Trial Purpose:
To evaluate semi-aqueous low VOC products for manual removal of ink from aluminum coupons.
Date Run:
03/26/2008Experiment Procedure:
Following the selection process from the previous trial, twenty-one semi-aqueous alternatives with low VOC levels. These products were used at full strength and room temperature. Twenty-one preweighed coupons were coated with the supplied Dykem red ink. Once dry, a second weight was recorded to determine the amount of ink added to the coupon. In contrast to the previous trial, only one coupon was used per cleaning alternative. A handheld swab was immersed into the cleaning product and then manual wiped across the coupon for up to one minute. Following the cleaning, the coupons was wiped dry for 5 seconds. Observations were made, final coupon weights recorded, and the single efficiency was calculated.
Trial Results:
Six of the twenty products removed over 90% of the Dykem red ink within 1 minute. An additional five products removed over 20% of the ink. The remaining nine were only moderately successful (despite the negative efficiency) as noted by visual analysis (ink wiping off during drying). The table below lists the initial amount of ink added, the amount remaining, the efficiency, VOC level and observation for each coupon cleaned.
| Cleaner | Initial wt | Final wt | % Removed | Observation |
| Soy Clear 1500 | 0.0071 | 0.0034 | 52.11 | Good removal |
| Ink Zapper | 0.0109 | 0.0009 | 91.74 | Excellent - 20 seconds |
| Methyl Ester 1618 | 0.0487 | 0.0329 | 32.44 | Okay |
| Soy Cleaner 180 D | 0.0397 | 0.0437 | -10.08 | Fair-foamy |
| Soy Solve II | 0.0191 | 0.0201 | -5.24 | Okay |
| Citrus Soy Solvent | 0.0244 | 0.0155 | 36.48 | Okay |
| SL 100 | 0.0129 | 0.0204 | -58.14 | Fair-little |
| Organic Cleaner/Degreaser | 0.0049 | 0.0052 | -6.12 | None-foamy |
| Kernal Clean | 0.0204 | 0.0207 | -1.47 | None |
| Graffiti Remover SAC | 0.0285 | -0.0003 | 101.05 | Excellent - 20 seconds |
| DT 600 Wash | 0.0130 | 0.0157 | -20.77 | Fair-foamy |
| EP 921 | 0.0080 | -0.0001 | 101.25 | Excellent - 10 seconds |
| Inproclean 4000 T | 0.0405 | 0.0294 | 27.41 | Good removal |
| BG Solv 717 | 0.0133 | 0.0001 | 99.25 | Excellent - 10 seconds |
| 3D Degreaser | 0.0175 | 0.0201 | -14.86 | Fair-foamy |
| PES 320 | 0.0239 | 0.0277 | -15.90 | Okay |
| Graffiti Remover | 0.0400 | -0.0003 | 100.75 | Excellent - 20 seconds |
| Soy Strong | 0.0421 | 0.0334 | 20.67 | Okay |
| Smart Solve 605 | 0.0344 | 0.0026 | 92.44 | Good/excellent |
| Extreme Simple Green | 0.0279 | 0.0326 | -16.85 | Little/none |
Success Rating:
Preliminary compatibility tests on substrate coupons encouraging for at least one cleaning chemistry. More in-depth laboratory testing necessary.Conclusion:
The top 11 products will be evaluated on the next supplied ink.
