CoreKleen HX
Rust, scale and red dirt off at pH 6
Two-part chelating descaler — CoreKleen HX at 20% v/v with CoreKleen Plus at 1–2% v/v. Safe on aluminium and zinc, and it passivates as it cleans.
Rust, scale and red dirt off at pH 6
CoreKleen HX is the near-neutral way to take rust, scale, red dirt and grime off industrial components in an ultrasonic or immersion tank. The chelating phosphonate chemistry lifts the oxide layer at pH 6.0–6.5 instead of dissolving the base metal the way acid pickling does — gentler on the operator, gentler on the tank, and safe on aluminium alloys and zinc.
It runs as a two-part bath: CoreKleen HX at 20% v/v with CoreKleen Plus dosed alongside at 1–2% v/v. Heat it to 50–60 °C and give it time — about an hour for light rust, two for heavy — and titrate the bath so it stays at working strength. At a 25% make-up the bath holds roughly 15 g/L of dissolved iron before it is spent.
It passivates as it cleans, so a part comes out with short-term corrosion protection and can go straight to paint. Never run it on magnesium, and time-limit copper and brass — they are chelated on prolonged contact.
Where it earns its keep
Rust, scale, red dirt and grime on industrial components — mining and heavy plant, engine reconditioning, transport and rail, tank and system cleaning.
Dose: 20% v/v CoreKleen HX + 1–2% v/v CoreKleen Plus. The trial sets your exact process values; the TDS governs.
The working process
Right product, right job
HX + Plus — near-neutral chelating descaler
Rust, scale and red dirt without acid pickling.
Descale
Phosphoric acid where a strong acid is allowed
View →Delivered within Australia. Outside Australia, request a delivered price.
Anti-RustProtect the freshly bared metalView & buy →
| Mild & carbon steel | Carbon steel on the TDS list |
| Stainless steel | Safe in prescribed use |
| Cast iron | Cast iron on the TDS list |
| Aluminium & titanium | Aluminium alloys and titanium on the TDS list |
| Magnesium & soft alloys | Do not use |
| Zinc & galvanised | Zinc on the TDS list — removes white rust |
| Copper & brass | Chelated on prolonged contact — time-limit and test |
| Plated finishes (Cd·Cr·Ni) | Chrome plating and nickel listed; cadmium — test first |
| Plastics & rubbers | HDPE · PP · EPDM · Viton safe; PVC and nitrile soften; acrylic, polycarbonate and ABS craze |
| Painted / coated surfaces | Not on the TDS list — test first |
| Transport | Not classified as Dangerous Goods for road and rail |
This is not a single-use chemical
A common misconception treats industrial chemistry like dishwater — used once, tipped out. A defended bath of CoreKleen HX works for weeks of production: weir oil separation and filtration defend the bath, solids leave through the filter, and the chemistry keeps working until genuine depletion.
Change out on evidence, not anxiety: when cycle times stretch or results fade at correct concentration, the bath has earned its retirement. Top-ups at specification carry it between changes.
- Skim or weir oils continuously — oil load is bath killer #1
- Filter solids; drain settled sludge from the sump
- Verify concentration on schedule per the TDS check method
- Log it — the trend predicts top-ups before cleaning fades
Drum and bath, both looked after
- Handling: Avoid eye contact and repeated or prolonged skin contact.
- Avoid inhalation of vapour, mist or aerosols.
- Storage: Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place and out of direct sunlight.
- Store away from foodstuffs.
- Store away from incompatible materials described in Section 10.
- Store away from sources of heat and/or ignition.
- Keep container standing upright.
- Keep containers closed when not in use - check regularly for leaks.
Lid the tank between shifts — holds temperature, limits evaporation, keeps dust out.
Idle periods: a warm, stagnant aqueous bath can support biological growth over extended stagnation. Circulate periodically, keep concentration at specification, never leave an open tank standing for weeks.
Extended shutdown: drain to sealed, labelled containers — or schedule changeover for restart day.
The icons on the label, and what they mean
These are the manufacturer’s own label marks, not third-party certifications. Where a named approval exists it is listed in full on this page. The compatibility table above is what governs.
The paperwork, on the page
Hazard identification
| H318 | Causes serious eye damage. |
| P102 | Keep out of reach of children. |
| P103 | Read carefully and follow all instructions. |
| P280 | Wear protective gloves/protective clothing including eye/face protection. |
| P101 | If medical advice is needed, have product container or label at hand. |
| P305+P351+P338 | IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. |
| P310 | Immediately call a POISON CENTER/doctor. |
PPE & exposure controls
- National Occupational Exposure Limits: No value assigned for this specific material by Safe Work Australia.
- Biological Limit Values: As per the "National Model Regulations for the Control of Workplace Hazardous Substances (Safe Work Australia)" the ingredients in this material do not have a Biological Limit Allocated.
- Engineering Measures: Natural ventilation should be adequate under normal use conditions.
- Hygiene Measures: Keep away from food, drink and animal feeding stuffs.
- When using do not eat, drink or smoke.
- Wash hands prior to eating, drinking or smoking.
- Avoid contact with clothing.
- Avoid eye contact and repeated or prolonged skin contact.
- Avoid inhalation of vapour, mist or aerosols.
- Ensure that eyewash stations and safety showers are close to the workstation location.
First aid
- If poisoning occurs, contact a doctor or Poisons Information Centre (Phone Australia 131 126, New Zealand 0800 764 766).
- Inhalation: Remove victim from exposure - avoid becoming a casualty.
- Remove contaminated clothing and loosen remaining clothing.
- Allow patient to assume most comfortable position and keep warm.
- Keep at rest until fully recovered.
- Seek medical advice if effects persist.
- Skin Contact: If skin or hair contact occurs, remove contaminated clothing and flush skin and hair with running water.
- If swelling, redness, blistering or irritation occurs seek medical assistance.
- Eye Contact: Immediately irrigate with copious quantities of water for 15 minutes.
- Eyelids to be held open.
Storage & handling
- Handling: Avoid eye contact and repeated or prolonged skin contact.
- Avoid inhalation of vapour, mist or aerosols.
- Storage: Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place and out of direct sunlight.
- Store away from foodstuffs.
- Store away from incompatible materials described in Section 10.
- Store away from sources of heat and/or ignition.
- Keep container standing upright.
- Keep containers closed when not in use - check regularly for leaks.
Disposal
- Persons conducting disposal, recycling or reclamation activities should ensure that appropriate personal protection equipment is used, see "Section 8.
- Exposure Controls and Personal Protection" of this SDS.
- If possible material and its container should be recycled.
- If material or container cannot be recycled, dispose in accordance with local, regional, national and international Regulations.
Transport & dangerous goods
- Not classified as Dangerous Goods by the criteria of the "Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail" and the "New Zealand NZS5433:
- Transport of Dangerous Goods on Land".
- MARINE TRANSPORT Not classified as Dangerous Goods by the criteria of the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) for transport by sea.
- AIR TRANSPORT Not classified as Dangerous Goods by the criteria of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations for transport by air.
Asked at the tank
What dilution and temperature do I run?
When do I change the bath?
Will it attack my tank?
Can I get the SDS before buying?
Not sure which chemical? See which chemical for which metal and soil.
Prove it on your parts
The trial pairs CoreKleen HX with your components — concentration, temperature and cycle documented before you order a drum. Wrong chemistry for your soil? The trial says so.
Filter bags for this bath
The bag is what keeps the bath working — it takes the soil out before it settles back onto the next load. This is a neutral bath, and that rules the media in and out before micron rating comes into it.
Fine. Start at 25 µm unless something downstream needs finer.