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Trial Number 9

Trial Purpose:

To evaluate the effectiveness of seven TCE alternatives at removing wax from aluminum alloys

Date Run:

07/26/2017

Experiment Procedure:

Pre-weighed aluminum coupons were tested for each aqueous cleaner. Coupons were soiled with Lenox Lube Tube Wax   (CAS:8002-74-2; 57-11-4; 5989-27-5) using a swab to cover the bottom third of the substrate and dirty weights were recorded. Chemistries were prepared with a five percent dilution except for Micro 90, which had a two percent dilution based on vendor recommendations. Coupons were immersed, three at a time, in a beaker filled with 200ml of the chosen cleaner at room temperature (68 F) and cleaned with ultrasonics for five minutes. Final weights and observations were recorded after cleaning.

Trial Results:

Cleaner Initial wt.  Final wt.  % Removed Average % Removed
SC Aircraft & Metal Cleaner 0.0714 0.0054 92.44 96.10
0.0715 -0.0002 100.28 
0.0840 0.0037 95.60 
Amberclean 527L 0.0340 0.0139 59.12 49.89
0.0480 0.0161 66.46 
0.1170 0.0888 24.10 
Surface Cleanse 930 0.0804 0.0033 95.90 96.11
0.1153 0.0037 96.79 
0.0938 0.0041 95.63 
Micro 90 0.0367 0.0169 53.95 51.45
0.0250 0.0055 78.00 
0.0451 0.0350 22.39 
Solution 2000 0.0212 0.0201 5.19 15.75
0.0286 0.0264 7.69 
0.0582 0.0382 34.36 
Shopmaster 0.0290 0.0115 60.34 65.64
0.0495 0.0182 63.23 
0.0270 0.0072 73.33 
Crystal Simple Green 0.0729 0.0427 41.43 39.32
0.0472 0.0291 38.35 
0.0822 0.0508 38.20

The wax was harder to remove compared to the lubricant, and some of the coupons varied in final percent removal. This could be due to the movement and spacing of the coupons in the ultrasonic tank. Retesting of the cleaners that had a wider range in removal for each coupon showed similar results.

Success Rating:

Preliminary compatibility tests on substrate coupons encouraging for at least one cleaning chemistry. More in-depth laboratory testing necessary.

Conclusion:

SC Aircraft & Metal Cleaner and Surface Cleanse 930 were both very effective at removing Lenox Lube Tube Wax from aluminum coupons. Other cleaners showed an improvement in removal when ultrasonics was introduced. Next step would be to increase the ultrasonics cleaning time.

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