain, or find structural steel subjected to flooding or rain, it’s always best to keep steel as dry as possible all times. So, store tools in a clean, dry space and make sure any leaks are fixed as quickly as possible.
  • Keep steelclean: Accumulated debris is prone to holding moisture, which thenencourages the formation of corrosion, even if the steel itself remains relatively dry. So, be sure to keep steel as clean as possible.
  • Apply a protective coating: Depending on the type of steel surface that you want to protect, it’s always a good idea to apply a protective coating to the outside. A layer of acrylic latex or oil based paint helps to prevent metallic and steel surfaces from rusting. And, as mentionedearlier, using a rust converter like Rustraint is always a good idea. If you need any further information on how to remove rust from steel, or on Rustraint, feel free to contact the experts at Timeframe Group today. We’re always happy to help.