Trial #0
To identify a low or non voc cleaner for the removal of ink from misprinted plastic parts.
Seven cleaners were selected the lab’s database of effective testing and Industrial Cleaning Survey: Directory of Vendors 4th edition. Each solution was poured into a 250 ml glass beaker. A plastic part with ink printing was placed into each beaker and soaked for five minutes. After the soaking, the part was wiped with a paper towel for one minute. Observations were made and recorded. The parts were then re-immersed into the cleaning solution to soak for an additional ten minutes. Again, at the end of the soaking, parts were wiped and observed. Table 1 lists the cleaners used, the type of cleaning solution and the VOC contents.
Table 1 Chemistries Used
| Company Name
|
Product Trade Name
|
VOC
|
| Envirosolutions, Inc.
|
BIO T Max
|
780 g/l
|
| Gemtek Products
|
SC 1000
|
0
|
| Oakite Products
|
InproClean 3800
|
None listed
|
| Oakite Products
|
InproClean 4000 T
|
Not applicable
|
| Valtech Corporation
|
Valtron SP 2250-2LF
|
None listed
|
| Tarksol, Inc.
|
HTF 85 B
|
None listed
|
| U.S. Polychem Corp.
|
Polyspray Jet 790 P
|
0
|
SUBSTRATE MATERIAL: ABS Plastic Parts
CONTAMINANTS: Ink-RUCO Druckfarben Printing Ink 180-PE (G1-G12) (CAS#s: Cyclohexanone 108-94-1; Xylene 1330-20-7)
CONTAMINATING PROCESS USED: Received contaminated
CLEANING METHOD: Immersion and Manual wipe
Four of the products (Bio T Max, Valtron SP 2250-2LF, HTF 85 B, Inproclean 4000 T) showed some signs of removing the ink from the plastic parts after the initial soaking. Table 2 lists the observations made for each cleaning solution evaluated.
Table 2. Five Minute Cleaning
| Product Trade Name
|
Observations
|
| BIO T Max
|
Some ink removal observed on the part
|
| SC 1000
|
No cleaning
|
| InproClean 3800
|
No cleaning
|
| InproClean 4000 T
|
Good Cleaning, ink on towel and part
|
| Valtron SP 2250-2LF
|
Some ink removal on towel
|
| HTF 85 B
|
Good removal, ink on towel and part
|
| Polyspray Jet 790 P
|
No cleaning
|
After cleaning for a total of 15 minutes, Bio T Max and Inproclean 4000 T were the only two products which had improved removal of the ink. Although HTF 85 B removed nearly all the ink, the cleaning solutions started to degrade the plastic material. Table 3 lists the results of the 15 minute cleaning.
Table 3. Extended Cleaning Time
| Product Trade Name
|
Observations
|
| BIO T Max
|
Excellent cleaning, no ink remaining on part
|
| SC 1000
|
No improvement
|
| InproClean 3800
|
No improvement
|
| InproClean 4000 T
|
Nearly all ink removed from part
|
| Valtron SP 2250-2LF
|
Some ink removal on towel, similar to 5 minute cleaning
|
| HTF 85 B
|
Nearly all ink removed from part, part becoming altered, soft
|
| Polyspray Jet 790 P
|
No improvement
|
From the initial testing of the ink printed parts, two cleaning solutions were identified as potential replacement cleaners. The products were Envirosolutions Bio T Max and Oakite Products Inproclean 4000 T.
No relation