This column expands upon my observation to that effect, which I described in my previous column (Metal Finishing, Volume 108, Issue 2, Feb. 2010). My basis for that belief is attendance at the Parts-2-Clean (P2C) international (though primarily German) trade show devoted to parts cleaning, held annually in Stuttgart. 22 February 2010
Thoughts on the largely German—but increasingly European—trade fair, Parts-2-Clean, held in Stuttgart from Oct. 19–22, 2009. 16 February 2010
As the aerospace industry demands more from the materials it uses, the finishing of the surface becomes a greater part of the final product. 01 February 2010
In 2008, when a barrel of oil cost $147 and a gallon of gasoline cost $4.25 (or more), many readers called or wrote to ask if there were more energy-efficient cleaning processes. They wanted an aqueous cleaning process that would operate at room temperature so that energy would not be needed to heat water, given the high, specific heat requirements in such applications. 06 October 2009
The process reliability of pretreatment methods is the basis for high-quality products in the production of metal parts with special surface requirements. The cleaning process is the essential step between the finished shape forming and subsequent surface treatment and surface coating, respectively. Deficiently cleaned parts cause defects in the surface quality of products, leading to high costs due to consequential damages. The proper maintenance of defined concentrations of components, surfactants, and builder ensures optimal results in aqueous cleaning processes. 23 September 2009
Ultrasonic cleaning—that is, cleaning with high-frequency sound waves—is not a miracle cure; it just seems like one. When properly used, adding ultrasonics to the cleaning process enhances the efficiency of surface preparation processes, provides superior soil removal, lowers the rework rate, and increases profits. 15 September 2009
Air blasting contributes to more productive cleaning and pretreatment by making short work of otherwise time-consuming and labor-intensive tasks. For many metal finishers, particularly shops that rebuild parts, prep work often represents more than half the battle. Success depends on maximizing surface receptivity to whatever procedure follows and, in many cases, maintaining part dimensions during cleaning or profiling. Because of its versatility and dexterity, air blasting excels in many challenging pretreatment and cleaning jobs. 14 September 2009
From medical instruments and implants to more pedestrian applications, Danco Anodizing puts all of their knowledge, heart and soul into every part. 10 September 2009
From electronics to aircraft parts, Master Metal Finishing of Patterson, N.J., finishes to spec—and beyond. 19 August 2009
For more than 80 years, the plating industry has been dependent on the use of various zincate and/or stannate solutions to assist in the plating of metals such as titanium, aluminum, and magnesium. It is becoming ever more difficult to use these solutions due to restrictive regulations—plus, they are difficult to work with. This article presents an environmentally acceptable and easy-to-work-with alternative process that does not require the metalizing of the metals to be plated or extensive cleaning and deoxidization procedures. 11 August 2009
Ultrasonic cleaning increases yield, turbo-charges cleaning, increases profits, and boosts your competitive edge—but only if you do it right. Understanding critical variables can help maximize the return on your cleaning system investment. 15 August 2008
In the highly competitive and technologically advanced world of Formula One auto racing, engine component cleanliness is taken very seriously. So, when specifying a new cleaning system for a range of aluminum and titanium F1 engine racing components, Honda Racing Developments chose a Kerry Microsolve co-solvent ultrasoinic cleaning unit to meet their very exacting requirements. 07 July 2008
This is a column about parts cleaning that I have both wanted to write, and been concerned about writing, for some time. I had intended to write it on the 10th anniversary of closing of the Montreal Protocol, but I was concerned that 10 years was not enough distance from the event to allow for a useful perspective. 12 May 2008
Alan Ensign, vice president and general manager of Wyandotte, Mich.–based Cadon Plating & Coatings, is no stranger to trying times. When the company abandoned the commodity-driven rack plating business years ago, revenues took a 30% hit. Then in in 1994, government regs forced its exodus from the cadmium plating market and, much later, the olive-drab business. As a result of that move, 25% of sales vaporized—just like that. If those setbacks weren’t enough, the company lost once-steady business when the U-bolt suppliers for several major auto suppliers installed their own paint lines, essentially cutting out Cadon completely. 15 May 2007
If a child is told to wash her hands and then reappears flinging soap suds and water around the room, then the local adult is apt to send her back for additional reprocessing. In product manufacturing, there are three steps in the overall cleaning process: washing (cleaning), rinsing, and drying. Understanding the functions of these three steps is a powerful business tool to achieve high product quality at a lower cost. Unfortunately, those of us involved in surface preparation and quality and contamination control may use the terms imprecisely. Cleaning may mean only the initial removal of soil or encompass several steps in the surface preparation process. 01 September 2005
This column discusses why parts drying is a problem with aqueous cleaning agents used as replacements for some solvents. I wrote about this topic in 1989. I have frequently updated the material, to protect the guilty. But basically, drying of parts is similar to how it was handled years earlier, and before that. 08 December 2004
In part I of this column, I showed how common open-top vapor degreasers can fail if used with solvent blends. The reason is the vapor produced from most binary solvent blends becomes enriched in the most volatile of the two components. If that vapor escapes from the degreaser via any means, the bath becomes depleted of that most volatile component and the composition becomes a pure component that is the least volatile. 12 November 2004
It is very unlikely that many newly developed cleaning solvents will be introduced in the coming years. The reasons include: the costs are too great; the expected return is too small; and limitations of chemistry make the chance of success in providing a perfect solvent too low. Other than those reasons, we’ll all be developing new solvents. Yet that doesn’t mean those doing solvent cleaning will have to make due with currently available and occasionally imperfect offerings. 09 November 2004
The efficacy, convenience, and cost effectiveness of vapor corrosion inhibiting (VCI) packaging products have made their application for rust control almost universal in automotive, machine tools, aerospace, electronics, power generation, and the military. As with all industrial chemical products, however, the increased usage of VCI products has also raised significant scientific interest as to their health and safety. 02 November 2004
The use of volatile corrosion inhibitors (VCIs) within the metal finishing industry presents two generally unrecognized health and performance problems. VCIs have been used to prevent corrosion since World War II yet have had little risk analysis. Although many of the benefits of VCIs have been published, VCIs’ darker side is only now becoming known. 02 November 2004
Washing, rinsing, and drying are processes: combinations of chemicals and equipment. When you make a selection to solve a cleaning problem, you have at least three chances to make mistakes. 08 September 2004
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