Laboratory

Looking for a product that can lift oxidized silver along with other metals off of our glass and plastics. We are using an automated washer that takes a liquid concentrate. We need to move away from HCl, and dish soap and bleach don’t work. Manual cleaning can be considered but not preferred for the silver oxide.

Q: We are looking for a detergent to remove the cuticle on leaves to see surface cells, stomata, and trichomes. We have Alconox powder in-house. Will that work?

A: Plant cuticles are usually waxes with oils and other bio-derived polymers. Since you have Alconox powder in-house,

We are running some cleaning trials with several of your detergents in our lab on a difficult to remove resin.  There was no indication of solvating with solid flakes and particles of resin crashing to bottom.  Can you provide an alternative detergent? Detergents are a synergistic blend of several cleaning ingredients (as opposed to soap). Ways detergents clean therefore….

Q: We reenact Civil War battles and need to clean the bayonets, rifles and assorted other metal parts.  We came across Alconox as a source for safely cleaning these important pieces.  The residues are largely rust and pine tar.  What would you recommend?

A: Cleaning steel used in reenactments as you describe certainly helps in establishing the proper setting for the show.  Cleaning tool steel (also called mild steel) requires a little bit of effort to ensure flash rusting does not occur during rinsing.  To avoid this….

Q: How do you clean MgF2 windows for chrome plating? We would also like to use in our cleanroom on different kinds of glass types and ceramics.

A: To prepare magnesium fluoride (MgF2) for adhesion of chrome or other plating, a very clean surface is needed.  Depending on what kinds of residues are expected, Alconox® Powdered Precision Cleaner and Liquinox® Critical Cleaning Liquid Detergent are great options.  The choice of which detergent would be….