The purpose of this experiment is to find a cleaner for Adhesive Manufacturer that will replace their current 4:1 heptane-toluene mixture.
Eleven different cleaners were used, all at full strength. These cleaners were:
- International Products, Inc. Micro
- Calgon Corporation Geo-Guard 5210
- Chem-Tech International Inc. CT-1 multipurpose cleaner
- Terpene Technologies HTF 50
- MacDermid Inc. ND-17
- Oakite Products, Inc. Citridet
- Pride International Citrisolv Plus
- WR Grace Daraclean 294xx
- Cleaning Systems Inc. Release
- Oakite Products Inproclean 4000T
- Brulin Corp. Compliance
Durotac Adhesive was applied to the 316 stainless steel coupons. Sitting times of the adhesive was between. Cleaning would be accomplished by first applying some cleaner onto the contaminated coupons and allowing to sit for about ten seconds. A SOS pad was then used to scrub off the adhesive. The maximum time allotted for cleaning was one minute and thirty seconds, if less time was needed to obtain 100% removal then cleaning time was noted. A coupon was cleaned for each cleaner made up at both room temperature and at 120 F. Each cleaned coupon was compared to a coupon cleaned with 100% toluene (we were unable to obtain heptane). The time required to clean the coupon with toluene was thirty seconds.
SUBSTRATE MATERIAL: 316 Stainless Steel
CONTAMINANTS: Duro-Tac toluene-heptane based adhesive
CONTAMINATING PROCESS USED: Adhesives applied on with swab
The best adhesive remover found to date is the Terpene Technologies HTF 50 used at full strength and heated to a warm temperature. The Oakite Inproclean 4000T and the Brulin Compliance are the only other two cleaners which showed any promise. It doesn't seem likely that an aqueous or semi-aqueous chemistry will be a suitable replacement. Might look into a replacement solvent.