Trial #2
To evaluate the effectiveness of a FAME + Methyl Lactate mixture in removing several production oils and greases from stainless steel coupons as a potential replacement for TCE using unheated immersion.
Three stainless steel coupons were used for each of the five soils being tested for a total of 15 coupons. The initial weights of each coupon were recorded. The bottom third of every coupon was soiled by applying the corresponding soil with a swab. The dirty weights of each coupon were then recorded. The coupons were then subjected to unheated immersion cleaning in a solution of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester 93% + Ethyl Lactate 7% for 15 minutes, with a stir bar set to 200 rpm. After the coupons were cleaned, they were left to air dry overnight. The next morning, the clean weights of each coupon were taken.
| Soil
|
Use
|
CAS
|
| Milform OAK 7a International
|
Stamping and drawing fluid
|
64742-53-6 / 68909-65-9
|
| Milform Oak 529
|
Evaporative lubricant
|
68551-17-7 / 123-95-5 / 127087-87-0
|
| Milform Oak 15a
|
Metalworking oil
|
64742-44-5 / 64742-52-5 / 64742-55-8
|
| Milform Oak 15c
|
Metalworking oil
|
64742-52-5 / 64742-53-6
|
| M4
|
|
|
| Solvent
|
Substrate
|
Soil
|
Initial wt of cont.
|
Final wt of cont.
|
%Cont Removed
|
% AVG
|
% Overall
|
| Fatty Acid methyl ester 93% + Ethyl lactate 7%
|
Stainless Steel
|
Oak 7a international
|
0.0617
|
0.0443
|
28.20
|
46.43
|
7.20
|
| Oak 7a international
|
0.0718
|
0.0430
|
40.11
|
| Oak 7a international
|
0.0617
|
0.0179
|
70.99
|
| M4
|
0.4885
|
0.0139
|
97.15
|
90.26
|
| M4
|
0.7935
|
0.1424
|
82.05
|
| M4
|
0.7030
|
0.0592
|
91.58
|
| Oak 15C
|
0.0886
|
0.0604
|
31.83
|
15.74
|
| Oak 15C
|
0.0836
|
0.0706
|
15.55
|
| Oak 15C
|
-0.9347
|
-0.9363
|
-0.17
|
| Oak 15A
|
0.1667
|
0.0632
|
62.09
|
62.06
|
| Oak 15A
|
0.1776
|
0.0821
|
53.77
|
| Oak 15A
|
0.1617
|
0.0480
|
70.32
|
| Oak 529
|
0.0134
|
0.0708
|
-428.36
|
-178.51
|
| Oak 529
|
0.0075
|
0.0064
|
14.67
|
| Oak 529
|
0.0197
|
0.0437
|
-121.83
|
After being allowed to air dry over night, it was observed that the coupons were still completely wet the next morning. The FAME + Methyl Lactate solution was unable to air dry, which is reflected in these measurements. In some cases, a larger amount of cleaner remained on the coupon than the amount of soil it removed, leading to a heavier clean weight than dirty weight for particular coupons.
In the application of unheated immersion with an air drying overnight period, Fatty Acid Methyl Ester 93% + Methyl Lactate 7% was not an effective cleaner for removing production oil and grease. In future testing, a drying step may be needed to gather more accurate mearurements.
No relation