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Trial Number 0

Client Number 541

Project Number 1

Trial Purpose:

To test the efficacy of alternative solvents to Hexane in removing machining oil from sample parts using ultrasonics.

Date Run:

02/23/2026

Experiment Procedure:

Three sample parts of each part type were grouped together and assigned to one of each solvent to be cleaned.  The three sample parts of each part type were weighed together using a gravimetric balance and had their initial weights recorded.  Each sample part was then immersed in the provided Swisscut Ortho NF-X US 24 Machining Oil for 2 minutes.  During the 2-minute immersion in the oil, the parts were inverted twice to aid in the filling of blind holes and complex thread geometry.  The parts were then removed and re-weighed in their groups of three to have their dirty weights recorded. The parts were then subjected to 5 minutes of unheated ultrasonics cleaning in their respective solvents.  Once removed from ultrasonics immersion, the groups of parts were allowed to air dry for 1 minute.  After air drying, the groups of parts were weighed and had their final weights recorded.  

Trial Results:

Cleaner Substrate Initial wt of cont. Final wt of cont. %Cont Removed % AVG
Acetone BLX 0.1648 0.0002 99.88 97.40
BLT-NC 0.1064 0.0001 99.91
TLX 0.1354 0.0055 95.94
BLC-WB 0.1408 0.0042 97.02
Variobase 0.0838 0.0017 97.97
Basel Screw 0.0568 0.0012 97.89
Analog 0.1081 0.0094 91.30
Sterile Nealing 0.0694 0.0005 99.28
Methylal BLX 0.1082 0.0000 100.00 99.46
BLT-NC 0.0534 0.0000 100.00
TLX 0.0646 0.0000 100.00
BLC-WB 0.0695 0.0008 98.85
Variobase 0.0521 0.0004 99.23
Basel Screw 0.0124 0.0000 100.00
Analog 0.0683 0.0005 99.27
Sterile Nealing 0.0533 0.0009 98.31
Ethyl Acetate BLX 0.0961 0.0076 92.09 93.05
BLT-NC 0.0683 0.0106 84.48
TLX 0.1080 0.0066 93.89
BLC-WB 0.1168 0.0044 96.23
Variobase 0.0831 0.0003 99.64
Basel Screw 0.0262 0.0001 99.62
Analog 0.0803 0.0052 93.52
Sterile Nealing 0.0212 0.0032 84.91
Methyl Acetate BLX 0.1709 0.0044 97.43 95.50
BLT-NC 0.1341 0.0022 98.40
TLX 0.1486 0.0150 89.91
BLC-WB 0.1565 0.0179 88.56
Variobase 0.0761 0.0012 98.42
Basel Screw 0.0432 0.0009 97.92
Analog 0.1147 0.0067 94.16
Sterile Nealing 0.0644 0.0005 99.22

Noticeable residue left behind on some parts cleaned with Ethyl Acetate

Ethyl Acetate took slightly longer to fully evaporate from the surface of the parts than the other solvents.  

Success Rating:

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

Conclusion:

Acetone and Methylal are both highly effective solvents in removing machining oil from the provided sample parts.  The efficacy of Acetone ranged from 91%-99.91% while the efficacy of Methylal ranged from 98.31-100% showing that Methylal performed with more consistency than Acetone.  

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