Testing the effectiveness of home rust removers

Julia Grzonka; Marta Gawliczek; Wiktoria Kroczek; Mateusz Hyła; Artur Maciej

doi:10.15199/40.2026.5.3

Testing the effectiveness of home rust removers

Julia Grzonka
, Marta Gawliczek
, Wiktoria Kroczek
, Mateusz Hyła
, Artur Maciej

Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry (RCH/RCH1)

Silesian University of Technology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The effectiveness and selectivity of rust removal from S235JR non-alloy steel using com-monly available consumer products such as lemon juice and Coca-Cola-type beverages were studied. The study was extended to include model concentrated solutions of phosphoric(V) acid and citric acid. The rate of rust and steel dissolution was determined based on mass loss during a 48-hour exposure. Subsequently, microscopic examinations and elemental composition analysis of the surfaces and cross-sections of the samples (SEM-EDX) were conducted. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to obtain information on the corrosion resistance of steel in the tested solutions. Lemon juice effectively removed rust while exhibiting significantly lower aggressiveness toward steel (Rct = 1621 Ω cm²) compared to cola (Rct = 496 Ω cm²), which left rust on the surface.

Translated title of the contribution	Badania skuteczności domowych środków do usuwania rdzy
Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	132-153
Number of pages	22
Journal	Ochrona Przed Korozja
Volume	69
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.15199/40.2026.5.3
Publication status	Published - 2026

Keywords

cola
derusting
household rust removers
lemon juice
rust
steel corrosion

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Chemical Engineering
Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Metals and Alloys
Materials Chemistry

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10.15199/40.2026.5.3

Cite this

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PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

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AB - The effectiveness and selectivity of rust removal from S235JR non-alloy steel using com-monly available consumer products such as lemon juice and Coca-Cola-type beverages were studied. The study was extended to include model concentrated solutions of phosphoric(V) acid and citric acid. The rate of rust and steel dissolution was determined based on mass loss during a 48-hour exposure. Subsequently, microscopic examinations and elemental composition analysis of the surfaces and cross-sections of the samples (SEM-EDX) were conducted. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was used to obtain information on the corrosion resistance of steel in the tested solutions. Lemon juice effectively removed rust while exhibiting significantly lower aggressiveness toward steel (Rct = 1621 Ω cm2) compared to cola (Rct = 496 Ω cm2), which left rust on the surface.

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KW - rust

KW - steel corrosion

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Testing the effectiveness of home rust removers

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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