Trial #0
To identify safer cleaning solvent for removing oil, lubricant and grease from sub assemblies.
Eight cleaners were selected from the lab’s database of effective cleaning and vendor supplied information. All were diluted to 5% by volume using DI water in 600 ml beakers and heated to 130 F on a hot plate. Twenty-four preweighed coupons were coated with the Elf Cut 51 oil using a swab and weighed a second time. Three coupons were immersed in a solution agitated with a magnetic stir bar. Cleaning lasted for 5 minutes and was followed by a 30 second rinse with tap water at 120 F. Drying was performed with a Master Appliance Corp, Hot-air gun model HG-301A for one minute at 500 F. Coupons were weighed a final time and cleaning efficiencies were calculated.
SUBSTRATE MATERIAL: Aluminum Coupons
CONTAMINANTS: Elf Lubricant North America Elf Cut 51 (64742-53-6, 64742-52-5, 63449-39-8,8016-28-2)
CONTAMINATING PROCESS USED: Lubricant applied using hand held swab
Four cleaners (Heatbath, Today & Beyond, United Laboratories and W.R. Grace) removed over 95% of the oil from the coupons. All but one cleaner averaged over 80% removal of the Elf Cut 51 oil. United Laboratories had the highest efficiency, 99.7%. Table 2 lists the calculated data for the eight cleaners.
Table 2. Calculated Cleaning Effectiveness
| Cleaners
|
AW Chesterton
|
Buckeye
|
Heatbath
|
Savogran
|
T&B
|
United
|
W.R. Grace
|
Watson
|
| Coupon 1
|
93.15
|
81.3
|
98.72
|
92.92
|
97.87
|
99.51
|
96.22
|
78.28
|
| Coupon 2
|
65.22
|
84.96
|
93.48
|
77.91
|
96.77
|
99.81
|
96.54
|
85.27
|
| Coupon 3
|
67.57
|
79.89
|
97.62
|
94.44
|
99.1
|
99.81
|
93.12
|
89.1
|
| Average
|
75.31
|
82.05
|
96.61
|
88.43
|
97.91
|
99.71
|
95.29
|
84.22
|
The four cleaners above 95% removal will be used in the next phase of testing which will use ultrasonic energy. The contaminant will switch to the Cello-Seal.
No relation