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Trial Number 0

Trial Purpose:

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effectiveness of alternatives in removing a placeholder oil from stainless steel substrates.

Date Run:

06/30/2021

Experiment Procedure:

Cleaners were prepared to the following concentrations: Citranox 2%, SC Aircraft & Metal 20%, Water Works Heavy Duty Degreaser 7:1, Mirachem 500 20%, Aquaease 732 5%, and Aquavantage 3800 GD 5%. Three stainless steel coupons were obtained and weighed for each of the cleaners being tested. Coupons were then soiled with a placeholder oil and a dirty weight was recorded. A placeholder oil was used because the company's soil had not arrived yet, and the laboratory had a very similar oil in stock. Once soiled, coupons were placed into their respective cleaners for 15 minutes at room temperature. After 15 minutes had passed, coupons were allowed to dry in air for 24 hours. Following the drying process, coupons were weighed once again and a clean weight was recorded. Effectiveness of the cleaners was determined.

Trial Results:

Cleaner Initial wt of cont. Final wt of cont. %Cont Removed % AVG
Citranox 0.0519 0.0286 44.89 40.76
0.0456 0.0291 36.18
0.0296 0.0174 41.22
SC Aircraft & Metal 0.0394 0.0154 60.91 67.84
0.0441 0.0154 65.08
0.0276 0.0062 77.54
Water Works 0.0274 0.0084 69.34 77.19
0.0441 0.0114 74.15
0.0445 0.0053 88.09
Mirachem 500 0.0438 0.0048 89.04 85.08
0.0362 0.0061 83.15
0.0419 0.0071 83.05
Aquaease 0.1226 0.0434 64.60 74.29
0.1433 0.0329 77.04
0.1464 0.0275 81.22
Aquavantage 0.1088 0.0300 72.43 78.82
0.1222 0.0295 75.86
0.1615 0.0191 88.17

Mirachem 500 was the most effective cleaner in removing oil from stainless steel substrates with an average removal of 85.08%. However, all cleaners would benefit from heated immersion. Coupons cleaned with Citranox and SC Aircraft & Metal both possessed a residue following the cleaning process. Potential rinse steps for these cleaners may be necessary in future testing. It should be noted that significantly more oil was added to coupons cleaned with the Aquaease and Aquavantage products which could have negatively impacted removal performance. Future testing will strive to add equivalent amounts of soil to ensure consistent performance for all cleaners. Next steps would be to progress all cleaners to heated immersion trials with the placeholder soil, or to retest unheated immersion once the company soil arrives. 

Success Rating:

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

Conclusion:

Mirachem 500 was the most effective cleaner removing an average of 85.08% of the oil from stainless steel substrates. Next steps would be to progress all cleaners to heated immersion trials with the placeholder soil, or to retest unheated immersion once the company soil arrives.

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