Sludge!

[Andygasman2010]

Anyone know what causes black sludge? I know brown sludge is cause by air entering the system but what about black sludge?

 

[sambotc]

Ever seen a demonstration magna clean?

There's a clue

 

[Andygasman2010]

yea i've seen one, i own one! i'm not sure how it explains the difference between brown and black sludge....?

 

[sambotc]

It's iron oxide, caused by steel radiators and similar corroding inside the heating system. Air being a main contributing factor again.

Ever remember doing the test in school where you put a nail in water, air, and air and water, the nail in air and water rusted the quickest?

HTH Sam

 

[darren17]

black sludge is made by not cleaning and flushing a system properly.
over time the sediment that was left in the system mixes with new that is the main reason
the other being different metals on the one system

 

[TicklyT]

Both are forms of rust. Ferrous oxide (FeO) is black, ferric oxide (Fe2O3)is red.

You may also find a third form, magnetite (Fe3O4) is present.

 

[workerant]

i have just read that fe0 thermodynamically unstable and is fda approved and used as a pigment in tattoo inks... go figure!

haven't seen any exploding slag tags for a while