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Trial Number 0

Client Number 524

Project Number 1

Trial Purpose:

To test the efficacy of non HAP/VOC exempt alternative solvents to manually remove three types of polymers from stainless steel.

Date Run:

11/14/2024

Experiment Procedure:

Three 304 stainless steel coupons were assigned to each of the soils per solvent resulting in a total of 27 coupons total.  Each coupon was weighed with a mass balance and had their initial weights recorded.  Each coupon was then soiled with its respective polymer and catalyst mixture.  To soil each coupon, a pipette was used to apply a 0.5ml of the correct polymer catalyst mixture in a stripe across the middle of the coupons.  The stripe of soil was then spread with a paint scraper to apply a thin coating to the bottom half of the coupon.  After drying for 30 seconds, the next layer was applied.  Each coupon was soiled with a total of 5 layers.  After the soil was applied, the coupons were placed in the oven at 325F for 5 mins to cure the polymers.  Each coupon had their dirty weights recorded.  Each coupon was then timed while manually wiped with a cotton rag dipped in the respective solvent with circular motions.  Manual wiping was ceased when all visible soil was removed from a coupon.  If all visible soil was not able to be fully removed at 5 mins, cleaning was ceased.  Coupons were then left to air dry for 30 mins before recording their clean weights.

Trial Results:

Cleaner Soil Initial wt of cont. Final wt of cont. %Cont Removed % AVG % Overall Time until clean Secs AVG Secs Overall
Dimethyl Carbonate 7195NF Alum 0.0180 0.0000 100.0000 93.76 92.09 40 37 42
0.0318 0.0032 89.9371 30
0.0496 0.0043 91.3306 41
7229 0.0341 0.0043 87.3900 88.93 52 61
0.0536 0.0060 88.8060 67
0.0468 0.0044 90.5983 65
7223 0.0789 0.0065 91.7617 93.57 19 28
0.1157 0.0109 90.5791 37
0.1043 0.0017 98.3701 28
Propylene Carbonate 7195NF Alum 0.0230 0.0013 94.3478 90.11 86.61 132 146 96
0.0353 0.0051 85.5524 165
0.0418 0.0040 90.4306 140
7229 0.0181 0.0068 62.4309 73.04 48 72
0.0560 0.0142 74.6429 67
0.0490 0.0088 82.0408 100
7223 0.1765 0.0076 95.6941 96.69 140 71
0.2276 0.0016 99.2970 26
0.1338 0.0066 95.0673 46
Tert Butyl Acetate 7195NF Alum 0.0625 0.0082 86.8800 88.80 92.95 75 55 71
0.0537 0.0042 92.1788 43
0.0561 0.0071 87.3440 46
7229 0.0518 0.0061 88.2239 92.69 102 96
0.0575 0.0079 86.2609 126
0.0448 -0.0016 103.5714 60
7223 0.1935 0.0081 95.8140 97.37 57 63
0.1567 0.0050 96.8092 61
0.1953 0.0010 99.4880 71

Propylene Carbonate did not evaporate in 30 mins post cleaning, so the coupons tested with propylene carbonate were dried with the heat gun before taking clean weights

Success Rating:

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

Conclusion:

Dimethyl Carbonate is the most effective solvent in removing the three polymers from stainless steel based on the high percentage of soil removed as well as it taking the least amount of time on average to manual remove all visible soil from each coupon.  Propylene Carbonate is the least effective based on having the lowest percentage of soil removed and taking the most time to manually remove all visible soil from each coupon.  Tert Butyl Acetate is equally effective as Dimethyl Carbonate based on the percentage of soil removed, however it took longer than Dimethyl Carbonate to manually remove all visible soil from each coupon and took quite a bit of elbow grease.

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