How to Safely Use a Solvent Cleaner
As described in Chapter 3 of the Adhesives Technology Handbook*, “solvent cleaning is the process of removing soil from a surface with an organic solvent without physically or chemically altering the material being cleaned. This includes methods such as vapor degreasing, spraying, immersion, and mechanical or ultrasonic scrubbing.” This post describes how to safely use a volatile solvent cleaner with a low flash point.
Solvent Cleaner Flash Points
Solvent cleaners have different flashpoints. In chemistry, the flash point of a volatile material is the lowest temperature at which its vapors ignite if given an ignition source. In brief, the lower the flashpoint the more flammable they are. This is important when using a solvent cleaner.
The American Chemical Society publishes a table of common organic solvents that includes flash points. Examples of low flash point volatile solvents are 1-propanol at 59⁰F (15⁰C), acetone at -4⁰F (-20⁰C) and toluene … Read the rest
How to Maintain Firearms with an Ultrasonic Gun Cleaner
Investments in firearms by individuals and organizations can be substantial. This post provides a comprehensive tutorial on how to maintain firearms with an ultrasonic cleaner. It offers you guidance on when and how to use gun cleaning solvents but focuses more on why an ultrasonic gun cleaner is a wise investment when maintaining firearms.
Gun Cleaning Solvents Described
Firearm owners may be aware of many gun cleaning “solvents” available on the market, but just what is a solvent? According to an article in Science Direct, a solvent can be defined as “a liquid that has the ability to dissolve, suspend, or extract other materials, without chemical change to the material or solvent.”
When it comes to maintaining firearms, gun cleaning solvents are generally employed just after a session on the shooting range or in the field. Savvy firearm owners recognize the importance of cleaning and lubricating their weapon immediately … Read the rest
Avoid Product Damage by Ultrasonic Waves
The worldwide acceptance of ultrasonic cleaning is confirmed by a MarketandMarkets report stating that it is expected to grow from USD 1.6 billion in 2019 to USD 2.2 billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period. That report describes reasons driving the growth rate while this post provides important tips on avoiding product damage by ultrasonic waves.
Ultrasonic Waves Described
Ultrasonic waves is another way of describing what is called cavitation action in an ultrasonic cleaner tank. Cavitation action results from the violent implosion of millions of microscopic bubbles every second.
These implosions create a temperature of 5000˚C (>9000˚F) and a jet of plasma impacting the objects being cleaned. It is cavitation action by ultrasonic waves that quickly strips away dirt and other contaminants from parts being cleaned.
Note that this action is exceedingly fast meaning it does not damage the parts. But over time it … Read the rest
Solvent Ultrasonic Cleaning Helps Porvair Filtration Meet Customer Specs
An explosion-proof ultrasonic cleaning system satisfies customers’ preferences for flammable solvents employed during initial cleaning processes for new and reconditioned stainless-steel filters, reports Jeff Bernier, Quality Manager at Porvair Filtration Group in Caribou, ME.
“Solvent ultrasonic cleaning falls into our passivation cycle as a means of improving the corrosion resistance of our 316L stainless steel filters by removing ferrous contaminants like free iron from surfaces, and restoring them to their original corrosion specifications,” Mr. Bernier explains, adding “many of our chromatography customers expect it.”
Solvent Ultrasonic Cleaning Replaces Aqueous Solutions
… Read the rest“Our explosion-proof ultrasonic cleaner allows us to safely use flammable solvents versus previously employed non-flammable aqueous solutions for initial cleaning,” Mr. Bernier says.
“Grade A isopropanol alcohol and pharmaceutical grade acetone are the preferred solvents. However, they require specially designed ultrasonic cleaners as well as compliance with strict safety standards.
“These include the National Electric
How to Use Industrial Ultrasonic Cleaners for Heavy Parts Degreasing?
Heavy parts degreasing engines and other heavy, complex machinery components can be accomplished quickly and effectively by cavitation action in industrial ultrasonic cleaners. This post provides guidance on the benefits of ultrasonic cleaning, how to use an industrial ultrasonic cleaner, and how to get the best performance from your industrial ultrasonic cleaning equipment.
But first….
Why Use an Industrial Ultrasonic Cleaner?
Cleaning and degreasing heavy parts can be accomplished several ways. Commonly used options include high-pressure steam cleaning and degreasing, solvent-based wash tanks and high-pressure sprays.
Common disadvantages of these options in addition to being time-consuming is that they are unable to penetrate and remove grease and other contaminants lodged in cracks, crevices and blind holes found in complex-shaped industrial parts.
Yet another disadvantage is that solvent-based wash tanks and sprays may introduce environmental concerns both in terms of use and solvent disposal.
