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Home / Chemicals / Descaling & Rust Removal / Descale
Acidic

Descale

Immersion & UltrasonicIMMERSION& ULTRASONICImmersion & Ultrasonic

Scale off. Metal intact. Flow restored.

Dissolves carbonate scale, oxides and rust at 40–50 °C — exchangers back to duty.

Carbonate, oxide, rust and heat tint — dissolved40–50 °C — modest energy, full effectRestores exchanger duty without mechanical damage
From $335.50 inc GST ($305.00 ex GST)
descale container
Why It Wins

Scale off. Metal intact. Flow restored.

Scale is a thief with a compounding interest rate: a millimetre of carbonate on an exchanger surface costs measurable heat-transfer efficiency, and every degree the process compensates costs energy money, every day.

Descale dissolves the theft — carbonate scale, oxides, rust and heat tint converted to soluble salts at a moderate 40–50 °C, from exchangers, nozzles, filters and water-circuit hardware. No rodding damage, no abrasive wear on tube walls; the metal that emerges is the metal that was installed.

The acid-side rules apply and the card states them: confirm plated, zinc and soft-alloy components before committing, and protect freshly bared ferrous surfaces promptly — clean steel is hungry steel.

Applications

Where it earns its keep

Boiler and exchanger scale; rusted hardware; heat-treatment scale.

Material caution: Phosphoric-acid concentrate (pH below 1) for ferrous descaling. Never on aluminium, zinc, galvanised, magnesium, cadmium plating, tin, solder or painted parts. Run it in a polypropylene insert tank, never leave it standing in a stainless ultrasonic tank, and bake hardened or high-tensile steel within 4 hours of pickling.
Temperature & Dose
SWEET SPOT 45 °Cambient–50 °C20 °C100 °C

Dose: 2.5–10% v/v (typ. 2.5–5%). The trial sets your exact process values; the TDS governs.

Run It Right

The working process

1 · MAKE UPMake upConcentrate at 2.5–10% v/v (typ. 2.5–5%) in water, in a polypropylene insert or acid-resistant tank.2 · HEATHeatAmbient to 50 °C, typically 40–50 °C — never above 60 °C in ultrasonics; extract the acid mist.3 · CLEANCleanSoil-load dependent — establish by trial and use the shortest cycle that works.4 · RINSERinseRinse thoroughly, neutralise with an alkaline dip if required, then Anti-Rust before drying.
Why Flash Rust Happens

A freshly cleaned ferrous part is chemically active — protective films gone, surface warm and wet, rinse ions acting as electrolyte. Rust bloom can start within the hour. DI water rinsing slows it; protection stops it.

Protect It

Inhibitor in the final rinse before hot-air drying, an Anti-Rust dip between processes, or a water-displacing film for storage — matched to the next process. Tell us what happens next and the protection specifies itself.

Acid-Side Neighbours

Right product, right job

This Page

Descale — general duty

Oxides, rust and scale on robust metal.

Also Consider

CoreKleen HX

Cores, radiators and exchangers specifically

View →
Also Consider

Anti-Rust

Protect the part once the scale is off

View →
Buy Descaleinc GST
10 L$335.50
20 L$599.50

Delivered within Australia. Outside Australia, request a delivered price.

Complete The Job
Anti-Rust containerAnti-RustProtect the freshly bared metalView & buy →
Compatibility
Mild & carbon steelThe base metal is attacked with the scale — time-limit, rinse and neutralise
Stainless steelPhosphoric acid passivates stainless
Cast ironTime-limit — rinse and inhibit promptly
Aluminium & titaniumNot for aluminium (titanium is on the list)
Magnesium & soft alloysDo not use
Zinc & galvanisedDo not use
Copper & brassAttacked on prolonged contact — brass dezincifies; time-limit and test
Plated finishes (Cd·Cr·Ni)Not for cadmium; nickel and chrome attacked on prolonged contact
Plastics & rubbersHDPE · PP · PVC · nitrile · EPDM · Viton on the TDS list
Painted / coated surfacesDo not use — not for painted surfaces
Per prescribed use — the cleaning trial confirms on your parts; the TDS governs. Full range matrix →
Transport
UN NumberUN 1805
DG ClassClass 8 · Packing Group III
Hazchem2R
Freight note: Dangerous goods attract a carrier DG surcharge, quoted at checkout. Depot pickup avoids it.
Bath Life

This is not a single-use chemical

A common misconception treats industrial chemistry like dishwater — used once, tipped out. A defended bath of Descale 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.

Keep It In Spec
  • 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
Storage

Drum and bath, both looked after

The Concentrate
  • Handling: Avoid eye contact and 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.
  • Store in corrosive resistant container with a resistant inner liner.
  • Keep container standing upright.
  • Keep containers closed when not in use - check regularly for leaks.
  • This material is classified as a Class 8 Corrosive as per the criteria of the "Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail" and/or the "New Zealand NZS5433:
Compliant with the product SDS.
The Working Bath

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.

On the drum

The icons on the label, and what they mean

Concentrate label mark
ConcentrateSupplied concentrated. Dilute before use.

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.

