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Trial Number 1

Trial Purpose:

To identify a suitable, non- or less-toxic substitute cleaner for toluene and toluene-based solvents for this industry sector.

Date Run:

02/22/2001

Experiment Procedure:

Six aqueous chemistries (see below) were selected for testing from the SCL database, based on previous testing and on vendor information. Two 500mL solutions for each cleaner were prepared using DI water in concentrations ranging from 2-10 vol % and then heated to 140 F. Meanwhile, stainless steel coupons were weighed and then contaminated with one of the two adhesives being tested using a handheld swab and allowed to dry for 24 hours. The coupons were weighed again and then immersed in the agitated cleaners, three at a time, for five minutes; rinsed; then air dried. The coupons were then weighed a final time to determine the cleaning efficiency.

SUBSTRATE MATERIALS: SS (202-410 B85) and SS (302-B86)
CONTAMINANTS:
a. AC-059 adhesive (CAS #: 108-883),
b. Morton 717 adhesive (CAS #: 108-883, 108-05-4, 110-54-3, 142-82-5, 67-63-0)

Trial Results:

The efficiency of the aqueous cleaners used on these adhesives in this experiment range from 0.6% to -4.9%, as shown in Table 2. Note that the trial using Savogran on the Morton adhesive failed and will have to be re-tested. As with Trial 1, a visual inspection of the cleaned coupons that yielded a negative efficiency revealed superficial bubble formation, suggesting that the aqueous cleaner was penetrating the contaminant.

Table 2. Cleaning Efficiency (%)

Cleaner WR Grace WR Grace Brulin Brunlin Oakite Oakite
Adhesive AC-059 Morton AC-059 Morton AC-059 Morton
Coupon 1 0.42 -4.49 0.93 -1.04 0.99 -1.65
Coupon 2 0.27 -0.83 0.49 -0.73 0.43 -3.02
Coupon 3 0.02 -1.04 0.45 -1.23 0.39 -1.50
Average 0.24 -2.12 0.62 -1.00 0.60 -2.06

Table 2 (cont.) Cleaning Efficiency

Cleaner Turco Turco Savogran Savogran US Poly US Poly
Adhesive AC-059 Morton AC-059 Morton AC-059 Morton
Coupon 1 1.21 -2.63 -0.99 -126.37 -0.25 -3.59
Coupon 2 -0.08 -1.69 -0.56 -137.07 0.16 -3.75
Coupon 3 0.25 -2.80 -0.96 -160.66 0.03 -4.96
Average 0.46 -2.37 -0.83 -141.36 -0.02 -4.10

Success Rating:

Test incomplete or inconclusive.

Conclusion:

As with Trial 1, these aqueous cleaners performed poorly. These results are not entirely surprising, given the largely non-polar chemistry of the adhesives. Nevertheless, the experiment provides important insight regarding the properties of cleaners that will ultimately be effective for this application. This will become important in the event that this Surface Cleaning Lab begins to formulate its own cleaners. The cleaners that showed the greatest visual effect, US Polychemical and Turco, may be tested at stronger concentrations, and under different parameters, such as in a straight-line washability tester to replicate the effect of manual wiping.

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