OMG! All screws cover by a layer of cooper after overnigh in rust remover together with a cooper pipe!

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Boater On Thames

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I am fixing and reconditioning my Volvo TAMD61A engine heat exchanger. I pour in some Jenolite rust remover liquid to a tray then put all the screws and a cooper pipe in it for overnight. The next day, everything in there covers by a layer of copper and can't remove at all!! The screws previously shining most of the parts, only had a little rust on top. But now all turned cooper! I tried to soak it in acid for overnight, but can't remove that layer cooper at all. Any other idea?

Does anyone have the same experience? Can I continue using that screws?
 
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Lucas Gan said:
I am fixing and reconditioning my Volvo TAMD61A engine heat exchanger. I pour in some Jenolite rust remover liquid to a tray then put all the screws and a copper pipe in it for overnight. The next day, everything in there covers by a thin layer of copper and can't remove at all!! The screws previously shining most of the parts, only had a little rust on top. But now all turned cooper!!

Does anyone have the same experience? Can I continue using that screws?
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In my opinion you’ve inadvertently carried out a bit of electroplating, with the Jenolite acting as an electrolyte. There was possibly a sufficient difference in the electrical potential of the copper pipe and the screws to encourage migration of the copper onto the ferrous based screws. It’s unlikely that you’ve caused any real damage other than a very modest reduction in the mass of the copper tube and a slight increase in the size of the screws. Might even result in an effective anti corrosion coating for the screws.
Mike
 
Working in a electroplating factory I can tell you that ordinary acid will not remove the copper. We use a solution of 24 dinitrometabenzine sulphonic acid sodium salts, loads of fume extraction, full PPE etc. There are other methods, but you will not buy the necessary chemicals from your local chemist. Suggest you just have the screws zinc plated now. ( For full protection use zinc/nickel alloy plating with the necessary passivation coating. ). Failing all that just take the parts to your local plating company and hope someone there also has a boat.
 
Why did you put a rustproof copper pipe in rust remover ?
Could it be the rust remover dissolved a chrome coating of the screws rather than were coated from the copper pipe? You did say they were previously shiny
 
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This is the first time I use rust remover. The product instruction said it suitable for use on all metals, including Chrome, Brass, Copper and Aluminium. So I just put all in!

Yes, most parts of those screws were shinning like new before I put them in the liquid. I want to make them all shinning so I put them all in. Now they all look part cooper and part dark. They look like such a rusted screw after rust removal treatment. They look old and not as nice as before. So I can't really tell if that remover removed a layer from it or added a layer to it. Or maybe both happened the same time? All I can see is they are all changed colour to part cooper and part dark.
 
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Looking at the price of these screws I think it would be cheaper to buy new rather than trying to find someone to clean them.
 
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