Trial Purpose:
To evaluate the effectiveness of seven TCE alternatives at removing lubricant from aluminum alloys.
Date Run:
07/25/2017Experiment Procedure:
Preweighed aluminum coupons were tested for each aqueous cleaner. Coupons were soiled with Blasocut 2000 Universal Lubricant (CAS: 64742-52-5; 61790-44-1; 68608-26-4; 63449-39-8; 107-41-5; 770-35-4) using a swab to cover the bottom third of the substrate and dirty weights were recorded. Chemistries were prepared with a five percent dilution except for Micro 90, which had a two percent dilution based on vendor recommendations. Coupons were immersed, three at a time, in a beaker filled with 200ml of the chosen cleaner at room temperature (68 F) for five minutes. Final weights were taken after cleaning.
Trial Results:
| Cleaner | Initial wt. | Final wt. | % Removed | Average % |
| SC Aircraft & Metal Cleaner(5%) | ||||
| 0.0413 | 0.1333 | -222.76 | -141.9 | |
| 0.0635 | 0.1218 | -91.81 | ||
| 0.0727 | 0.1535 | -111.14 | ||
| Amberclean 527L (5%) | ||||
| 0.0972 | 0.1491 | -53.40 | -20.81 | |
| 0.1293 | 0.1246 | 3.63 | ||
| 0.1624 | 0.1830 | -12.68 | ||
| Surface Cleanse 930 (2%) | ||||
| 0.1228 | 0.2027 | -65.07 | -47.86 | |
| 0.1627 | 0.2314 | -42.22 | ||
| 0.1397 | 0.1904 | -36.29 | ||
| Micro 90 (2%) | ||||
| 0.1509 | 0.2287 | -51.56 | -49.53 | |
| 0.1844 | 0.2740 | -48.59 | ||
| 0.1810 | 0.2687 | -48.45 | ||
| Solution 2000 (5%) | ||||
| 0.1726 | 0.2784 | -61.30 | -76.37 | |
| 0.1366 | 0.2552 | -86.82 | ||
| 0.1283 | 0.2322 | -80.98 | ||
| Shopmaster (5%) | ||||
| 0.1744 | 0.2277 | -30.56 | -48.64 | |
| 0.1267 | 0.2300 | -81.53 | ||
| 0.1614 | 0.2160 | -33.83 | ||
| Crystal Simple Green (5%) | ||||
| 0.1419 | 0.1186 | 16.42 | 29.34 | |
| 0.1284 | 0.1079 | 15.97 | ||
| 0.0978 | 0.0434 | 55.62 |
The Blasocut 2000 Universal Lubricant looked saturated with the aqueous cleaners which could have led to having negative final weights. Coupons visually looked cleaner, but it was not reflected in gravimetric results.
Success Rating:
Preliminary compatibility tests on substrate coupons encouraging for at least one cleaning chemistry. More in-depth laboratory testing necessary.Conclusion:
None of the products were very effective at removing Blasocut 2000 Universal gravimetrically, but signs of removal was observed visually. Next step is to try unheated ultrasonics for five minutes to compare with the drop-in solvents.
