TechNotes

Q: Is there a benefit to filtering the rinse water or the detergent solution in an ultrasonic system? Is it even advisable? If so, can you recommend a filter size (10 micron) when using Alconox detergent? This is for a new bath setup in a new piece of equipment. 

A: My short answer would be, it cannot hurt but would likely be of limited assistance.

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Q. What is the acceptable pH range of Liquinox for effective cleaning in an ultrasonic bath? Our solution hovers around 7 and I am concerned that’s not effective. Also, does the temperature of the ultrasonic cleaning solution affect the detergent pH?

A. A typical reading for Liquinox® Critical Cleaning Liquid Detergent at usage dilution is ~pH 8.5. A pH 7 reading on Liquinox detergent would indicate that a notable amount of fouling has occurred from use.

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Q: We are looking to replace our detergent for cutting oil removal and possibly move away from using an ultrasonic bath.  Can you help? A:  We would recommend Alconox® Powdered Precision Cleaner for removal of cutting oil from stainless parts.  It is a very strong emulsifier of oily and organic residue.  Start with a 1% solution (10 […]

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Q. We need to find an alternative cleaning solution we can use to sonicate metal (hardened steel) tools with that won’t rust them.

A. Hardened tool steel is prone to flash rusting on exposure to water and humidity with dissolved oxygen if there are no corrosion inhibitors present. You can clean tool steel in a warm Alconox solution (less than 120 deg F or less than 45 deg C) followed by an ambient temperature rinse (circa 70 deg C or 20 deg F) and a rapid …

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