IronX and IronX Clones - Fun Facts

Route246

Route246

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I watched the Forensic Detailing Channel video regarding IronX/Clones. Here are some fun facts about how it works.

  • The active ingredient is a solution called sodium thioglycolic acid
  • An early mention in scientific journals from 1927 here: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ja01407a010
  • There is a patent on file for using it as an acne treatment: https://www.google.com/patents/US4107330
  • Thioglycolic acid has been used in hair waving lotions and depilatory creams - from the above patent filing
  • The horrible smell is from the same active ingredient that hair perm chemicals use, I knew I smelled it before but couldn't remember where. Walking past hair salons is where I smelled it when I was younger, not so much today as perms are not common these days
  • Here is an article regarding rust removal, has anyone tried using IronX to remove rust? https://www.jstor.org/stable/1505318?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
 
THAT'S IT, HAIR PERM SMELL. I knew it smelled familiar. Thanks for that. I was like you thinking i've smelled that smell before.
 
Paul A. said:
THAT'S IT, HAIR PERM SMELL. I knew it smelled familiar. Thanks for that. I was like you thinking i've smelled that smell before.
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Yeah. When I was routing around I saw that and felt the same thing. I’m glad it resonated with someone else!


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Good info. Couple of additions:

  • A few products use ammonium thioglycolate rather than sodium, namely the CarPro and Gyeon products, and at least one other not sold here. Not sure why they use the ammonium rather than sodium variant. Calcium thioglycolate is also produced.
  • Oxalic acid will also remove iron oxide via a similar process to thioglycolic acids. It doesn't have a dead skunk smell, but also doesn't change color as a visual indicator. The only wheel cleaner/iron remover I'm aware of that uses this is Duragloss All Wheel Cleaner.
 
So DG All Wheel Cleaner removes iron without changing colors? Looks like I'll be adding a bottle of that into my car next time around, maybe a gallon if it's sold that way, thanks for the info

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Paul A. said:
THAT'S IT, HAIR PERM SMELL. I knew it smelled familiar. Thanks for that. I was like you thinking i've smelled that smell before.
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Before I had bought Iron X, I’d heard the odor described as vomit and hair perm. I still bought it based on reports of how well it worked. First time I used it, confirmed all info was true.
 
Klasse Act said:
So DG All Wheel Cleaner removes iron without changing colors? Looks like I'll be adding a bottle of that into my car next time around, maybe a gallon if it's sold that way, thanks for the info
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Yes, but I can't say how effective it is or isn't. Would be pretty simply to tape off a panel and see what happens to a section pre-treated with DG vs. one that isn't. My thinking is that IronX after DG should show far less color change if the DG removes iron.
 
Wow... what a revelation. I remember the hair perm smell too! Very cool info and thanks for sharing!!!
 
Here is a warning that I have not seen mentioned. When you use one of these products, you will surely stink up the air where you are working, but the worst part is when you get in your car and the odor is there too! And then you find out that it lingersinside the car for days afterward. For that reason, it is unlikely that I will ever use it again.
 
I don't feel like starting a new thread since this one is already out there but I have some questions about this. Iron X is crazy expensive. I have a local shop that also has a Iron X knock off product and they supply local car washes. They want $90 a gallon for the knock off Iron X.

I googled the active ingredients listed above and cannot find a supplier for them. They must be EPA regulated or something until they are diluted out for a product like Iron X. But come on guys, there is no way Iron X or the Iron X knock offs are that expensive. Can't I buy a gallon of the active ingredient and mix my own Iron X?
 
I use 3D BDX at about $0.62/ounce vs. CarPro Iron X at about $1.07/ounce. Your local source is at about $0.70/ounce.
 
Paul A. said:
I use 3D BDX at about $0.62/ounce vs. CarPro Iron X at about $1.07/ounce. Your local source is at about $0.70/ounce.
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Meguiars Ultimate Wheel Cleaner is another option at <$10 for 24oz.
 
nakranij said:
I don't feel like starting a new thread since this one is already out there but I have some questions about this. Iron X is crazy expensive. I have a local shop that also has a Iron X knock off product and they supply local car washes. They want $90 a gallon for the knock off Iron X.

I googled the active ingredients listed above and cannot find a supplier for them. They must be EPA regulated or something until they are diluted out for a product like Iron X. But come on guys, there is no way Iron X or the Iron X knock offs are that expensive. Can't I buy a gallon of the active ingredient and mix my own Iron X?
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Looks like ammonium thioglycolate is available for ~$60 per liter in a 70% solution. Most products that use this or the sodium variant seem to have them at 20-50%. Assuming they're using a 100% solution for the 20-50%, that would explain the cost. Fisher Scientific.

Duragloss wheel cleaner uses Oxalic acid to remove iron oxide. I don't know if it's less effective than the thioglycolates, but it's certainly less expensive. Would be good to do some testing and see how much shows up with IronX after using the DG wheel cleaner.
 
Oxalic acid you can often buy in powder and mix with water and gets very economical. It's has a longer reaction time so it needs to dwell alot longer than ironx products. Many boat owners use it to take off some oxidation and or cleaning the waterline dirt after a season. The benefit of carpro ironx is it's safer on plastic panels and glass. Be carefull when applying oxalic acid on those parts as you can discolour them and stain them and etch the glass. Spray it on a clean surface and spread it out with a sponge or a mf pad or a mf towel. To spread out to the edges. Work in small sections first times so you get a feel of the area you get away with applying it on. Be carefull so it's not drying on the surface. Work in normal temperature and if lower temps you need longer dwelling time. And rinse off thoroughly and wash it afterwards to neutralise the acid.
 
A lot of the OTC wheel cleaners are using oxalic acid. The Eagle One wheel & tire cleaner is one of them. Some of the Megs Hot Rims wheel cleaners are too. Bar Keepers Friend cleansing powder uses oxalic acid too if you've ever heard of that before. It used to be a popular glass water spot remover 15 or so years ago.
 
SWETM said:
Oxalic acid you can often buy in powder and mix with water and gets very economical. It's has a longer reaction time so it needs to dwell... <snipped>
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This is great info. Thanks for sharing.

DBAILEY said:
A lot of the OTC wheel cleaners are using oxalic acid. The Eagle One wheel & tire cleaner is one of them. Some of the Megs Hot Rims wheel cleaners are too. Bar Keepers Friend cleansing powder uses oxalic acid too if you've ever heard of that before. It used to be a popular glass water spot remover 15 or so years ago.
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So far I've only seen two: Duralgloss and Eagle One, which I just learned about from you. The Hot Rims cleaners don't appear to have oxalic acid per their MSDSs. If I'm reading this wrong or you know of others, please let us know.

About a year ago I was looking for wheel cleaners that had flourides so I could avoid them. Then I couldn't sleep one night and it turned into this spreadsheet of wheel cleaner info. There are no doubt more I could add. If I ever get a free hour I'll try to get the rest of the Eagle One wheel cleaners added and whatever others I can find.
 
That's a nice list, man you get involved in stuff .

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