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Ultrasonic Cleaning Note

Ultrasonic cleaning uses high-frequency sound waves and a cleaning solvent to remove contaminants from delicate items. An ultrasonic cleaner produces ultrasound between 20-400 kHz in a liquid that causes cavitation bubbles that clean items by penetrating cracks and crevices. Ultrasonic cleaners are commonly used to clean jewelry, watches, lenses, and other small parts and can clean a variety of materials without disassembly.

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131 views4 pages

Ultrasonic Cleaning Note

Ultrasonic cleaning uses high-frequency sound waves and a cleaning solvent to remove contaminants from delicate items. An ultrasonic cleaner produces ultrasound between 20-400 kHz in a liquid that causes cavitation bubbles that clean items by penetrating cracks and crevices. Ultrasonic cleaners are commonly used to clean jewelry, watches, lenses, and other small parts and can clean a variety of materials without disassembly.

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RKM
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Ultrasonic cleaning

Ultrasonic cleaning
An ultrasonic cleaner is a cleaning device
that uses ultrasound (usually from 20400
kHz) and an appropriate cleaning solvent
(sometimes ordinary tap water) to clean
delicate items. The ultrasound can be used
with only water but use of a solvent
appropriate for the item to be cleaned and
the soiling enhances the effect.
Ultrasonic cleaner showing the removable basket in place, and a closeup of the
Ultrasonic cleaners are often used to clean
light and timer
jewellery, lenses and other optical parts,
watches, dental and surgical instruments,
fountain pens, industrial parts and electronic equipment. They are used in many jewellery workshops, watchmakers'
establishments, and electronic repair workshops.

Process characteristics
Ultrasonic cleaning uses high frequency sound waves to agitate in a liquid. Cavitation bubbles induced by the
agitation act on contaminants adhering to substrates like metals, plastics, glass, rubber, and ceramics. This action
also penetrates blind holes, cracks, and recesses. The intention is to thoroughly remove all traces of contamination
tightly adhering or embedded onto solid surfaces. Water or other solvents can be used, depending on the type of
contamination and the workpiece. Contaminants can include dust, dirt, oil, pigments, grease, polishing compounds,
flux agents, fingerprints, soot wax and mold release agents, biological soil like blood, and so on. Ultrasonic cleaning
can be used for a wide range of workpiece shapes, sizes and materials, and may not require the part to be
disassembled prior to cleaning.[1]

Design and operating principle


In an ultrasonic cleaner, the object to be cleaned is placed in a chamber containing a suitable solution (in an aqueous
or organic solution, depending on the application). In aqueous cleaners, the chemical added is a surfactant which
breaks down the surface tension of the water base. An ultrasound generating transducer built into the chamber, or
lowered into the fluid, produces ultrasonic waves in the fluid by changing size in concert with an electrical signal
oscillating at ultrasonic frequency. This creates compression waves in the liquid of the tank which tear the liquid
apart, leaving behind many millions of microscopic voids or partial vacuum bubbles (cavitation). These bubbles
collapse with enormous energy; temperatures and pressures on the order of 5,000 K and 20,000lbs per square inch
are achieved [2] ; however, they are so small that they do no more than clean and remove surface dirt and
contaminants. The higher the frequency, the smaller the nodes between the cavitation points, which allows for
cleaning of more intricate detail.

Ultrasonic cleaning

Transducers are usually made of piezoelectric material (e.g. lead


zirconate titanate or barium titanate), and sometimes magnetostrictive
(made of a material such as nickel or ferrite). The often harsh
chemicals used as cleaners in many industries are not needed, or used
in much lower concentrations, with ultrasonic agitation. Ultrasonics are
used for industrial cleaning, and also used in many medical and dental
techniques and industrial processes.

