Trial Purpose:
To evaluate the effectiveness of SB-27 (t-Butyl Acetate 70% (CAS No: 540-88-5) + Benzyl Alcohol 30% (CAS No: 100-51-6)) and SB-32 (Ethyl Lactate 81% (CAS No: 97-64-3) + Propylene Carbonate 19% (CAS No: 108-32-7)) in removing lapping compound from stainless steel coupons as a potential replacement of TCE with a heated ultrasonic cleaning method.
Date Run:
07/23/2024Experiment Procedure:
Three stainless steel coupons were used for each cleaner and soil combination, making a total of twelve coupons. The initial weights of each coupon were recorded. Around 0.1 g of each contaminant was added to the bottom third of the coupon with a swab, and the dirty weights of each coupon were then recorded. The coupons were then subjected to heated ultrasonics in the cleaner for 15 minutes at a temperature of 120 °F. After the coupons were cleaned, they were left to air dry overnight, and clean weights of each coupon were taken the following day.
Trial Results:
| Cleaner | Soil | Initial weight of cont. | Final weight of cont. | % Cont Removed | Average % Removal |
| SB-27 | American Lapping Compound | 0.1143 | 0.0733 | 35.87 | 41 |
| 0.1 | 0.0686 | 31.4 | |||
| 0.0894 | 0.0406 | 54.59 | |||
| LMKT Lapping Compound | 0.0703 | 0.0011 | 98.44 | 96 | |
| 0.0394 | 0.0007 | 98.22 | |||
| 0.0603 | 0.0042 | 93.03 | |||
| SB-32 | American Lapping Compound | 0.1481 | 0.1356 | 8.44 | 17 |
| 0.1210 | 0.0916 | 24.30 | |||
| 0.101 | 0.0809 | 19.9 | |||
| LMKT Lapping Compound | 0.0623 | -0.0002 | 100.32 | 99 | |
| 0.0733 | 0.0007 | 99.05 | |||
| 0.122 | 0.0019 | 98.44 |
Success Rating:
Results successful using TACT (time, agitation, concentration, and temperature, as well as rinsing and drying) and/or other cleaning chemistries examined.Conclusion:
Both cleaners were effective in cleaning the LMKT Lapping Compound but struggled to remove the American Lapping Compound. Those coupons had thick bands of soil leftover, so the cleaners could potentially be more effective in removing thinner layers of American Lapping Compound.
