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Trial Number 13

Trial Purpose:

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effectiveness of cleaners on steel parts provided by the company.

Date Run:

02/18/2021

Experiment Procedure:

Cleaners were prepared to the following concentrations: Metalnox 6386 100%, Water Works Heavy Duty Degreaser 7:1, SC Aircraft & Metal 20%. All solutions and an ultrasonic bath were heated to 100°F. Three steel cut out parts were obtained and weighed for each of the cleaners being tested. Parts had been presoiled with packaging oil by the company. Once solutions reached the proper temperature, parts were submerged into their respective cleaners for 15 minutes under ultrasonic cleaning. After 15 minutes, parts cleaned with SC Aircraft were submerged into a deionized water bath at 100°F for 30 seconds. All parts were then dried with an air gun at ambient temperature to remove excess solution and prevent damage to the substrate. Parts were allowed to finish drying in air for 24 hours. Following the drying step, parts were weighed and a clean weight was recorded. Effectiveness of the cleaners was determined.

Trial Results:

Cleaner Initial wt of part Final wt of part Effective
Metalnox 6386 17.7424 17.7376 Yes
17.1949 17.1950 No
17.4549 17.4514 Yes
Water Works 16.9595 16.9630 No
16.8067 16.7986 Yes
18.0233 18.0185 Yes
SC Aircraft & Metal 17.4061 17.4055 Yes
17.3505 17.3426 Yes
17.1702 17.1640 Yes

Because parts arrived presoiled, initial weights were not able to be obtained. An attempt was made to keep cleaning parts after the first cycle to achieve a stable "initial" weight, but weights fluctuated too much between trials to produce accurate results. The weights presented in the chart above represent the first cycle of cleaning. Contact angle testing would be ideal to determine cleanliness, however, at the time of testing the contact angle machine is not operational.

Overall, cleaners were successful in removing the packaging oil from the steel parts. Spots of rusting were observed on the back of parts cleaned with Water Works after the first full cleaning and drying cycle. To avoid rusting a full air gun dry of the front and back of the part to remove all excess solution is necessary. Next steps would be to continue testing on the steel parts with aviation grease added.

Success Rating:

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

Conclusion:

Upon completion of testing it was determined that all cleaners were effective at removing the packaging oils from steel parts. Next steps would be to progress testing to include the aviation grease soil on steel substrates.

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