In contrast…
As … Read the rest
How to Pick the Best Ultrasonic Cleaner
Selecting the best ultrasonic cleaner for your job should involve the same careful thought processes you’d go through when making other important purchasing decisions – such as an automobile or computer. What features are important to you? Balancing “must have” with “nice to have” applies to any significant purchase.
This post provides 10 tips on how to select the best ultrasonic cleaner by explaining features that may (or may not) be useful to your particular circumstances. It covers:
- Ultrasonic Cleaner Tank Dimensions
- How are you using your ultrasonic cleaning equipment?
- Add Baskets to the Spec Sheet for your Ultrasonic Cleaner
- How to Specify Ultrasonic Frequency
- How to Manage Ultrasonic Cleaning Solution Temperature
- A Degas Mode Speeds Solution Preparation
- The Benefits of the Sweep Mode
- The Pulse Mode Boosts Ultrasonic Power
- Understanding Ultrasonic Power
- Selecting Accessories
When you arm yourself with answers to these points you are well on the way … Read the rest
Digital HPLC Flowmeters – An Overview
What you’ll learn in this digital HPLC flowmeters overview:
- What flow meters do
- Flow measurement validation options
- HPLC flow meter calibration
- Mounting options for HPLC flow meters
- Connecting the flow meter to a PC
- How to maintain an HPLC flowmeter
- User testimonials
Flow meters come in many sizes and find application in a wide range of industries. As examples they meter gasoline pumped into your car and fuel oil into your heating system’s tank. But instead of metering in gallons (for example) digital HPLC Flowmeters measure small flow rates such as 0.05 to 25 milliliters (mL) per minute. This post provides an overview of lightweight, portable, and exceedingly accurate digital High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) flowmeters.
What HPLC Flow Meters Do
Among functions performed by HPLC are included checks for purity, monitoring changes in pharmaceutical intermediates during chemical synthesis scale-up, stability and dissolution tests, and performing ongoing quality control procedures.… Read the rest
How to Use an Ultrasonic Cleaner in Your Hair Salon
Some states are adopting regulations requiring ultrasonic cleaning and sanitizing of tools used in hair salons and cosmetology salons. New Jersey, for example, requires a designated area for cleaning and disinfecting implements and tools, an ultrasonic cleaner for metal implements and tools, a clean, closed receptacle at each work station so soiled implements and tools can be completely immersed in an enzyme solution prior to cleaning and disinfection, and a clean, closed receptacle for storage of sanitized implements and tools at each work station.
Nothing surpasses an ultrasonic cleaner for removing dirt and contaminants from any equipment that can be safely immersed in water. Healthcare facilities have long relied on ultrasonic cleaners to remove blood and tissue from surgical instruments prior to disinfecting and sterilizing. A compact ultrasonic cleaner such as Elma’sE30H model available from Tovatech easily fits on a bench or tabletop in a designated cleaning area in a … Read the rest
Ultrasonic Cleaner Parts Boost Cleaning Efficiency
Your investment in an ultrasonic cleaner pays dividends in terms of faster, more thorough cleaning enabling you to increase throughput in your business and, we hope, improve your profitability. In this post we describe how ultrasonic cleaner parts such as baskets and accessories contribute to your bottom line.
Overview of Ultrasonic Cleaner Parts
The objectives of your ultrasonic cleaning operations governs the parts you should have to accomplish the tasks. Here’s what we’ll cover in this overview:
- Baskets – do you need them and why?
- Alternatives to baskets
- Controlling noise and evaporation
- Managing cleaning solution temperatures
- Cleaning with highly acidic solutions
- Cleaning with volatile solvents
- Sample prep with an ultrasonic cleaner
Why Use a Basket for Ultrasonic Cleaning?
Cleaning baskets may be an optional accessory when buying an ultrasonic cleaner. That’s because many users may already have baskets. Ultrasonic cleaner parts baskets are needed for two major reasons:
- Parts
Using Solvent Ultrasonic Cleaning To Remove Machining Oils and Particulates from Piece Parts
L3 Harris EDD (Electron Devices), Torrance, CA, manufactures products such as traveling wave tubes, xenon ion propulsion systems, electronic power conditioners and microwave power modules for a variety of space and defense applications. “Solvent ultrasonic cleaning is used to remove machining oils and particulates from piece parts and brazed assemblies at various stages of the assembly process including preparing surfaces for a subsequent coating,” says Cathy Barnes, the company’s Senior Materials and Process Engineer.
Explosion Proof Ultrasonic Cleaners Meet Strict Safety Standards
“While ultrasonic cleaning using volatile solvents yields outstanding cleaning results, cleaning with low flash point flammable solvents requires extreme caution including compliance with National Electric Code (NEC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), our plant safety personnel and local fire regulations,” Ms. Barnes says. “For compliance our Torrance facility uses two SOL XP explosion-proof ultrasonic cleaners supplied by Tovatech.”
The 6-gallon capacity SOL XP units operate at … Read the rest
