Trial #3
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 heated 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 heated immersion cleaning in a solution of Fatty Acid Methyl Ester 93% + Ethyl Lactate 7% for 15 minutes at 130 F, 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
|
0.0436
|
0.0382
|
12.39
|
5.67
|
-23.57
|
| Oak 7a international
|
0.0701
|
0.0710
|
-1.28
|
| Oak 7a international
|
0.0711
|
0.0669
|
5.91
|
| M4
|
0.9774
|
0.0732
|
92.51
|
87.95
|
| M4
|
0.4029
|
0.0445
|
88.96
|
| M4
|
0.3993
|
0.0703
|
82.39
|
| Oak 15C
|
0.0755
|
0.1044
|
-38.28
|
-5.36
|
| Oak 15C
|
0.0781
|
0.0613
|
21.51
|
| Oak 15C
|
0.0880
|
0.0874
|
0.68
|
| Oak 15A
|
0.1857
|
0.0645
|
65.27
|
65.94
|
| Oak 15A
|
0.1610
|
0.0560
|
65.22
|
| Oak 15A
|
0.1818
|
0.0594
|
67.33
|
| Oak 529
|
0.0381
|
0.0545
|
-43.04
|
-272.07
|
| Oak 529
|
0.0192
|
0.1843
|
-859.90
|
| Oak 529
|
0.0264
|
0.0035
|
86.74
|
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 heated 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 measurements.
No relation