Trial Purpose:
To identify a replacement to Trichloroethylene in cleaning buffing compounds from brass fixtures.
Date Run:
03/27/2000Experiment Procedure:
Eight cleaners were selected based on the lab’s database of effective testing and Industrial Cleaning Survey: Directory of Vendors 4th edition. Seven of the chemistries were diluted to 5% in 600 ml beakers using DI water. These seven were then heated to 130 F on a hot plate. The final cleaner was used at full strength and room temperature. Twenty-four preweighed brass coupons were contaminated with the buffing compound and weighed again. Three coupons were cleaned in one solution for five minutes using stir-bar agitation. Coupons were rinsed in tap water at 120 F for 30 seconds and dried using a Master Appliance Corp, Hot-air gun model HG-301A at 500 F for one minute. After coupons returned to room temperature, final clean weights were recorded and the percent efficiency was calculated.
SUBSTRATE MATERIAL: Brass Coupons
CONTAMINANTS: Jackson Lea, Antique Buffing Compound LM-12 (CAS#s:9000-70-8,1344-28-1,409-21-2,1309-37-1)
Trial Results:
US Polychem Polyspray 790 P was the only cleaner to remove all of the buffing compound from the brass coupons. Oakite Inproclean 3800 removed nearly 85% of the contaminant. WR Grace Daraclean 282 GF and International Products Micro 90 both had efficiencies over 70%. Table 1 lists all of the calculated cleaning efficiencies.
Table 1. Cleaning Efficiencies
| Chemistry | Pressure Wash | Micro 90 | Gillite 160 X | Inproclean | Dirtex | Polyspray | Daraclean | Engine Degreaser |
| Coupon 1 | 30.53 | 67.35 | 44.16 | 89.41 | 80.96 | 100.80 | 75.00 | 45.99 |
| Coupon 2 | 31.24 | 87.73 | 40.21 | 90.48 | 71.83 | 100.47 | 71.92 | 76.39 |
| Coupon 3 | 16.44 | 60.19 | 41.02 | 73.19 | 55.11 | 100.48 | 72.46 | 56.65 |
| Average | 26.07 | 71.76 | 41.80 | 84.36 | 69.30 | 100.58 | 73.13 | 59.68 |
Success Rating:
Results successful using TACT (time, agitation, concentration, and temperature, as well as rinsing and drying) and/or other cleaning chemistries examined.Conclusion:
The four products that removed over 70% of the buffing compound will be further tested using the second supplied buffing compound. Additional testing will be performed on the supplied parts as well.
