Trial Purpose:
To evaluate the effectiveness of five drop-in solvents at removing lubricant from aluminum alloys.
Date Run:
07/12/2017Experiment Procedure:
Preweighed aluminum coupons were tested for each cleaner. Coupons were soiled with Rustlick EDM30 lubricant (CAS:64742-47-8; 8042-47-5) using a swab to cover the bottom third of the substrate and dirty weights were recorded. Coupons were immersed, three at a time, in a beaker with 200ml of the chosen cleaner at room temperature (68 F) for five minutes. Visual observations were taken during this time, and final weights were recorded after cleaning. This process was repeated for each cleaner.
Trial Results:
| Cleaner | Initial wt. | Final wt. | % Removed | Average % Removed |
| Fluosolv CX | ||||
| 0.0511 | 0.0154 | 69.86 | 70.86 | |
| 0.0446 | 0.0139 | 68.83 | ||
| 0.0559 | 0.0146 | 73.88 | ||
| Fluosolv NC | ||||
| 0.0665 | -0.0001 | 100.15 | 95.54 | |
| 0.0711 | 0.0113 | 84.11 | ||
| 0.0637 | -0.0015 | 102.35 | ||
| Solstice PF | ||||
| 0.0369 | -0.0007 | 101.9 | 101.39 | |
| 0.0531 | -0.001 | 101.88 | ||
| 0.0515 | -0.0002 | 100.39 | ||
| Solstice PF-2A | ||||
| 0.0706 | -0.0001 | 100.14 | 100.28 | |
| 0.0601 | 0 | 100 | ||
| 0.058 | -0.0004 | 100.69 | ||
| Vertrel Sion | ||||
| 0.0479 | -0.001 | 102.09 | 101.31 | |
| 0.0541 | -0.0006 | 101.11 | ||
| 0.0809 | -0.0006 | 100.74 |
Residue was observed on coupons cleaned with Fluosolv CX after five minutes. No substrate damage was observed on coupons with above 100% removal. High percentage removal could potentially be due to contaminants on coupons prior to testing.
Success Rating:
Preliminary compatibility tests on substrate coupons encouraging for at least one cleaning chemistry. More in-depth laboratory testing necessary.Conclusion:
Three of the five drop-in solvents were effective at removing Rustlick EDM30 from aluminum. Next step will be to repeat the procedure on Lube Tube Wax.
