Sodium chloride (NaCl) was shown to have a beneficial effect on the pi
ckling of mild steel in different concentrations of sulfuric acid (H2S
O4) at various temperatures and ferrous sulfate (FeSO4 . 7H(2)O) accum
ulations in the bath. Addition of this salt to the H2SO4 bath drastica
lly reduced metal loss, enhanced the pickling rate, removed scale quic
kly. and improved the surface finish of the pickled material. Addition
of hydrochloric acid (HCl) instead of NaCl, however, accelerated the
corrosion rate of mild steel in the uninhibited acid solution but had
a negligible effect in the inhibited solution. The beneficial effect o
f NaCl was discussed based upon electrochemical parameters.