Trial Purpose:
To evaluate the effectiveness of a FAME + Methyl Lactate mixture (SB-16) in removing several production oils and greases from stainless steel coupons as a potential replacement for TCE using unheated ultrasonics cleaning method.
Date Run:
04/05/2023Experiment Procedure:
Three stainless steel coupons were used for each of the five soils being tested for a total of 15 coupons. The initial weights of each coupon were recorded. The bottom third of every coupon was soiled by applying the corresponding soil with a swab. The dirty weights of each coupon were then recorded. The coupons were then subjected to unheated ultrasonics cleaning in a solution of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester 93% + Ethyl Lactate 7% for 15 minutes. After the coupons were cleaned, they were dried with a heat gun for about 2 minutes each. The next morning, the clean weights of each coupon were taken.
| Soil | Use | CAS |
| Milform OAK 7a International | Stamping and drawing fluid | 64742-53-6 / 68909-65-9 |
| Milform Oak 529 | Evaporative lubricant | 68551-17-7 / 123-95-5 / 127087-87-0 |
| Milform Oak 15a | Metalworking oil | 64742-44-5 / 64742-52-5 / 64742-55-8 |
| Milform Oak 15c | Metalworking oil | 64742-52-5 / 64742-53-6 |
| M4 |
Trial Results:
| Solvent | Substrate | Soil | Initial wt of cont. | Final wt of cont. | %Cont Removed | % AVG | % Overall |
| Fatty Acid methyl ester 93% + Ethyl lactate 7% | Stainless Steel | Oak 7a international | 0.0441 | 0.0155 | 64.85 | 78.75 | 92.7 |
| Oak 7a international | 0.0542 | 0.0077 | 85.79 | ||||
| Oak 7a international | 0.0465 | 0.0067 | 85.59 | ||||
| M4 | 0.4811 | 0.0066 | 98.63 | 98.25 | |||
| M4 | 0.4672 | 0.0131 | 97.20 | ||||
| M4 | 0.6279 | 0.0068 | 98.92 | ||||
| Oak 15C | 0.0721 | 0.0094 | 86.96 | 93.68 | |||
| Oak 15C | 0.0696 | 0.0019 | 97.27 | ||||
| Oak 15C | 0.1287 | 0.0041 | 96.81 | ||||
| Oak 15A | 0.2584 | 0.0069 | 97.33 | 97.72 | |||
| Oak 15A | 0.2136 | 0.0047 | 97.80 | ||||
| Oak 15A | 0.3051 | 0.0060 | 98.03 | ||||
| Oak 529 | 0.0307 | 0.0010 | 96.74 | 92.43 | |||
| Oak 529 | 0.0305 | 0.0024 | 92.13 | ||||
| Oak 529 | 0.0449 | 0.0052 | 88.42 |
While each coupon was dried with a heat gun for 2 minutes each, the solvent SB-16 emitted a white vapor in the fume hood.
Success Rating:
Results successful using TACT (time, agitation, concentration, and temperature, as well as rinsing and drying) and/or other cleaning chemistries examined.Conclusion:
SB-16 (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester 93% + Ethyl Lactate 7%) is a very effective cleaner for soils M4, Oak 15C, Oak 15A and Oak 529 if a drying step is feasible. It is an effective cleaner for soil Oak 7a international if a drying step is feasible.
