Published: October 1, 2015
Q. We have a new product that is filled with a silicone fluid. During the filling process excess fluid gets on the product. We have washed the parts in mineral spirits. The product is aluminum and stainless with EPDM seals. We believe the seals are being attacked by the mineral spirits. Is there a system you might have that will remove the silicone but not attack anything else?
A. To remove silicon fluid from aluminum and stainless steel clean by soaking or using an ultrasonic tank of very hot (170+ deg F or 77+ deg C) 2% solution of Alconox® (2.5 oz/gal or 20 g/L) followed by a very hot rinse. Silicon fluids are best emulsified at very hot temperatures. It is best to avoid cleaning stainless steel and aluminum together in the same tank at the same time to avoid potential galvanic corrosion from any poorly passivated, scratched or abraided section of stainless steel that has surface iron that can form a battery and plate out iron oxides on the aluminum.
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