SOLVENT CLEANING

Parts Cleaning

Which Solvents to Use

Although I know each solvent has its own evaporation rate and solvent power, why do most formulators use more than two types. For example, why would toluene, MEK, MIBK, xylene be used in one paint formulation? Couldn’t I get a specific evaporation rate, viscosity, sprayability, VOC’s, etc. by just using MIBK and MEK? Or are xylene, toluene or other solvents having more of a major play in a formulation than a carrier?

Parts Cleaning

Silicone

What would be the appropriate solvent to preclean aluminum surfaces to assure they are free of silicone prior to painting?

Parts Cleaning

Phosphate Cleaning Systems

The issues I currently have are as follows: (1) I have a pH level of 2.0, that I think is causing flash rust to occur and in turn some slight delamination of paint during scribe testing. What is suggested to control pH? (2) I’ve read that when cleaning you should wash from bottom to top; this seems counter-intuitive to me. Can someone explain? (3) I’m sure the wheel has been invented on controls and work instructions for manual phosphating so does anyone have any links to a location that I can get our’s off of? (4) Does the metal temperature need to reach a certain temperature for the coating reaction to take place or only the solution?

Parts Cleaning

Hydrogen Embrittlement Problems

We are buying screws according to customers specs. The manufactured parts then go through the following steps: remove the copper, heat treatment, and passivation. After all this, the parts come to the final test. The result is hydrogen embrittlement which now means that the parts are scrap. What can be the reason of this problem and is there a change to retreat the parts?

Parts Cleaning

Paint Adhesion on Aluminum

We have an issue with paint adhesion on aluminum.

Parts Cleaning

Thickener For Nitric Acid

My question is to find one thickener for nitric + HF acid solution for cleaning the stainless steel.

Parts Cleaning

Cleaning in the 60s

Question: You’ve probably seen this question/issue pop up frequently.

Parts Cleaning

Precleaning for Laser

Question: We produce some small parts of CDA 798-2 Nickel-Silver that require laser stenciling.

Parts Cleaning

Alumina

Question: What chemical can be used to remove dried alumina powder from stainless steel?

Parts Cleaning

Cleaning the Mold Release Agent Off of Aluminum Castings

Question: We are trying to clean the mold release agent off the aluminum castings we purchase.