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Old 04-07-2022, 10:10   #1
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galvanized chain - now discolored

Why did part of our chain turn a yellowish color after cleaning in vinegar?

This is 5/16" Acco galvanized chain purchased in 2018, installed on boat in 2019.
We seldom anchor where we use more than 40-50 meters of chain, often it's 20-30 m.

We cleaned the first 50 meters of chain soaking sections at a time for 2-3 days in a bucket with white vinegar. Most of the chain returned to a nice gray. But the area from about 12 meters to 28 meters, turned this bronze/yellow color that almost looks like iron oxide. However it doesn't clean off with vinegar. It is the area that had the most soft growth on it. We did use a microfiber towel to wipe this area of the chain to assist in cleaning.

While this dirty area of chain was in the vinegar, it "boiled", some kind of chemical reaction that created foam.

What might of happened?
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Old 04-07-2022, 16:46   #2
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Re: galvanized chain - now discolored

You've lost your galvanizing I think. I did that to old chain just for a few hours, but it had white corrosion to begin with, then when washed off it was simply shiney metal that soon turned light rust.

Maybe have it regalvanized?
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Old 04-07-2022, 17:54   #3
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Re: galvanized chain - now discolored

Who suggested cleaning it in vineger (acetic acid) ? You can but you need to flush it with LOTS of fresh water after.
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Old 04-07-2022, 20:07   #4
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Re: galvanized chain - now discolored

Galvanizing of anchor chain is usually done by dipping it in molten zinc. Zinc reacts vigorously with pretty well all acids. The bubbling was the hydrogen being produced in the reaction.
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Old 04-07-2022, 20:54   #5
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Re: galvanized chain - now discolored

https://byjus.com/questions/what-hap...o-acetic-acid/
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Old 05-07-2022, 03:19   #6
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Re: galvanized chain - now discolored

For what reason are you cleaning g chain with vinegar?

My guess is you “washed” off the zinc and will now need to re-galvanize the chain.
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Old 05-07-2022, 21:12   #7
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Re: galvanized chain - now discolored

Vinegar is often used as an "etching" stage when applying paint to a galvanised surface such as gates, fencing etc.
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