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Trial Number 0

Trial Purpose:

To identify a low or non voc cleaner for the removal of ink from misprinted plastic parts.

Date Run:

01/28/2000

Experiment Procedure:

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

Trial Results:

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

Success Rating:

Results successful using TACT (time, agitation, concentration, and temperature, as well as rinsing and drying) and/or other cleaning chemistries examined.

Conclusion:

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.

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