FIELD: metallurgy, creation of warm power zones in which steel is pickled with neutral electrolyte and is then treated with nitrating nitric acid or mixture of iron fluoride with hydrofluoric acid. SUBSTANCE: process for pickling high-grade steel bands comprises treating them with sulfuric acid solution having concentration of 200-500 g/l, preferably 300-400 g/l at 60-95 C, preferably 75-85 C, electrochemically pickling said bands with neutral sodium sulfate solution and finally treating them with mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids or with mixtures of hydrofluoric acid and ferric fluoride. Steel band is cleaned with brushes between treatment with mixture of acids. Sulfuric acid treatment time varies from 5 to 30%, and electrochemical pickling time varies from 25 to 50% of the total treatment time. EFFECT: more efficient pickling process. 5 cl
