Trial Purpose:
To identify a low or non voc cleaner for the removal of ink from misprinted plastic parts.
Date Run:
01/28/2000Experiment Procedure:
Seven cleaners were selected the lab’s database of effective testing and Industrial Cleaning Survey: Directory of Vendors 4th edition. Each solution was poured into a 250 ml glass beaker. A plastic part with ink printing was placed into each beaker and soaked for five minutes. After the soaking, the part was wiped with a paper towel for one minute. Observations were made and recorded. The parts were then re-immersed into the cleaning solution to soak for an additional ten minutes. Again, at the end of the soaking, parts were wiped and observed. Table 1 lists the cleaners used, the type of cleaning solution and the VOC contents.
Table 1 Chemistries Used
| Company Name | Product Trade Name | VOC |
| Envirosolutions, Inc. | BIO T Max | 780 g/l |
| Gemtek Products | SC 1000 | 0 |
| Oakite Products | InproClean 3800 | None listed |
| Oakite Products | InproClean 4000 T | Not applicable |
| Valtech Corporation | Valtron SP 2250-2LF | None listed |
| Tarksol, Inc. | HTF 85 B | None listed |
| U.S. Polychem Corp. | Polyspray Jet 790 P | 0 |
SUBSTRATE MATERIAL: ABS Plastic Parts
CONTAMINANTS: Ink-RUCO Druckfarben Printing Ink 180-PE (G1-G12) (CAS#s: Cyclohexanone 108-94-1; Xylene 1330-20-7)
CONTAMINATING PROCESS USED: Received contaminated
CLEANING METHOD: Immersion and Manual wipe
Trial Results:
Four of the products (Bio T Max, Valtron SP 2250-2LF, HTF 85 B, Inproclean 4000 T) showed some signs of removing the ink from the plastic parts after the initial soaking. Table 2 lists the observations made for each cleaning solution evaluated.
Table 2. Five Minute Cleaning
| Product Trade Name | Observations |
| BIO T Max | Some ink removal observed on the part |
| SC 1000 | No cleaning |
| InproClean 3800 | No cleaning |
| InproClean 4000 T | Good Cleaning, ink on towel and part |
| Valtron SP 2250-2LF | Some ink removal on towel |
| HTF 85 B | Good removal, ink on towel and part |
| Polyspray Jet 790 P | No cleaning |
After cleaning for a total of 15 minutes, Bio T Max and Inproclean 4000 T were the only two products which had improved removal of the ink. Although HTF 85 B removed nearly all the ink, the cleaning solutions started to degrade the plastic material. Table 3 lists the results of the 15 minute cleaning.
Table 3. Extended Cleaning Time
| Product Trade Name | Observations |
| BIO T Max | Excellent cleaning, no ink remaining on part |
| SC 1000 | No improvement |
| InproClean 3800 | No improvement |
| InproClean 4000 T | Nearly all ink removed from part |
| Valtron SP 2250-2LF | Some ink removal on towel, similar to 5 minute cleaning |
| HTF 85 B | Nearly all ink removed from part, part becoming altered, soft |
| Polyspray Jet 790 P | No improvement |
Success Rating:
Results successful using TACT (time, agitation, concentration, and temperature, as well as rinsing and drying) and/or other cleaning chemistries examined.Conclusion:
From the initial testing of the ink printed parts, two cleaning solutions were identified as potential replacement cleaners. The products were Envirosolutions Bio T Max and Oakite Products Inproclean 4000 T.
