Heat is a natural byproduct when operating an ultrasonic cleaner because ultrasonic energy is transformed into heat in an ordinary physical process. For instance, during permanent operation cleaning bath temperatures exceeding 60 °C (140⁰F) can be reached simply by the use of ultrasonic energy.
Temperature has a direct impact on the efficacy of the cleaning bath itself. As an example, in pure water cavitation is maximized at about 70⁰C (160⁰F) but this does not necessarily hold true when ultrasonic cleaning solutions are used in the tank. In such cases higher or lower temperatures are called for based on instructions provided by the cleaning solution manufacturer and the objects being cleaned.
For the removal of protein and blood particles from surgical instruments, equipment and solution manufacturers suggest that it is important to keep the temperature of the cleaning liquid below 42°C (107⁰F). Otherwise these particles will harden and stick to the instruments and cannot be removed by subsequent sterilization.
At the other end of the scale, some highly caustic cleaners used for cleaning iron, steel and stainless steel are used at temperatures of 82⁰ to 88⁰C (180⁰ to 190⁰F) to enhance the chemical effect. If the cleaning solution contains solvents care should be taken to maintain temperatures at least 6⁰C (10⁰F) below their boiling points to avoid potentially dangerous fumes.
Controlling Ultrasonic Cleaning Temperatures
Ultrasonic cleaning equipment such as the Elmasonic S units offered by Tovatech are equipped with temperature control units that heat cleaning solutions to the recommended temperature before ultrasonic energy is applied to clean parts immersed in the bath. The heater then shuts off. If ultrasonic energy causes temperatures to exceed the recommended level the bath should be cooled. For this an optional cooling coil containing tap water and connected to a temperature regulating device can be used to maintain the optimum ultrasonic bath cleaning temperature.
In summary bath temperature plays a key role in ultrasonic cleaning. The optimum temperature is determined by the ultrasonic cleaning solutions employed and the items being cleaned. Tovatech is ready to help you establish procedures to maximize the efficiency of your cleaning operations.
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How do you control bath temperature in your ultrasonic cleaning operations? What do you clean, what do you use, and what temperatures do you find work best for the process?
Tags: ultrasonic