Documents & Safety

The paperwork, on the page

Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
Descale — Australian GHS SDS for your chemical register and risk assessments. PDF, 596 KB. Issued 23/02/2024.
View SDSDownload
Technical Data Sheet (TDS)
Kleentek KT-TDS-DSC · Rev 2 · issued 10 Sep 2026. Dose, temperature, material compatibility, soils, bath control and transport. PDF, 670 KB.
Hazard identification
DANGERPer Safe Work Australia GHS 7
Corrosive to Metals - Category 1Irritation - Category 1BIrritation - Category 1
Hazard statements
H290May be corrosive to metals.
H314Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
H318Causes serious eye damage.
Key precautions
P102Keep out of reach of children.
P103Read carefully and follow all instructions.
P234Keep only in original packaging.
P260Do not breathe dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray.
P264Wash hands, face and all exposed skin thoroughly after handling.
P280Wear protective gloves/protective clothing including eye/face protection.
Compliant with the product SDS — full document available for your chemical register.
PPE & exposure controls
  • National occupational exposure limits: TWA STEL NOTICES ppm mg/m3 ppm mg/m3 Phosphoric acid - 1 - 3 - As published by Safe Work Australia.
  • Product Name: Descale Reference No: KT-CC-DSC Issued: 2024-02-23 Version: 1.1 Safety Data Sheet TWA - The time-weighted average airborne concentration over an eight-hour working day, for a five-day working week over an entire working life.
  • STEL (Short Term Exposure Limit) - the average airborne concentration over a 15 minute period which should not be exceeded at any time during a normal eight-hour workday.
  • These Exposure Standards are guides to be used in the control of occupational health hazards.
  • All atmospheric contamination should be kept to as low a level as is workable.
  • These exposure standards should not be used as fine dividing lines between safe and dangerous concentrations of chemicals.
  • They are not a measure of relative toxicity.
  • If the directions for use on the product label are followed, exposure of individuals using the product should not exceed the above standard.
  • The standard was created for workers who are routinely, potentially exposed during product manufacture.
  • 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.
Compliant with the product SDS — full document available for your chemical register.
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.
  • For gross contamination, immediately drench with water and remove clothing.
  • Continue to flush skin and hair with plenty of water (and soap if material is insoluble).
Compliant with the product SDS — full document available for your chemical register.
Storage & handling
  • Handling: Avoid eye contact and 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.
  • Store in corrosive resistant container with a resistant inner liner.
  • Keep container standing upright.
  • Keep containers closed when not in use - check regularly for leaks.
  • This material is classified as a Class 8 Corrosive as per the criteria of the "Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road & Rail" and/or the "New Zealand NZS5433:
Compliant with the product SDS — full document available for your chemical register.
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.
Compliant with the product SDS — full document available for your chemical register.
Transport & dangerous goods
  • 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".
  • UN No: 1805 Dangerous Goods Class: 8 Packing Group:
  • III Hazchem Code: 2R Emergency Response Guide No: 37 Limited Quantities 5L Proper Shipping Name:
  • PHOSPHORIC ACID, SOLUTION Segregation Dangerous Goods:
  • Not to be loaded with explosives (Class 1), dangerous when wet substances (Class 4.3), oxidising agents (Class 5.1), organic peroxides (Class 5.2), radioactive substances (Class 7) or food and food packaging in any quantity.
  • Note 1: Concentrated strong alkalis are incompatible with concentrated strong acids.
  • Note 2: Concentrated strong acids are incompatible with concentrated strong alkalis.
  • Note 3: Acids are incompatible with Dangerous Goods of Class 6 which are cyanides.
  • Exemptions may apply.
Compliant with the product SDS — full document available for your chemical register.
Descale FAQ

Asked at the tank

What dilution and temperature do I run?
2.5–10% v/v (typ. 2.5–5%) at ambient to 50 °C, never above 60 °C in ultrasonics — and the trial sets your exact process values against your soil. Running richer than specified wastes chemical without cleaning faster. That range is the chemistry’s window — not the whole answer. The substrate sets its own ceiling, and it is usually lower: aluminium and anodised finishes discolour above 60 °C, zinc and coated parts lower again, and magnesium is governed by pH before temperature. Run at the lower of the two. Bath temperature — chemistry vs substrate →
Why do my parts flash rust after cleaning?
Because the clean worked — protective films are gone and the bare metal is active. Rinse DI, then protect: in-rinse inhibitor, Anti-Rust dip, or a displacing film for storage.
When do I change the bath?
When cycle times stretch, results fade, or filtration stops holding the debris. Drain, clean the tank, refill — never lay fresh solution over settled sludge.
Will it attack my tank?
Acid work runs in tanks specified for it — 316 stainless or polymer, never bare mild steel. Misonics acid-duty tanks are built for exactly this; if you are retrofitting chemistry into an existing tank, confirm the tank material against the card before the first fill.
Can I get the SDS before buying?
Yes — every product ships with its SDS, and documents are available ahead of purchase for your chemical register and risk assessments.

Not sure which chemical? See which chemical for which metal and soil.

Prove it on your parts

The trial pairs Descale with your components — concentration, temperature and cycle documented before you order a drum. Wrong chemistry for your soil? The trial says so.

Talk to an engineer Back to the Range
Goes with this

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 strong acid bath, and that rules the media in and out before micron rating comes into it.

what we would sendPolypropylene needlefeltStrong acid bath · pH below 3

Rated to pH 1, including strong mineral acid. Start at 25 µm unless something downstream needs finer.

Not polyester or nylon. Strong mineral acids attack polyester. Use polypropylene. Mineral acids destroy nylon. Never on descaling duty.
Size 17″ × 16″housing 717Size 27″ × 32″housing 732Size 34″ × 8″housing 408Size 44″ × 14″housing 415
Which size, media and micron — the full guide →
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