Cleaning Process
Dramatic changes in product quality
1399/10/21
Effective Use of Steel Shot and Steel Grit for Blast Cleaning
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Cleaning process used for removing soils and contaminants are varied, and their effectiveness depends on the requirements of the specific application. This article describes the basic attributes of the most widely used surface cleaning processes and provides guidelines for choosing an appropriate process for particular applications.
The processing procedures, equipment requirements, effects of variables, and safety precautions that are applicable to individual cleaning processes are covered in separate articles that follow in this Section of the handbook. Additional relevant information is contained in the articles “Environmental Regulation of Surface Engineering,” “Vapor Degreasing Alternatives,” and “Compliant Wipe Solvent Cleaners” in this Volume. Information about considerations involved in cleaning of specific metals is available in the Sections
Cleaning Process Selection
➢In selecting a metal cleaning process, many factors must be considered, including:
➢The nature of the soil to be removed
➢The substrate to be cleaned (i.e., ferrous, nonferrous, etc.)
➢The importance of the condition of the surface to the end use of the part
➢The degree of cleanliness required
➢The existing capabilities of available facilities
➢The environmental impact of the cleaning process
➢Cost considerations
➢The total surface area to be cleaned
➢Effects of previous processes
➢Rust inhibition requirements
➢Materials handling factors
➢Surface requirements of subsequent operations, such as phosphate conversion coating, painting, or plating
Very few of these factors can be accurately quantified, which results in subjective analysis. Frequently, several sequences of operations may be chosen which together produce the desired end result. As in most industrial operations, the tendency is to provide as much flexibility and versatility in a facility as the available budget will allow. The size and shape of the largest predicted workpiece is generally used to establish the cleaning procedure, equipment sizes, and handling techniques involved.
Because of the variety of cleaning materials available and the process step possibilities, the selection of a cleaning procedure depends greatly on the degree of cleanliness required and subsequent operations to be performed. Abrasive blasting produces the lowest degree of cleanliness. Solvent, solvent vapor degrease, emulsion soak, alkaline soak, alkaline electro clean, alkaline plus acid cleaning, and finally ultrasonic each progressively produces a cleaner surface. In addition to these conventional methods, very exotic and highly technical procedures have been developed in the electronics and space efforts to produce clean surfaces far above the normal requirements for industrial use.
Cleaning Media.
Understanding the mechanics of the cleaning action for particular processes can help guide the selection of an appropriate method.
Solvent cleaning
As the name implies, is the dissolution of contaminants by an organic solvent. Typical solvents are trichloroethylene, methylene chloride, toluene, and benzene. The solvent can be applied by swabbing, tank immersion, spray or solid stream flushing, or vapor condensation. Vapor degreasing is accomplished by immersing the work into a cloud of solvent vapor; the vapor condenses on the cooler work surface and dissolves the contaminants. Subsequent flushing with liquid solvent completes the cleaning process. Temperature elevation accelerates the activity. One major drawback of solvent cleaning is the possibility of leaving some residues on the surface, often necessitating
Additional cleaning steps. Another more significant disadvantage is the environmental impact of solvent cleaning processes. In fact, much effort is being expended on replacing solvent-based processes with more environmentally acceptable aqueous-based processes.
Emulsion cleaning
Depends on the physical action of emulsification, in which discrete particles of contaminant are suspended in the cleaning medium and then separated from the surface to be cleaned. Emulsion cleaners can be water or water solvent-based solutions; for example, emulsions of hydrocarbon solvents such as kerosene and water containing emulsifiable surfactant. To maintain stable emulsions, coupling agents such as oleic acid are added.
