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Trial Number 9

Trial Purpose:

To find an effective solvent to remove varnish from steel coupons

Date Run:

07/31/2023

Experiment Procedure:

Three steel coupons were used for each cleaner tested, for a total of nine coupons.  Initial weights of coupons were taken.  The varnish was heated to 350 F on a hot plate.  Each coupon was placed on the hot plate for a total of 30 seconds.  The varnish was then applied to the heated coupons with a metal scraper in order to achieve a thin layer of varnish on the bottom third of the coupons.  Once the varnish had solidified, dirty weights of each coupon were taken.  Coupons were then subjected to 15 minutes of unheated immersion with a stir bar set at 200 rpm .  The chosen solvents/cleaners tested were A. D Limonene 85% + Dimethyl Glutarate 15%, B. Fatty Acid Methyl Ester 93% + Ethyl Lactate 7%, C. T-Butyl Acetate 42% + Benzyl Benzoate 58%.  After air drying, clean weights were taken.

Trial Results:

Cleaner Initial wt of cont. Final wt of cont. %Cont Removed % AVG
D Limonene 85% + Dimethyl Glutarate 15% 0.0360 0.0008 97.78 96.71
0.1125 0.0067 94.04
0.0297 0.0005 98.32
FAME 93% + Ethyl Lactate 7% 0.0143 0.0043 69.93 60.58
0.0289 0.0048 83.39
0.0820 0.0587 28.41
T-Butyl Acetate 42% + Benzyl Benzoate 58% 0.0579 0.0566 2.25 5.70
0.0663 0.0609 8.14
0.0610 0.0569 6.72

Success Rating:

Results successful using TACT (time, agitation, concentration, and temperature, as well as rinsing and drying) and/or other cleaning chemistries examined.

Conclusion:

D Limonene 85% + Dimethyl Glutarate 15% was very effective in removing the varnish from the coupons using 15 minutes of unheated immersion.

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