Clean galvanized strip surface

Anyone that has ever paid attention to the cleaning section on their strip processing line, and the steel strip surface quality going in and out of the cleaning section, knows that abrasive bristle brushing doesn’t really get the job done.

That is to say, the majority of the strip cleaning brush machines and the abrasive bristle brushes used to cleaning the steel strip surface, have not dialed in all that cleaning capability these tools can provide, but that is a topic for another article.

This article is to have a look at changing the type of tool being used completely. We are talking about removing the abrasive bristle brush, and putting a non-woven abrasive brush on the brush shaft, to use for descaling steel strip. Thats right, I said it and we mean it!

Falkenrich scotchbrite nonwoven brush for metal strip cleaning

NON-WOVEN ABRASIVE BRUSHES FOR DESCALING STEEL STRIP

APT manufactures non-woven abrasive brushes up to 20” in diameter, and have further developed impregnations that reenforce the abrasive brushes to perform the difficult task of removing surface scale on steel strip. 

On a scale of 1 – 10, 10 being absolutely clean of surface scale, a bristle brush performs a 5, and a non-woven abrasive brush performs a 9+.

A non-woven abrasive brush can be used for descaling in the manufacturing of steel strip, which involves removing scales or surface oxidation from the surface of the steel strip. Here’s a general process for using a non-woven abrasive brush for descaling steel strip:

hot water high pressure precleaner for degreasing metal strip

  • Prepare the steel strip: Ensure that the steel strip is properly cleaned and prepared for descaling. This may involve removing any loose debris, dust, or dirt from the surface of the steel strip using suitable cleaning methods.

Non-woven Abrasive Flap Brushes

CHOOSING THE CORRECT NON-WOVEN ABRASIVE BRUSH

  • Choose the right brush: Select a non-woven abrasive brush that is suitable for the descaling task at hand. Consider factors such as the abrasive material, grit size, brush size, and density to match the specific requirements of your descaling application. The choice of brush will depend on the type of scales or oxidation present on the steel strip and the desired level of descaling.

wide strip brushing machine for removing surface scale and oxide

IN-PROCESS BRUSH DRESSING WITH OUR BRUSH MACHINES

Attach the brush to a suitable tool: that would be one of APT’s state-of-the-art brush machines with brush traversing to continually dress the brushes in-process, for the entire life of the brush.

That’s correct! No more dog bone abrasive brush! No more shiny edges and dirty center metal strip!

  • Adjust the speed and pressure: Set the machinery to an appropriate speed and apply the desired pressure on the brush against the steel strip. The exact speed and pressure may vary depending on the type and thickness of the steel strip, the level of descaling required, and the brush used. It’s recommended to start with lower speeds and pressures and gradually increase as needed, while avoiding excessive pressure.

The non-woven abrasive brush will come in complete contact with the steel strip and remove the scales or oxidation from the surface.

Filtration system for steel strip processing cleaning sections

FILTRATION SYSTEM UPGRADES

We will be removing a lot of oxide scale, dirt, debris, from the strip surface, which means the filtration system needs to be able to handle everything we will be taking off the strip surface. We have developed these filtration systems to perform this task!

With a mix of the correct pre-cleaning process equipment,  non-woven abrasive brush and brush machine, and filtration system all dialed-in, you will be able to dramatically increase your strip surface. How much is a clean strip surface worth to you?

Give us a call for a free consultation!

Stay Healthy & Safe!

Sincerely,

David Thiemann