---
title: "Alloy Scale & Oxide Conditioning"
url: "https://www.kolene.com/application/alloy-scale-oxide-conditioning/"
description: "Kolene® salt bath processes condition oxide scale on stainless steel, superalloys, titanium, and refractory metals before acid pickling."
site: "Kolene Corporation"
updated: "2026-09-25T04:30:43+00:00"
breadcrumbs: "Home > Applications > Alloy Scale & Oxide Conditioning"
---

# Alloy Scale & Oxide Conditioning

Scale Conditioning for Stainless, Superalloys, Titanium & Refractory Metals

## How do you descale stainless steel, superalloys, and titanium before pickling?

Kolene® salt bath descaling converts refractory alloy oxides into readily soluble compounds, and conditioning in Kolene No. 1 or DGS® salt allows lower acid concentrations and temperatures and shorter dwell times in the pickling that follows. The equipment depends on your product: small Unitized™ systems for precision components, continuous anneal and pickle lines for strip, large batch systems for wire, and long-goods units for shapes and pipe. Scalex® techniques are designed primarily for continuous anneal and pickle lines. Tell us the alloy, the scale, and your volume, and we will recommend the salt and equipment.

![Three vertical panels of streaked metal surface texture in dark green, tan and silver tones](https://www.kolene.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/0fe521134821d5db8d7069d7421c4218_f135.webp)

Kolene® scale conditioning processes clean heavily scaled stainless steel and superalloy products, as well as titanium and refractory metals. Kolene salt bath descaling converts refractory alloy oxides into readily soluble compounds. Conditioning in Kolene No. 1 or DGS salt allows lower acid concentrations and temperatures and shorter dwell times in the pickling that follows.

We start with custom-engineered equipment and then add more than 85 years of chemical experience. The result is a single-source process line engineered for your product.

We build systems to fit your product, including small Unitized systems for precision component cleaning and 60-foot salt bath furnaces for long goods. Our descaling systems include continuous anneal and pickle lines for strip, large batch systems for wire, and long-goods units for shapes and pipe. See [Metal Descaling Systems](https://www.kolene.com/equipment/cleaning-systems/) under Equipment.  
Scalex® techniques are designed primarily for continuous anneal and pickle lines and may also be adapted for “coat and bake” scale conditioning of large alloy components. Contact us for current Scalex availability and application fit.

Equipment

[Unitized](https://www.kolene.com/equipment/cleaning-systems/#unitized-systems)  
[Metal Descaling](https://www.kolene.com/equipment/cleaning-systems/#metal-descaling-systems)  
[By-Product Management](https://www.kolene.com/equipment/cleaning-systems/#by-product-management-systems)

Literature

[Proven Descaling Technologies](https://www.kolene.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/4_Proven_Descaling_Technologies.pdf)

[Cleaning of Titanium, Stainless & SuperAlloys](https://www.kolene.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/5_Cleaning_of_Titanium_Stainless_and_SuperAlloys.pdf)

[Corporate Overview](https://www.kolene.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1_Corporate_overview.pdf)

[Process and Environmental Overview](https://www.kolene.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/2_Process_and_Environmental_Overview.pdf)

Products

[Kolene® No. 1](https://www.kolene.com/product/cleaning-chemicals/#chemical-kolene-no-1)  
[Alko™](https://www.kolene.com/product/cleaning-chemicals/#chemical-alko-n)  
[DGS®](https://www.kolene.com/product/cleaning-chemicals/#chemical-dgs)  
[Koliquid® No. 1](https://www.kolene.com/product/cleaning-chemicals/#chemical-koliquid-no-1)  
[Koliquid® DGS®](https://www.kolene.com/product/cleaning-chemicals/#chemical-koliquid-dgs)  
[Moly](https://www.kolene.com/product/cleaning-chemicals/#chemical-moly)

[Play video: Kolene General Cleaning Animation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEvNTHCotzo)

**Kolene General Cleaning Animation** A salt bath cleaning system cleans a load of parts and removes the process by-products.

Have parts like these? Tell us the alloy, the coating or residue, and your volume, and we will recommend the salt and equipment for the job.

[Contact us](https://www.kolene.com/contact/?interest=Unsure)

KOLENE®, DGS®, SCALEX® and KOLIQUID® are registered trademarks/service marks of Kolene Corporation. UNITIZED™ and ALKO™ are also trademarks/service marks of Kolene Corporation.