Ultrasonic cleaning is a proven method of removing dirt, contamination, paint, rust, tarnish – virtually any unwanted material that adheres to products being manufactured or repaired. But dirt and contamination have to go somewhere and that “somewhere” is in the ultrasonic cleaner solution – or bath. This simple fact brings up three points of concern for operators of ultrasonic cleaning facilities.
Point one – for larger industrial ultrasonic cleaning installations, cleaning solution formulations can represent a significant expense. Whether your operation is large or small, it makes good sense to maintain these solutions in order to extend their useful life.
Point two: Particles that settle out of the bath deposit on the bottom of the ultrasonic cleaning tank. These particles, when activated by ultrasound, can and will damage the tanks to the point where they develop leaks.
Point three: While there are exceptions, most ultrasonic cleaning bath formulations today are biodegradable, requiring no special handling for disposal of spent solutions. But many contaminants that come off products being cleaned are not biodegradable and cannot be disposed of in public sewer systems.
Manufacturers and distributors of ultrasonic cleaning systems offer products to help extend solution life, protect the ultrasonic cleaning tanks, and facilitate disposal of contaminants. Tovatech, for example, offers Elma filter pumps that separate dirt particles out of the ultrasonic cleaning solution for the express purpose of extending bath life and reducing liquid waste. A dual-filter system first removes particles that could cause wear on the pump itself while the second, finer filter, removes smaller contaminants, returning clean solution to the ultrasonic tank. A pressure gauge indicates when filters are becoming saturated so they can be removed and cleaned or replaced.
Oils and greases that come off parts being cleaned with ultrasound generally float on the surface of the cleaning bath. These can be treated in bath cleaning and skimming devices that separate oil emulsions and other floating contaminants from the cleaning solution. This provides economic and ecological advantages by saving chemicals, water, and energy, and by isolating liquid waste for proper disposal.
Note that these measures are not a substitute for regular tank cleaning and maintenance. Contact your ultrasonic equipment provider for further details on cleaning solution maintenance accessories and recommended procedures.
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What steps does your organization have in place to extend the use of ultrasonic cleaning chemicals? Describe any novel approaches you have developed to remove contaminants from the bath. How have these bath maintenance procedures benefitted your company?
Tags: ultrasonic
