Titanium-Stainless Steel Galvanic corrosion 2

[doobes]

Hey all,

First time post.

I'm a retired electro-mechanical engineer. Spent my career designing, building and operating Remotely Operated Vehicles.

The challenges are different nowadays.

Today's challenge is a Seiko Kinetic Titanium watch I bought off the 'bay..

Thusfar, I've done fairly well buying semi-derelict Seiko Kinetic Titanium watches and rehabilitating them.

Until this one:



The loose second hand should have been a tip off, but I was smitten with the looks and paid more for it than I should have.

It shows up, and it's a friggen mess. All the stainless steel parts are severely corroded, to the point that they are pretty much welded to the titanium via galvanic corrosion that they are in contact with.

I've soaked it in spirits for a couple of weeks, to no avail.

Any thoughts about something to soak it in that would loosen the attachment but not affect the Titanium?

Thanks in advance

chris

 

[TugboatEng]

You are looking to dissolve oxides of iron, phosphoric acid is available at your hardware store and typically is sufficient for the job. Pickling solutions for stainless steel are commercially available and do remove rust. They typically have nitric and hydrofluoric acid, check for compatibility with titanium. Heated citric acid is also useful for cleaning stainless steel and also commercially available.

 

[EdStainless]

phosphoric, citric or straight nitric acids will not attack the SS but should attack some of the products of corrosion.
After all you just need enough attack to allow you to get it apart.
Then you can really clean things.

 

[doobes]

Thank y'all.

I'll get some citric acid and try that.

 

[EdStainless]

You might be able to pick some up in the home canning department of your local hardware or farm supply store.
I would start with 10% citric at 120F.
Give it 15-20 min and see if it is loosening up.
You may need to go longer, you may also need to go hotter (up to 150F).

 

[doobes]

I can get it at the local Walmart.

Thanks for the solution numbers.

chris