Trial Purpose:
To evaluate selected products for UV ink removal using heated ultrasonics
Date Run:
09/19/2022Experiment Procedure:
Selected products were used at full strength in a heated ultrasonic bath. Base temperature started at 85 F and gradually finished at 120 F due to the ultrasonic energy heating the solutions. Two frequencies were utilized for cleaning. The first was a low energy unit at 80kHz and the second was the more common parts cleaning frequency of 40kHz. Each solution was degassed (removal of any excess bubbles to improve energy transmission) for 10 minutes. A saw blade was immersed into a solution and cleaned for 9-10 minutes. At the end of each cleaning cycle parts were observed for paint removal. Testing completed after a total 30 minutes.
Trial Results:
The introduction of heated ultrasonics greatly improved removal of the UV cured ink from the saw blades. The 80 kHz cleaning for two of the solutions resulted in nearly complete removal of the ink from the immersed portion of the blades. In the 40kHz tank, cleaning was far more effective with the first cleaning interval surpassing the 30 minutes of cleaning at the 80kHz range. The table lists the observations and temperatures for each solution used.
80 kHz Cleaning
| Product | Time | Temp | Observations |
| SC Supersolv | 9 | 86 | No visual removal. When wiped, paint was being removed |
| 18 | 100 | Some blue coming off on its own without a wipe. Flakes of paint falling off into solution | |
| 27 | 105 | Almost removed paint to base | |
| 30 | 110 | Good removal. Remaining blue paint was puckering on surface | |
| Solvent Mix 1 60% D limonene; 31% Benzyl Benzoate; 9 dimethyl glutarate | 9 | 86 | good removal. Blue paint coming off, more so with wiping. Yellow paint was still on surface. |
| 18 | 100 | Yellow coming off without wipe. Flakes of paint falling off on own into solution | |
| 27 | 105 | Down to base metal. Some fine yellow paint lines remaining | |
| 30 | 110 | Very good. Only faint yellow lines left | |
| Bitu Ox BIo NT | 9 | 110 | Sine paint on sharp edges peeled off without wipe. |
| 18 | 115 | Solution become milky white. | |
| 27 | 120 | Paint only has splotchy level of removal | |
| 30 | 120 | Solution more cloudy - paint being dissolved into solution |
40 kHz Cleaning
| Product | Time | Temp | Observations |
| SC Supersolv | 10 | 90 | Good removal. Similar to the 27 minute level of cleaning at 80 kHZ. Flakey chips in solution |
| 20 | 93 | Down to base metal | |
| 30 | 105 | Spots of blue remained in the etched in letters/numbers | |
| Solvent Mix 1 60% D limonene; 31% Benzyl Benzoate; 9 dimethyl glutarate | 10 | 90 | Good removal. Similar to the 27 minute level of cleaning at 80 kHZ frequency. |
| 20 | 93 | Nearly fully removed. Some yellow | |
| 30 | 105 | Trace amount of yellow | |
| Bitu Ox BIo NT | 10 | 105 | Base part used from 80 kHz testing - clumps of white paint coming off |
| 20 | 110 | More clumps falling off. About a 1/3 of the base metal visible | |
| 30 | 110 | About half the surface free from paint |
Success Rating:
A follow up test, usually based on company input.Conclusion:
Two products were successful with the heated 40kHz ultrasonics on the UV ink removal from the steel blades within 30 minutes.
