Trial Purpose:
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effectiveness of alternative solvents at the removal of red lacquer from metal substrates.
Date Run:
11/20/2020Experiment Procedure:
Five cleaners were prepared to 100% concentration: 1,3-Dioxolane, Cyclohexanone, Anisole, Dimethyl glutarate, and Dimethyl adipate. For each cleaner being tested, 3 aluminum and 3 brass coupons were obtained and weighed. Coupons were then soiled with red lacquer provided by the company. Coupons were then submerged into their respective cleaners at room temperature for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, coupons were allowed to dry in air. Once dry, a clean weight was recorded. Effectiveness of the cleaners was then determined.
Trial Results:
| Cleaner | Substrate | Initial wt of Cont | Final wt of Cont | %Cont Removed | %AVG |
| 1,3-Dioxolane | Aluminum | 0.0105 | 0.00 | 100.00 | 101.2% |
| 0.0092 | 0.00 | 100.00 | |||
| 0.0139 | -0.0005 | 103.60 | |||
| Brass | 0.0125 | -0.0016 | 112.80 | 110.93% | |
| 0.0120 | -0.0004 | 103.33 | |||
| 0.0066 | -0.0011 | 116.67 | |||
| Cyclohexanone | Aluminum | 0.0136 | -0.0002 | 101.47 | 99.47% |
| 0.0180 | 0.0003 | 98.33 | |||
| 0.0144 | 0.0002 | 98.61 | |||
| Brass | 0.0300 | 0.0002 | 99.33 | 101.67% | |
| 0.0326 | -0.0013 | 103.99 | |||
| 0.0352 | -0.0006 | 101.7 | |||
| Anisole | Aluminum | 0.0248 | 0.005 | 79.84 | 76.79% |
| 0.0249 | 0.0047 | 81.12 | |||
| 0.0242 | 0.0074 | 69.42 | |||
| Brass | 0.0135 | -0.0011 | 108.15 | 102.5% | |
| 0.0174 | 0.0012 | 93.10 | |||
| 0.0160 | -0.001 | 106.25 | |||
| Dimethyl glutarate | Aluminum | 0.0119 | 0.0722 | -506.72 | -467.33% |
| 0.0119 | 0.0542 | -355.46 | |||
| 0.0196 | 0.1254 | -539.80 | |||
| Brass | 0.0168 | 0.1805 | -974.40 | -832.99% | |
| 0.0159 | 0.1586 | -897.48 | |||
| 0.0192 | 0.1396 | -627.08 | |||
| Dimethyl adipate | Aluminum | 0.0481 | 0.3888 | -708.32 | -886.15% |
| 0.0243 | 0.2564 | -955.14 | |||
| 0.0260 | 0.2847 | -995.00 | |||
| Brass | 0.0273 | 0.2940 | -976.92 | -976.95% | |
| 0.0356 | 0.2985 | -738.48 | |||
| 0.0304 | 0.3999 | -1215.46 |
For aluminum substrates, 1,3-Dioxolane demonstrated the best performance with an average removal of 101.2%. Cyclohexanone was the second most effective for aluminum with an average removal of 99.47%. For brass substrates, 1,3-Dioxolane was also the most effective with an average removal of 110.93%. Anisole was the second most effective with an average removal of 102.5% but is closely followed by Cyclohexanone.
No further optimization is required for 1,3-Dioxolane and Cyclohexanone. Both cleaners demonstrated excellent performance in removing the lacquer via unheated immersion for 30 minutes. Coupons cleaned with these solvents had no observable solvent or soil residue remaining. Though Anisole was effective at cleaning brass substrates, further optimization is required for aluminum. Aluminum substrates possessed a slight solvent/soil residue in the cleaned area. Heated immersion testing could benefit performance on aluminum substrates. Both Dimthyl glutarate and Dimethyl adipate demonstrated extremely poor efficiency for both substrates. All coupons possessed a heavy layer of solvent and soil residue throughout the cleaned area. Heated immersion testing is necessary for improvement with these solvents.
Success Rating:
Results successful using TACT (time, agitation, concentration, and temperature, as well as rinsing and drying) and/or other cleaning chemistries examined.Conclusion:
Upon completion of testing, it was determined that unheated immersion for 30 minutes is an effective method to remove red lacquer from aluminum and brass substrates for both 1,3-Dioxolane and Cyclohexanone. Anisole requires further testing via heated immersion to improve removal efficiency on aluminum substrates. Both Dimethyl glutarate and Dimethyl adipate demonstrated poor efficiency for all substrates. Heated immersion trials are necessary to improve the performance of these solvents.
