Metal part cleaning

U.S. EPA, Waste Minimization in Metal Parts Cleaning, EPA/530SW89049, U.S. EPA, Washington, DC, August 1989. 

Figure 22.2.1. Metal parts cleaning employing cycloparaffins.

Acetone is mostly used by the plastics industry. Outside the rubber industry, the single largest use of acetone (about one-half) is as a feedstock to make acetone cyanohydrins to make methyl methacrylate (MMA) plastic. The second largest use (about 20%) is as a feedstock to produce bisphenol A to make polycarbonate resins and epoxy resins. Acetone is used in varnishes, lacquers, cellulose acetate, solvent for cellulose acetate fiber production, and metal part cleaning. 

All metal parts exposed to the room are made of stainless steel and motors and transmissions are IP 65 to withstand the eflfect of the cleaning agents. The design also takes into account the special considerations necessary for food processing machinery with regards to easy accessibility to all parts and the lack of corners, edges, pockets or other food traps , so that the mechanical system can be easily cleaned. 

The metallic substrate, clean and rinsed, is immersed wet in the plating cell. The base metals which are usually plated present an essentially metallic surface to the electrolyte, and the slight corrosive action of the rinse water in preventing the formation of any substantial oxide film is important. A critical balance of corrosion processes in the initial stages is vital to successful electroplating, and for this reason there is a severe restriction on the composition of the electroplating bath which may be used for a particular substrate. This will be discussed later. The substrate is made the cathode of the cell it may be immersed without applied potential ( dead entry) or may be already part of a circuit which is completed as soon as the substrate touches the electrolyte ( live entry). Live entry reduces the tendency for the plating electrolyte to corrode the substrate in the period before the surface... 

Uses Organic synthesis vapor degreasing and cold cleaning solvent for fabricated metal parts textile processing aerosol propellants synthesis of fluoropolymers production of various coatings and inks may be ingredient in adhesives, cutting oils, and aerosol formulations pesticide. 

The cleaning composition may be used in concentrated or diluted form for cleaning soil from glass and metal parts, among others. This microemulsion shows that, by combining water and oil, metal surfaces can be cleaned effectively. This becomes possible because both oil- and water-soluble dirt is removed by the microemulsion. 

Small job shop used TCA in a vapor degreaser to clean aluminum metal parts Firm converted to water-based cleaning system... 

The latest advice from the Standing Conference on Drug Abuse is that the use of bleach is not recommended, as it tends to harden dried blood and therefore may protect the virus. Bleach may also corrode the metal parts of the syringe, making it harder to clean away traces of blood. The current recommendation is that works should be flushed out as soon as possible after use with several changes of clean cold water to which a small amount of washing-up liquid has been added. This advice, too, may be superseded in the future. 

Parts cleaning and stripping are integral process operations for industries that repair, maintain, or manufacture parts and equipment. Manufacturing groups generating metal wastes include metal furniture manufacturers, metal fabricators, machinery manufacturers, electric and electronic equipment manufacturers, instrument manufacturers, and many others. 

Proper Solution Make-up. Great care should be exercised when making up cleaning solutions. If the water is too hot, boil-over can occur due to the heat of solution. If the temperature is too low, the liquid or solid cleaner will sink to the bottom and not mix properly. With cleaners that contain inhibitors, failure to allow for complete mixing can lead to attack of metal parts or the tank itself. A helpful procedure is to formulate baths at the end of a shift so that the components have time to dissolve and mix before the start of production. For systems without good mixing controls, the use of liquids should be favored over solids or powders. 

Spencer, L.F. April 1962. "The Cleaning of Metals Part 1 - Alkaline cleaning. Metal Finishing. Pp. 59-60. 

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