Rust removal gel helps tackle trillions in losses

Developed by NCH Europe's Maintenance and Partsmaster Innovation Platform, X-Rust 7 Gel's formulation is designed to cleverly penetrate surfaces and its viscosity allows it to adhere to surfaces effectively.

The product will be used extensively in the industries whose economies most suffer from rust. These are the chemical sector, construction, manufacturing, petroleum, petrochemical, pulp and paper and transportation, including railroad, the automotive sector and aerospace.

Example applications include vehicle bodywork, tanks and mudguards, machine tool tables and beds, large metal components and assemblies, metal gates and railings, construction equipment, buildings, agricultural vehicles and marine environments.

While immersion is the ideal way of removing rust from a product, there are many vulnerable applications where this wouldn't be viable. This could be because the item is too large or because it's fixed in place.

As a result of being pH neutral, the gel is safer to use and kinder to the environment than its acid based competitors.

X-Rust 7 gel is applied with a brush and can remove light to medium rusting in as little as twenty minutes. It's non corrosive to steel and won't harm brass, copper, titanium, aluminum, plastic, rubber, cast iron, solder, wood or glass. It doesn't cause etching and the surface doesn't have to be neutralized before application, saving precious time.

The temporary coating created by X-Rust 7 Gel buys the user time to apply a rust prevention product, such as NCH Europe's Resist X Extra or HyZinc Extra.

“Corrosion costs around three per cent of global GDP (Gross Domestic Product),” explained Peter Crossen, VP of NCH Europe's Maintenance and Partsmaster Innovation Platform. “That's around US $2.2 trillion".

Unlike most products on the market, there is no need to apply a heat source to make X-Rust 7 Gel work effectively. This results in an additional energy saving, which reduces operational costs.

X-Rust 7 is supplied in a single pack containing two, five litre, tubs and has a shelf life of three years unopened or six months once the seal is broken. This life span will not be reduced, even if rust particles make their way into the gel. X-Rust 7 can be used at temperatures from 5 degrees centigrade to 30 degrees centigrade.