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Cleaning metal substrates using liquid/supercritical fluid carbon dioxide

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7224168

Liquid/supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (L/SCF-CO/sub 2/) can be employed as an alternative to halocarbon solvents that are conventionally used for washing organic and inorganic contaminants from the surface of metal parts and machining fines. The cleaning process was demonstrated at Rocky Flats Plant on the laboratory scale for steel and uranium substrates and was found compatible with plutonium metal. The efficacy of this new cleaning method depends on process pressure, temperature, and fluid flow rate as well as cleaning time. Within the parameter range studied, cleaning efficiency generally improved upon increasing process pressure and flow rate. To date, L/SCF-CO/sub 2/ cleaning has been used to effect very low residue cleaning of metal (steel, uranium) surfaces without halogen introduction. The process was also used successfully to remove more than 99.5% of the light hydraulic oil from steel fines. 29 refs., 25 figs., 1 tab.

Research Organization:
Rockwell International Corp., Golden, CO (USA). Rocky Flats Plant
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP03533
OSTI ID:
7224168
Report Number(s):
RFP-4150; ON: DE88013617
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English