Hello,

 

I'm working on a sculpture project, ( I don't come from a science background ) and I'm wondering if anyone here has

any idea on earth how to dissolve steel dust from a grind down chair. Ideally I'm looking to have the dust dissolve in a solution similar to the way sugar dissolves in a cup of coffee. I've tried nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, alum, bleach, vinegar, and so on and so on.

 

Can anyone here give me any advice? Again, I'm looking to have the steel turn into a liquid, so melting will not be a option.

 

Thank you !!!

HCl will definitely get the steel into solution, but you won't technically be dissolving it. The HCl will react with it and turn the metals into metal chlorides. What visual affect are you after here / how are you planning to use it? Reacting something in this way is not the same as turning it into a liquid (that's melting; note, this is also not the same as dissolving) and you may be disappointed to find that your resulting does not have the colour or luster you are after.

You say you tried hydrochloric acid.

What happened?

What were you wanting to happen?
The acid should dissolve steel quite quickly.

Steel dust?

 

Are you trying to clean up the result of grinding?

 

The resulting powder will be mostly carborundum or similar.

 

More information please.