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Trial Number 0

Trial Purpose:

To find a replacement for methylene chloride vapor degreasing.

Date Run:

03/29/1999

Experiment Procedure:

Three cleaners were selected on vendor supplied information and from the lab’s Effective Test Conditions Database. The three cleaners were made into 10% solutions by volume in 1500 mL beakers and heated to 120 F on a hot plate.
Before the parts were cleaned, a white swab was pressed into the groove and rotated along 1/4 of the cylinder. The swab was labeled with the cleaners' initials and the letter D (for dirty). The parts were also touched to determine the surface condition.
One part was submerged into a beaker and cleaned using Stir-bar-agitation for 10 minutes. Parts were rinsed in a tap water spray for 30 seconds at 120 F and dried using a Master Appliance Corp, Hot-air gun model HG-301A at 500 F for one minute. The parts were subjected to the swab wipe test again. This time the swab was labeled with the letter C (for clean). Tactile observations were made again.

SUBSTRATE MATERIAL: Brass Parts - Fin compression for missile loading
CONTAMINANTS: Oil
CONTAMINATING PROCESS USED: Parts received contaminated

Trial Results:

Upon initial touching of the parts, a tacky surface was recorded.  After cleaning all three parts no longer felt tacky.  The swab test revealed a vast reduction in the amount of contaminant on the parts.  Table 1 lists the observations made, both tactile and wipe tests.

Chemistry Tactile Dirty Tactile Clean Dirty Swab Clean Swab
Calgon Tacky Smooth Green dirty oil Little marking
Oakite Tacky Smooth Green dirty oil Little marking
US Polychem Tacky Smooth Green dirty oil Very little marking

Parts were also observed visually after they were cleaned.  The US Polychem appeared to look the best (no spotting), followed by the Oakite product.  The Calgon cleaned part seemed to have many spots around the surface of the part.

Success Rating:

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

Conclusion:

Of the three cleaners tested, US Polychem seems to have cleaned the parts the best, followed by Oakite and then the Calgon product.  Parts have been packaged along with the swab wipes, to be further analyzed by the client to determine if the parts can be plated.

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