08-29-2011, 09:45 AM
I think that different grades are treated (or not) to suit their specific end use. The plant where I worked used hydrochloric acid in their pickle line, in which rolled coils (either recently made or sitting, sometimes for several weeks, on the ground outdoors) were fed (unrolled) through a hot acid bath which removed scale and other surface impurities. The steel was then tin plated, galvanised, or shipped clean, in boxcars, to another finishing plant or to end users. I can't see that rails would get any special coating or finishes, as first use would likely remove it from the railtops.
I don't have my steelmaking reference books on hand, so perhaps someone familiar with rolled shapes might be able to shed more light on the subject. Our plant produced rod and bar material, and flat rolled products, both plate and strip. They also made a grade on which the rust acted as a finished surface - it was/is used in both structural and decorative applications.
Wayne
I don't have my steelmaking reference books on hand, so perhaps someone familiar with rolled shapes might be able to shed more light on the subject. Our plant produced rod and bar material, and flat rolled products, both plate and strip. They also made a grade on which the rust acted as a finished surface - it was/is used in both structural and decorative applications.
Wayne