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Trial Number 5

Trial Purpose:

To evaluate the effectiveness of SB-16 (a FAME + Methyl Lactate mixture) in removing several production oils and greases from stainless steel coupons as a potential replacement for TCE using heated ultrasonics cleaning method.

Date Run:

04/13/2023

Experiment Procedure:

Three stainless steel coupons were used for each of the five soils being tested for a total of 15 coupons.  The initial weights of each coupon were recorded. The bottom third of every coupon was soiled by applying the corresponding soil with a swab.  The dirty weights of each coupon were then recorded.  The coupons were then subjected to heated ultrasonics cleaning in a solution of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester 93% + Ethyl Lactate 7% for 15 minutes at 130 F.  After the coupons were cleaned, they dried with a heat gun for about 2 minutes each.  The next morning, the clean weights of each coupon were taken

Soil Use CAS
Milform OAK 7a International Stamping and drawing fluid 64742-53-6 / 68909-65-9
Milform Oak 529 Evaporative lubricant 68551-17-7 / 123-95-5 / 127087-87-0
Milform Oak 15a Metalworking oil 64742-44-5 / 64742-52-5 / 64742-55-8
Milform Oak 15c Metalworking oil 64742-52-5 / 64742-53-6 
M4    

Trial Results:

Solvent Substrate Soil Initial wt of cont. Final wt of cont. %Cont Removed % AVG % Overall
Fatty Acid methyl ester 93% + Ethyl lactate 7% Stainless Steel Oak 7a international 0.0753 0.0308 59.10 67.74 72.69
Oak 7a international 0.0635 0.0202 68.19
Oak 7a international 0.0781 0.0188 75.93
M4 0.1500 0.0254 83.07 82.94
M4 0.2122 0.0416 80.40
M4 0.1380 0.0202 85.36
Oak 15C 0.0709 0.0118 83.35 80.84
Oak 15C 0.0775 0.0154 80.13
Oak 15C 0.1068 0.0224 79.03
Oak 15A 0.1911 0.0158 91.73 87.13
Oak 15A 0.1891 0.0244 87.10
Oak 15A 0.1571 0.0274 82.56
Oak 529 0.0273 0.0152 44.32 44.80
Oak 529 0.0309 0.0231 25.24
Oak 529 0.0330 0.0116 64.85

When the coupons were dried with a heat gun for 2 minutes each, a white vapor was emitted in the fume hood.

Success Rating:

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

Conclusion:

SB-16 (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester 93% + Ethyl Lactate 7%) is an effective cleaner for soils M4, Oak 15C, and Oak 15a if a drying step is feasible.  It is not an effective cleaner for soils Oak 7a international and Oak 529.

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