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Trial Number 0

Trial Purpose:

To identify alternative cleaners for removing oil and smut from parts prior to plating.

Date Run:

08/16/2000

Experiment Procedure:

Three chemistries were selected based on vendor supplied information and searching the lab’s Effective Test Conditions Database. The two aqueous products were diluted to 5% in a VWR Scientific Products Aquasonic 150 HT ultrasonic tank using tap water at 115 F. The semi-aqueous cleaner was diluted to 10% as recommended by the vendor. One dirty part was cleaned in each solution for 5 minutes, followed by a 30 second tap water spray at 120 F. The clean parts were then dried using a Master Appliance Corp, Hot-air gun model HG-301A at 500 F for one minute. Parts were then visually compared to the supplied cleaned parts and the other cleaners. The 3 parts were then ranked from cleanest to dirtiest. Following the visual inspection, parts were wiped 3 times with a white swab to determine the level of smut remaining on the parts. The swabs were then compared and ranked again.

SUBSTRATE MATERIAL: Steel
CONTAMINANTS: Oil, dirt, smut
CONTAMINATING PROCESS USED: Parts received contaminated

Trial Results:

Of the three cleaners tested, the Oakite product had the best ranking visually and from the wipe test. Envirosolutions was the second cleanest looking part but was third in the wipe test. Table 2 displays the rankings for the 3 cleaned parts and one of the supplied cleaned parts.

Table 2. Cleaning Rankings

Test Method Envirosolutions Hazwell Int. Oakite Products Supplied Part
Visual Ranking 2 3 1 4
Wipe Ranking 3 2 1 4
Observations Good cleaning, some drying streaks Okay/good cleaning, drying streaks Good/excellent cleaning, some spots Poor smut removal

A more uniform drying field (oven or air knives) could be used in order to correct the drying streaks observed during the trial.

Success Rating:

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

Conclusion:

Oakite Inproclean 3800 out performed the other two cleaners and all three products yielded cleaner parts than the current cleaning system.

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