Critical Cleaning and Corrosion Inhibition

Q. Does Alconox provide any information on corrosion inhibition in Alconox brand cleaners?

A. Yes! Corrosion during cleaning is accelerated by the same things that accelerate cleaning: heat, aggressive chemicals, time, and agitation. In approximate order of importance, to reduce metal corrosion concerns, use less heat, lower pH detergents, shorter cleaning time, and less agitation.

In general use the mildest pH detergent to limit metal corrosion. Higher pH detergents such as Solujet or Deto-Jet have special corrosion inhibitors that allow their use with aluminum. Solujet and Citrajet have inhibitors that allow their use on a broad range of sensitive metals without leaving filming amine residues.

In approximate order of importance, in general to reduce plastic corrosion, use less aggressive cleaners that have less solvent or surfactant character or use lower concentrations of those cleaners, use lower cleaning temperatures, use less contact time, and finally use less agitation.

To read more, please visit How to Clean with Alconox Detergents.  To ask our cleaning experts a different technical cleaning question, go to Ask Alconox.