Browse Client Types

Browse past lab clients by general industry sectors

Trial Number 12

Client Number 426

Project Number 1

Trial Purpose:

To compare the effectiveness of alternative solvents to Trichloroethylene (TCE) when removing lubricating oils from aluminum alloy coupons.

Date Run:

12/28/2017

Experiment Procedure:

Aluminum coupons were vapor degreased for five minutes in heated TCE to provide a baseline for cleanliness. Fifteen coupons, three for each soil, were used for each solvent and initial weights were recorded. Coupons were soiled with Blasocut 2000 Universal Lubricant (CAS: 64742-52-5; 61790-44-1; 68608-26-4; 63449-39-8; 107-41-5; 770-35-4); Oak 7a (CAS: 64742-53-6; 68909-65-9); Rustlick EDM30 lubricant (CAS:64742-47-8; 8042-47-5); Accu-Lube LB 6000 Lubricant (CAS 68583-51-7); and Lenox Lube Tube Wax (CAS:8002-74-2; 57-11-4; 5989-27-5) using a swab to cover the bottom third of the substrate before taking the dirty weights. Coupons were cleaned with Opteon™ Sion SF79 and Tergo Metal Cleaner using heated (95 F) ultrasonics for five minutes. Coupons cleaned with TCE were placed back into the heated open-top vapor degreaser for five minutes. Coupons were completely submerged in the solvents during testing, and the cleaned coupons were placed on a clean foam surface. Final weights were taken shortly after testing.

Trial Results:

Opteon™ Sion SF79 and Tergo Metal Cleaner, both visually and gravimetrically, removed the lubricating oils from the coupon surface. The gravimetric results for the TCE cleaned coupons have outliers that are above 100-101 percent removal. Since only the TCE cleaned coupons had this issue, it is assumed that it is due to TCE’s corrosivity to aluminum and alloys (unspecified) when unstabilized, heated, or in the presence of water[1]. Coupons had been cleaned before use with soap and water in the laboratory, and the coupons could potentially have had water or an aqueous residue on the surface. This does not impact the results of the other two solvents.

 

Cleaner Soil Initial wt. of cont. Final wt. of cont. % Removed Average % Removal Overall % Removal
Opteon™ Sion SF79 Blasocut 0.0032 0.0001 96.88 97.43 97.79
0.0213 0.0009 95.77
0.0277 0.0001 99.64
Oak 7a 0.0482 0.0000 100.00 99.16
0.1101 0.0013 98.82
0.0671 0.0009 98.66
EDM 30 0.0487 0.0004 99.18 98.90
0.0550 0.0010 98.18
0.0304 0.0002 99.34
Accu-Lube -0.2474 -0.0002 99.92 96.16
0.0388 0.0039 89.95
0.1284 0.0018 98.60
Lenox Wax 0.0121 0.0006 95.04 97.33
0.0293 0.0005 98.29
0.0074 0.0001 98.65
Tergo Metal Cleaner Blasocut 0.0148 -0.0001 100.68 99.28 97.99
0.0330 0.0011 96.67
0.0395 -0.0002 100.51
Oak 7a 0.1240 -0.0004 100.32 98.37
0.0474 0.0010 97.89
0.0225 0.0007 96.89
EDM 30 0.0459 -0.0004 100.87 95.63
0.0663 0.0027 95.93
0.0676 0.0067 90.09
Accu-Lube 0.0494 -0.0003 100.61 99.90
0.0763 0.0007 99.08
0.1259 0.0000 100.00
Lenox Wax 0.0382 0.0003 99.21 96.79
0.0022 0.0002 90.91
0.0407 -0.0001 100.25
TCE Blasocut 0.0407 0.0001 99.75 101.39 101.27
0.0141 0.0004 97.16
0.0179 -0.0013 107.26
Oak 7a 0.0590 0.0001 99.83 100.85
0.0484 -0.0011 102.27
0.0658 -0.0003 100.46
EDM 30 0.0324 -0.0001 100.31 102.79
0.0293 -0.0017 105.80
0.0529 -0.0012 102.27
Accu-Lube 0.0370 -0.0011 102.97 101.08
0.0366 -0.0001 100.27
0.0354 0.0000 100.00
Lenox Wax 0.0449 -0.0003 100.67 100.24
0.0729 -0.0005 100.69
0.0472 0.0003 99.36

[1] http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/chemicals/chem_profiles/trichloroethylene.html

Success Rating:

Results suggest a scale-up feasible match for cleaning chemistry and equipment. Pilot plant study with actual parts recommended.

Conclusion:

The cleaning evaluation suggests that both Opteon™ Sion SF79 and Tergo Metal Cleaner are viable replacements for TCE. 

Save Report as a PDF