Cleaning solution
Ultrasonic transducers showing ~20 kHz and ~40

Ultrasonic activity (cavitation) helps the solution to do its job; plain


kHz stacks. The active elements (near the top) are
water would not normally be effective. The cleaning solution contains
two rings of lead zirconate titanate, which are
bolted to an aluminium coupling horn.
ingredients designed to make ultrasonic cleaning more effective. For
example, reduction of surface tension increases cavitation levels, so the
solution contains a good wetting agent (surfactant). Aqueous cleaning solutions contain detergents, wetting agents
and other components, and have a large influence on the cleaning process. Correct composition of the solution is
very dependent upon the item cleaned. Solutions are mostly used warm, at about 5065 C (122149F), however,
in medical applications it is generally accepted that cleaning should be at temperatures below 38 C (100F) to
prevent protein coagulation.
Water-based solutions are more limited in their ability to remove contaminants by chemical action alone than solvent
solutions; e.g. for delicate parts covered with thick grease. The effort required to design an effective
aqueous-cleaning system for a particular purpose is much greater than for a solvent system.
Some better machines (which are not unduly large) recycle the hydrocarbon cleaning fluids. Three tanks are used in
a cascade. The lower tank containing dirty fluid is heated causing the fluid to evaporate. At the top of the machine
there is a refrigeration coil. Fluid condenses on the coil and falls into the upper tank. The upper tank eventually
overflows and clean fluid runs into the work tank where the cleaning takes place. Purchase price is higher than
simpler machines, but such machines are economical in the long run. The same fluid can be reused many times,
minimising wastage and pollution. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4, also formerly used in fire extinguishers for electrical
fires) was used in the past, but is now prohibited as dangerous. If CCl4 fumes are inhaled through a lit cigarette,
carbonyl chloride (COCl2, also called phosgene, a poison gas used in warfare) could be produced.

Uses
Most hard, non-absorbent materials (metals, plastics, etc.) not chemically attacked by the cleaning fluid are suitable
for ultrasonic cleaning.
Industrial ultrasonic cleaners are used in the automotive, sporting, printing, marine, medical, pharmaceutical,
electroplating, disk drive components, engineering and weapons industries.
Ultrasonic baths are also used to experimentally determine the elastic constants of many anisotropic materials.
Ultrasonic waves can usually only be sent through a material at right angles to the material's surface (normal
incidence). In water the angle of incidence for a longitudinal wave can be set, inducing both longitudinal and
transverse waves in the material. Then, by measuring the time of flight for both waves, the elastic constants can be
determined.

Ultrasonic cleaning

References
[1] Robert H. Todd, Dell K. Allen, and Leo Alting; Manufacturing Processes Reference Guide
[2] A. Henglein and M.J. Gutierrez., J. Phys. Chem. 97, 158, 1993

External links
Technical Issues and Aqueous Cleaning Systems (not limited to ultrasonic only) (http://www.pprc.org/pubs/
techreviews/aqueous/aqtech.html)

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors


Ultrasonic cleaning Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=440141566 Contributors: Abrahman87, Addshore, Ahouseago, Airplaneman, Alansohn, Anakinsg, Anthony Appleyard,
Baileybobbins, Blurble, Cayden Ryan, ChrisHodgesUK, Chrisjohnson, Christian75, Clarkie66, Dave6, Dethme0w, Edmaas, Firien, FrankTownend, Gail, GarrieIrons, GregorB, Haz7po5,
Headbomb, IcarusWingsOfWax, Ingolfson, J.delanoy, J04n, JLaTondre, January, Jaydec, Jeandr du Toit, Jhay116, Johnath, Katieh5584, Kjkolb, Kuhl-k, Lginley, Lordraydens, Lovecz,
Mattarata, Neutrality, Oosoom, P1e, Pekaje, Pjf, Pol098, Prashanthns, Pzt, RJFJR, Radagast83, Rafti Institute, Rich Farmbrough, Rifleman 82, Ronz, Seejyb, SigmaEpsilon, SlaveToTheWage,
Smiley Boy, Stephen Bou, Sunfever, The RedBurn, Thumperward, Tierce, Vikkilayton, WebHamster, Whitepaw, Wizard191, Zachlipton, 102 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors


image:Ultrasonic cleaner copy.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Ultrasonic_cleaner_copy.jpg License: Attribution Contributors: Rafti Institute, Thumperward
Image:Resize 2 of transducer comparison.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Resize_2_of_transducer_comparison.jpg License: GNU Free Documentation License
Contributors: Lginley

License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
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