What are our cleaning options

Conference · Thu Feb 13 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5776805

Thompson, L M; Simandl, R F; Richards, H L; Glover, A L

Cleaning has always been an important step in manufacturing operations. Cleaning proceeds functions such as machining, inspection, plating, bonding, welding, heat treatment, and painting. If a surface is not properly cleaned or prepared, the results can be disastrous. The majority of industry has used cleaning methods such as vapor degreasing or solvent cleaning with chlorinated solvents such as chlorofluorocarbons, methyl chloroform, or perchloroethylene. These solvents were non-flammable, were considered to have low toxicity, and worked fairly well. However, recent finding regarding these solvents have caused them to fall from favor. Chlorofluorocarbons and methyl chloroform have been implicated as ozone depleting substances and are being regulated as such. Current plans call for a ban on production of these substances in the year 2000 and 2005, respectively. Perchloroethylene has been classified as a suspect carcinogen and has also come under recent guidelines and regulations in the United States. Personnel at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant have been actively pursuing substitutes for these solvents. Ultrasonic cleaning with aqueous detergent was originally implemented as a substitute for vapor degreasing at Y-12 approximately 7 years ago. This type of cleaning has been proven to be very reliable and effective. Organic solvents to replace chlorinated solvents have also been investigated for squirt bottle'' or wiping applications. The Y-12 Plant has implemented Solvent 140 and a solvent blend in these type applications. Results both experimentally and in the field have been favorable using these solvents. A with any cleaning method, there are some drawbacks with these substitutes. The ultrasonic cleaning with aqueous detergent does require a rinse cycle, a drying cycle, and a capital investment. The Solvent 140 and solvent blend are slow evaporators when compared with the chlorinated solvents. However, these substitutes do work.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OS21400
• OSTI ID: 5776805
• Report Number(s): Y/DV-1151; CONF-9206129--1; ON: DE92009673
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

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& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201 -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
CAVITATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CLEANING
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COMPATIBILITY
DISPERSIONS
EMULSIFICATION
EQUIPMENT
EVALUATION
FREQUENCY RANGE
KHZ RANGE
KHZ RANGE 01-100
MACHINERY
MANUFACTURING
MIXTURES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
SALTS
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENTS
SOUND WAVES
SURFACE CLEANING
SURFACE FINISHING
SURFACTANTS
TOXICITY
ULTRASONIC WAVES
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
Y-12 PLANT