How To Clean MgF2 windows for chrome plating?

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 based on your preference for a powdered, or liquid concentrate, respectively.  Both are powerful emulsifiers of organic, oily residues, and for removing general and environmental residues.  If there are specifically inorganic residues, we would go with Citranox® Liquid Acid Cleaner and Detergent.  In all cases, a warm 1-2% solution would be recommended, followed by very through rinsing with DI or similar water.

These recommendations would be for manual cleaning applications (scrubbing, soaking, sonciation) where foaming emulsifiers can be taken advantage of.  If a washer or high pressure sprayer system is required, Alcojet® Low Foaming Powdered Detergent and Solujet® Low-Foaming Phosphate-Free Liquid are excellent choices for a powdered, or liquid concentrate, respectively. If inorganic residues are the chief concern, go with Citrajet® Low-Foam Liquid Acid Cleaner/Rinse.  Again, a warm 1-2% solution would be recommended, followed by very through rinsing with DI or similar water.

All three of these detergents can similarly be used for other glass and ceramic substrates.  They are use in optics applications like this around the globe.

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