Welding tests performed with International Chemical Products, Inc.'s Picklex®20 by General Motors Corp.™ showed a 60% increase in weld strength, than their present welding process for spot welding (welding was performed on 30 pieces of steering parts, after applying the product). Additional welding tests (fillet welding) performed by Pittsburgh Testing Lab (now known as PSI), showed higher weld strengths (43% increase), including the welding performed on mill scale (showed higher strength than welding on bare metal). Welding was performed directly on the coated surface, because the coating is conductive in nature. Weld strength increased considerably, due to the fact that the welding is being performed on a zero-rust metal surface. Also, Picklex®20 has high temperature fusion characteristics, which also result in better bonding (the coating does not flake or burn off at high temperatures). In certain cases, the weld strength increased few times.

A Step Ahead
By traditional way of cleaning the metal surface, it is extremely hard to keep the metal surface absolutely rust-free before welding. This is because, right after cleaning and washing, the micro-rust starts forming immediately on the metal surface, over which the welding is usually performed, resulting in lower weld strength. When Picklex®20 is used, the metal surface is cleaned and coated at the same time and does not allow any rust to form on the surface before welding. Also, spraying and brushing Picklex®20 over the weld (after cleaning the weld surface properly), will provide a protective coating on the weld. Welding can also be performed on mill scale, after spraying and brushing Picklex®20, which completely converts the mill scale to a conductive metallurgical protective coating. The process with Picklex®20 does not form weld spatter. It minimizes labor, time, and costs for surface preparation before welding.

Picklex® 20 - Very Long Term Indoor Rust Protection (in terms of years) 

PICKLEX® 20 coated metal can be stored for a long period of time without painting (in terms of years), when kept under covered area.  There is no product in the market which will store metal without rusting for such a long period of time, with the metal surface already prepared for subsequent operations.  For shipping with just PICKLEX® 20 coating, cover with Plastic or ship in a closed compartment  to prevent contact with large amounts of water.   PICKLEX® 20 is being exclusively used by thousands of classic car restorers who needs anywhere from 3 to 6 years of indoor rust protection during restoring and re-finishing process.   Note: A piece of rebar (shown in the picture below) was coated with PICKLEX® 20 only (without any top coating), and was kept inside the warehouse since March 1994. As of now, no visible rust has formed on the surface.

Contact us in Huntsville, Alabama, for our steel pre-treatment,
aluminum pre-treatment, and metal surface preparation product.