Alkaline cleaning
Is the mainstay of industrial cleaning and may employ both physical and chemical actions. These cleaners contain combinations of ingredients such as surfactants, sequestering agents, saponifiers, emulsifiers, and chelators, as well as various forms of stabilizers and extenders. Except for saponifiers, these ingredients are physically active and operate by reducing surface or interfacial tension, by formation of emulsions, and suspension or flotation of insoluble particles. Solid particles on the surface are generally assumed to be electrically attracted to the surface. During the cleaning process, these particles are surrounded by wetting agents to neutralize the electrical charge and are floated
Away, held in solution suspension indefinitely, or eventually are settled out as sludge in the cleaning tank.
Electrolytic cleaning
Is a modification of alkaline cleaning in which an electrical current is imposed on the part to produce vigorous gassing on the surface to promote the release of soils. Electro cleaning can be either anodic or cathodic cleaning. Anodic cleaning is also called “reverse cleaning,” and cathodic cleaning is called “direct cleaning.” The release of oxygen gas under anodic cleaning or hydrogen gas under cathodic cleaning in the form of tiny bubbles from the work surface greatly facilitates lifting and removing surface soils.
Abrasive cleaning
Uses small sharp particles propelled by an air stream or water jet to impinge on the surface, removing contaminants by the resulting impact force. A wide variety of abrasive media in many sizes is available to meet specific needs. Abrasive cleaning is often preferred for removing heavy scale and paint, especially on large, otherwise inaccessible areas. Abrasive cleaning is also frequently the only allowable cleaning method for steels sensitive to hydrogen embrittlement. This method of cleaning is also used to prepare metals, such as stainless steel and titanium, for painting to produce a mechanical lock for adhesion because conversion coatings cannot be applied easily to these metals.
Acid cleaning
Is used more often in conjunction with other steps than by itself. Acids have the ability to dissolve oxides, which are usually insoluble in other solutions. Straight mineral acids, such as hydrochloric, sulfuric, and nitric acids, are used for most acid cleaning, but organic acids, such as citric, oxalic, acetic, tartaric, and glycolic acids, occupy an important place in acid cleaning because of their chelating capability.
Phosphoric Acid Etching.
Phosphoric acid is often used as an etchant for nonferrous metals (such as copper, brass, aluminum, and zinc) to enhance paint adhesion. A detergent-bearing iron phosphating solution is often ideal for this sort of combined cleaning and etching approach.
Molten salt bath cleaning
Is very effective for removing many soils, especially paints and heavy scale. However, the very high operating temperatures and high facility costs discourage widespread use of this process.
Ultrasonic cleaning
Uses sound waves passed at a very high frequency through liquid cleaners, which can be alkaline, acid, or even organic solvents. The passage of ultrasonic waves through the liquid medium creates tiny gas bubbles, which provide a vigorous scrubbing action on the parts being cleaned. Although the mechanism of this action is not completely understood, it yields very efficient cleaning. It is ideal for lightly soiled work with intricate shapes, surfaces, and cavities that may not be easily cleaned by spray or immersion techniques. A disadvantage of ultrasonic cleaning processes is the high capital cost of the power supplies and transducers that comprise the system. Therefore, only applications with the most rigorous cleaning requirements are suitable for this technique.
Substrate Considerations
The selection of a cleaning process must be based on the substrate being cleaned as well as the soil to be removed. Metals such as aluminum and magnesium require special consideration because of their sensitivity to attack by chemicals. Aluminum is dissolved rapidly by both alkalis and acids. Magnesium is resistant to alkaline solutions with pH values up to 11, but is attacked by many acids. Copper is merely stained by alkalis, yet severely attacked by oxidizing acids (such as nitric acid) and only slightly by others. Zinc and cadmium are attacked by both acids and alkalis. Steels are highly resistant to alkalis and attacked by essentially all acidic material
Corrosion resistant steels also referred to as stainless steels, have a high resistance to both acids and alkalis, but the degree of resistance depends on the alloying elements. Titanium and zirconium have come into common use because of their excellent chemical resistance. These two metals are highly resistant to both alkalis and acids with the exception of acid fluorides which attack them rapidly and severely.
