7. Conclusion

This article does not claim to provide an exhaustive overview of all industrial pickling processes in aqueous media. In fact, the term "pickling" encompasses many different types of treatment. Although this surface preparation operation is commonplace, it is not as trivial as it may seem. Developments in this field mainly concern solution formulations. To illustrate this point, the ban on hexavalent chromium has forced operators to find alternative solutions.

In the age of eco-respectful processing, customers will be demanding ever-higher quality standards. This will encourage R&D laboratories to develop new processes to meet these demands, while ensuring compliance with safety and environmental standards.

Acknowledgements: The author would like to thank Marie-Pierre Gigandet, lecturer at the University of Franche-Comté, and Michel Ruimi,...