Trial Purpose:
To compare ultrasonic and immersion cleaning.
Date Run:
11/07/2001Experiment Procedure:
Two solutions for each of the five cleaners were diluted to 5% using DI water in 600 mL beakers. One set of beakers were heated to 130 F in a Crest 40 kHz ultrasonic tank. The second set was heated to 130 on a hot plate.
Thirty preweighed coupons were coated with the Houghton Veto C3 contaminant and allowed to sit for 2 hours. A second weighing was performed. Three coupons were cleaned in each solution for 3 minutes. Fifteen coupons were cleaned in the ultrasonic tank and the other coupons were cleaned using stir-bar agitated immersion. After cleaning, coupons were rinsed in tap water at 120 F for 30 seconds and dried using a heat gun at 500 F for 1 minute. Once the coupons returned to room temperature, final weights were measured and efficiencies were calculated.
Trial Results:
The ultrasonic energy was found to be more successful than the immersion cleaning was. The following table lists the calculated results for both methods.
| Cleaner | Contaminant | Coupon 1 | Coupon 2 | Coupon 3 | Average | Previous Results |
| Multikleen | Ultrasonics | 99.99 | 99.77 | 99.83 | 99.86 | 97.88 |
| Inproclean | Ultrasonics | 99.93 | 99.56 | 100.01 | 99.83 | 99.32 |
| Beyond | Ultrasonics | 99.87 | 100.11 | 100.05 | 100.01 | 99.26 |
| Dasco | Ultrasonics | 100.02 | 100.03 | 100.04 | 100.03 | 93.11 |
| Certa | Ultrasonics | 100.06 | 99.70 | 100.03 | 99.93 | 96.86 |
| Multikleen | Immersion | 99.88 | 99.65 | 99.17 | 99.57 | 99.59 |
| Inproclean | Immersion | 99.93 | 99.70 | 99.58 | 99.74 | 99.99 |
| Beyond | Immersion | 99.71 | 98.72 | 99.48 | 99.30 | 99.44 |
| Dasco | Immersion | 98.74 | 97.53 | 98.22 | 98.16 | 99.27 |
| Certa | Immersion | 99.09 | 99.26 | 99.64 | 99.33 | 98.15 |
Comparison of this data to the previous trial data revealed that the ultrasonic cleaning was more effective in a cleaner solution. The new immersion cleaning results were nearly identical to the previous trial results.
Success Rating:
A follow up test, usually based on company input.Conclusion:
When comparing similar bath solutions (fresh), ultrasonic cleaning was found to be more effective than the immersion cleaning was for removing the rust preventative.
