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Trial Number 2

Trial Purpose:

Test 5 cleaners against current chemistry

Date Run:

11/07/1995

Experiment Procedure:

The purpose of this trial is to find a chemistry that is suitable for Silversmith's needs. This trial will test five different cleaning chemistries against Silversmith's current chemistry (Texo Corp. Texolite 1734SL.)
The five cleaners selected were Calgon Geo-Guard 2215 (5%), Matchless MC 135 (4%), Matchless MC 580 (4%), Novamax Spectrum BCR (5%) and Calgon AK 6215 (4%). For each cleaner, 3 silver plated coupons will be cleaned for a total of 18 coupons.
Cleaning will be performed at 134-143 F for ten minutes in a beaker agitated with a stir-bar. Identical stir-bar settings will be used on all cleaning solutions to ensure that all parts receive equal agitation. The coupons were rinsed for 30 seconds in a static tap water rinse set at 100 F.
All coupons were weighed before and after contamination and after drying to obtain a percentage removal. The coupons were also visually inspected for any films that might have remained from ineffective rinsing.
The three best cleaners will be used in an ultrasonic run with some contaminated silverware obtained from Silversmith. The parts were cleaned for 5 minutes at 140 F. Rinsing was performed for 30 seconds in a tap water bath at 100 F.

Trial Results:

GRAVIMETRIC RESULTS        
Cleaning Solution: 4% Matchless MC 135
Cleaning Temperature (F): 143
Tap Water Rinse Temperature (F): 102
sample # /      clean mass mass with mass after  contaminant Percent
substrate            (g) cont (g) cleaning (g) removed (g) Removal
833 36.1331 36.3513 36.1426 0.2087 95.65%
9696 36.1995 36.4386 36.2628 0.1758 73.53%
7634 35.9915 36.1024 35.9984 0.104 93.78%
Average          87.65%      
StDev.         12.27%      
           
Cleaning Solution: 5% Solution of Calgon Geo-Guard 2215
Cleaning Temperature (F): 134
Tap Water Rinse Temperature (F): 102
sample # / clean mass mass with mass after contaminant Percent
substrate (g)  cont (g)   cleaning (g) removed (g)
6169 36.1093 36.3447 36.1126 0.2321 98.60%
9477 36.1331 36.3513 36.1426 0.2087 95.65%
8840 36.1132 36.3226 36.1151 0.2075 99.09%
Average 97.78%        
StDev. 1.86%        
           
Cleaning Solution: 4% Solution of Matchless MC580
Cleaning Temperature (F): 141
Tap Water Rinse Temperature (F): 102
sample # clean mass mass with mass after contaminant Percent
substrate (g) cont (g) cleaning (g) removed (g) Removal
1447 36.3757 36.5388 36.3754 0.1634 100.18%
8028 36.031 36.2547 36.0331 0.2216 99.06%
6502 35.8792 36.2758 35.8954 0.3804 95.92%
Average 98.39%        
StDev. 2.21%        
           
Cleaning Solution: 4% Solution of Calgon AK-6215
Cleaning Temperature (F): 143
Tap Water Rinse Temperature (F): 102
sample # clean mass mass with mass after  contaminant Percent
substrate (g) cont (g) cleaning (g) removed (g) Removal
6282 35.8571 36.0822 35.8563 0.2259 100.36%
578 36.2884 36.4821 36.2888 0.1933 99.79%
6968 35.9252 36.0917 35.9234 0.1683 101.08%
Average 100.41%        
StDev 0.65%        
           
Cleaning Solution: 5% Solution of Novamax Spectrum BCR
Cleaning Temperature (F): 140
Tap Water Rinse Temperature (F): 100
sample # / clean mass mass with mass after  contaminant Percent
substrate (g) cont (g) cleaning (g) removed (g) Removal
268 36.2572 36.4275 36.259 0.1685 98.94%
1843 36.4164 36.5713 36.4189 0.1524 98.39%
9967 36.2268 36.3532 36.2268 0.1264 100.00%
Average 99.11%        
StDev 0.82%        
           
Cleaning Solution: 2% Solution of Texo Corp Texolite 1734SL
Cleaning Temperature (F): 137
Tap Water Rinse Temperature (F): 99
sample # clean mass mass with mass after contaminant Percent
substrate (g) cont (g) cleaning (g) removed (g) Removal
239 36.2552 36.4109 36.3018 0.1091 70.07%
1450 36.3759 36.5232 36.4176 0.1056 71.69%
9354 36.1662 36.3143 36.2236 0.0907 61.24%
Average 67.67%        
StDev. 5.62%        

Success Rating:

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

Conclusion:

Three chemistries were found to be the best performers (Matchless MC 580, Calgon AK- 6215 and Novamax Spectrum BCR).  The Matchless MC 580 was visually the most effective cleaner especially when used with ultrasonics.  The Calgon AK-6215 was the only low foaming cleaner out of the three.  However, due to the fatty acids contained in the buffing compound, saponification took place and the Calgon AK-6215 had a higher foam level as the soil loading had increased.

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