I hope you will take the time to read this because it could save you a lot of agony and pain as well as your digits.

I saw a post pertaining to wheel cleaners and I wanted to offer a word of caution to you folks that use rust removers and wheel cleaners (I am referring to the spray bottle wheel cleaners....especially mag wheel cleaner that etches). A few rust removers and wheel cleaners that you and I use on occasion contain a very small concentration of an acid that is known as Hydrofluoric Acid, HF Acid aka HF.

Let me tell you a little about HF. We use tons of pure HF in our refinery Alkylation unit as a catalyst to manufacture octane for our gasoline. HF is also used to etch glass and it's used to manufacture computer chips.

Ladies and gentlemen this is one mean acid! It doesn't just burn you like sulfuric or muratic acid and that's it, what sets it apart from other acids is it's a calcium seeker. This is what makes it so dangerous. In strong concentrations it will cause rapid destruction of the skin and then start looking for calcium. This acid will not stop until it is neutralized! So it will go to your bones if not treated properly and quickly. When it gets to the bones it will begin to destroy them unless calcium gluconate is injected.

I know what your thinking, yea but their not going to put that strong of a concentration in a consumer product....and your right. Or are you? I have seen rust removers with as much as 5% HF. You get that on you and you are in big trouble.

So it still poses a serious burn hazard in the concentration that is used in rust removers and wheel cleaners. Exposure to HF in a concentration as low as 1% on your skin can cause a delayed burn. Delayed burn = You could begin to see and/or feel symptoms as late as 24 hours after you got it on your skin. HF burns are extremely painful and take a long time to heal.

HF will go right through you fingernails (Click the link below to see an example of a HF burn). This photo is of a guy's fingers that was exposed to HF, it went right through his fingernails and just kept on going. This burn will take months to heal. Fortunately they neutralized the acid or they would have had to amputate his fingers. Also this burn was caused by a fairly strong concentration of HF. But don't be fooled, an HF burn is serious business and I do mean serious, no matter what the concentration!

Believe it or not most hospitals are not equipped to treat an HF Burn. So if you ever use a rust remover, or wheel cleaner, read the label. If it has any type of acid don't get it on your skin, especially if it is HF.

For more info about HF just go to your preferred search engine and type in "HF Acid Burns".

Picture of HF Burn
https://www.f150online.com/galleries...6542&anum=4253

I hope this post makes all that read it, read the label of the cleaners that you use. My intention wasn't to scare but inform.

 

great info thanks!

BTW: i have found that the armorall cleaning wipes work great on brake dust

 

thanks for taking the time to write the warning and long post

 

You learn something new everyday.......

 

HF is good stuff

In all seriousness, another tip for when you are around acid...

If you think you've spilled some, wash a lot! Acid eating through your skin makes your skin feel like soap, and many people equate that to clean...

If after washing, your skin still feels slick/soapy, keep washing or seek medical attention.

I learned the hard way (12M sulfuric without gloves and I had to finish the titration....)

Coldie

 

You should always read the labels on any product before using and follow all pre-cautions and directions. Most over the counter cleaners contain very little hydroflouric acid and are realitvely safe to use as long as they are used as directed. I've worked in the chemical industry for over 25 years and the majority of problems with chemicals is misuse by the end user.

 

I had no idea that any cleaning products contained HF acid, nor did I know what HF acid was. Thanks for the info

 

What? You mean we shouldn't just neutralize it with lye or whatever other strong base we can find ?

I am kidding

Acids are cool. huhuh uhuhuh


(Sorry I just got the beavis and butthead dvd collection and it's bringin back old memories )

 

ditto

 

I am more of a wrench turner than scientist.. so let me ask a dumb question. Will rubber gloves solve this whole issue? Should i use the "chemical" gloves i have seen at some major retailers? I conseder myself pretty tough, but i have experienced some of the "symptoms" before also.

Thanks again man..

 

Rubber gloves work.

Think of them like a time delay. They won't stop the acid, but they'll slow it down enough for you to wash the gloves and not your hands...

Latex gloves (think doctors) are useless for chemical. If you're bored, spray any organic solvent (brake cleaner, gas, etc) on a gloves and see how quickly it disolves.

Coldie

 

You also need to select the right glove for the chemical your working with. There is nothing like slipping a pair of chemical gloves on, going to work and then watching the gloves dissolve before your very eyes.

When you need help selecting gloves use something like a permeation data chart such as the one included in the link below. Something like this will help you determine which glove provides the best protection.

http://www.inform.umd.edu/CampusInfo...ls/gloves.html

 

You guys are definately right about the gloves melting.. Before i got my mechanics gloves, i was in the habit of using latex gloves from the fire dept. Those things would melt/disenegrate in no time if you used carb cleaner, brake cleaner etc..

By the way , i checked my rim cleaner, and it didnt list this acid as an ingredient. Mine has "Sodium Metasilicate Pentahydrate"

Any ideas what the heck that is?