Both pickling and blasting are designed to remove mill scale from the steel substrate surface and then have a rust inhibitor applied to help protect the steel from rusting. But, the differences in how these two processes affect fabricating and finish are distinguishable.

The blasting process uses abrasive particles to impact the steel, producing small micro-craters on the material surface. This inconsistent surface affects the laser beam focus, which then affects the cut quality. Additionally, this irregular surface can result in a duller paint finish.

Pickling hot-rolled steel removes the flaky scale, so the surface is constant and smooth throughout the entire plate. Additionally, this clean and uniform surface is ideal for painting and enamel application. Other kinds of fabrication are easier with HRPO steel, too. For example, it is safer and easier to weld HRPO steel because there are fewer surface contaminants effecting weld integrity.

• Plasma cutting cleanup – spatter from plasma.
• Splatter doesn’t stick to HRPO. It scrapes off easily, avoiding hours of grinding and sanding.
• Fiber lasers pierce and cut faster with fewer striations and better holes compared to blasted materials.
• Welds on HRPO don’t have porosity issues as they do with blasted material.
• Glossier-painted surfaces
• HRPO plate uses 30% less primer than with blasted materials.
• HRPO painted surfaces chip less than blasted, avoiding repaint.

• Can expose pits under scale.
• Need pre-wash station in paint line.