Just like when Goldilocks broke into the home of the Three Bears, she tasted the first porridge and it was too hot. Then she tasted the next porridge-too cold. Once she moved over to the third porridge, you guessed it, just right. But this was according to Goldilocks taste preference. Some other intruder with different taste sensations may have had an entirely different experience with temperature.

Same thing goes with industrial cleaning applications. There is no one magical temperature for all. What determines the bath temperature involves several factors.

• What contaminant are you removing?
• What chemistry are you using?
• What type of material are you cleaning: plastic, soft metal, hard metal, graphite etc?
• What is the desired outcome – how clean does it need to be?
• Is there another step following the cleaning process?

We all know that cleaning in hot water is better than cold based on years of dish washing experience. Then why not go with the hottest water possible, almost boiling, and cut to the chase?

Because cleaning soaps break down and fail at different temperatures. Having the correct detergent to decouple contaminants from surfaces is even more important than the bath temperature in most cases. If you destroy the detergent formulation, you won’t achieve your cleaning results, regardless of how hot you operate the bath.

Because plastics will warp and generally deform in fluids that are above their melting point.

Because soft metal surfaces can get scarred or develop star bursts on the surfaces during ultrasonic cleaning. Surface scarring will show through even in secondary plating processes. Extremely hot water is very detrimental in this situation.

Because cleaning personnel could encounter serious safety issues such as burns, when the bath fluid is extremely hot.

If your application deals with removing heavy greases, mold release or carbons from cast iron surfaces, then the hotter the better. But in most cleaning applications, you need to operate in an operating range of 120 – 150°F which is fairly hot as it is.

So just like Goldilocks, getting your bath cleaning temperature “just right” is key to cleaning success

In this blog post, we’ll talk about the different types of materials that can be cleaned using these same solutions in our ultrasonic cleaners, and why choosing one over another may better suit our needs.

Just as with contaminants, there may be more than one type of ultrasonic cleaning solution that may work with a particular material; final selection then will be based on the type of contaminant to be removed, as well as the relative speed or aggression with which we’d like the article cleaned. Even the finish of the part may affect our decision.

Generalized list of Ultrasonic Cleaning Solutions

Not all contaminants are removed by all detergents, even in an ultrasonic cleaner. The type of part also factors in to which solution can be used. Otherwise, we would just use the most powerful cleaner we can get our hands on. For example, 70% sulfuric acid removes scale easily, but can also eat into carbon steel. A compromise must be made between removing the contaminant and protecting the part. Having a general knowledge of available solutions can get you into the right ballpark.

Alkaline Solutions – Alkaline solutions have a pH of 10 or higher, with the higher pH solutions being more aggressive. They may or may not contain caustic soda, depending on the strength of the cleaner. Moderately alkaline solutions (pH 11.0 to 12.5) are great for almost all metals, including cast iron, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, zinc, copper, brass, and tin. They also work well when cleaning glass, ceramics, and most plastic materials.

High Caustic Solutions – High caustic solutions are a special case of alkaline solutions. They can be used if needed; however, we should always try more moderate alkaline ultrasonic cleaning solutions first. High caustic cleaners contain hydroxides and usually silicates as well, and are good for removing heavy grease, oils, and waxes from cast iron, steel, and stainless steel. When placing magnesium in our ultrasonic cleaners, a  low caustic solution must be used if we are to avoid damaging the part.

Acidic Solutions – Acid-based solutions have a pH of around 5.0 or lower, with lower pH cleaners being the more aggressive versions. The use of acid solutions is usually material-specific, since some acids will destroy the base material while others will not. They are great for removing oxides from most metals, as long as the solution has inhibitors to protect the base metal.

Enzymatic Solutions – Enzymatic ultrasonic cleaning solutions are designed to remove protein-based contaminants from parts typically found in the medical and food industries. As such, they are typically used on stainless steel, titanium, brass, and aluminum, but can also be used on glass and most plastics found in laboratories.

De-ionized Water – DI water is safe to use on any material that can safely be placed in water, which means it will work on nearly every material. Metals, fabrics, glass, plastics, epoxies, and hard rubber materials are all acceptable. The type of part should be considered when DI water is used as an ultrasonic cleaning solution, since many parts will oxide quickly when removed from the solution unless they are subsequently placed in a wetting solution and immediately dried. Frictionless bearings, small servo motors, switches, and printed circuit boards are some examples of the parts requiring special post-cleaning treatment.

Omegasonics’ Ultrasonic Cleaning Solutions and Their Applications

Prior to ultrasonic cleaners, many of the parts we needed to clean required harsh solvents that had safety and health risks associated with them, were harmful to the environment, and had to be treated as hazardous wastes when it came time to dispose of them. The ultrasonic cleaning solutions list presented below contains no such solvent-based cleaners. The detergents and cleaning agents used in ultrasonic cleaners are safe for our employees and safe for the environment.

Complete List of Cleaning Detergents and Solutions

OmegaClean – Our most versatile ultrasonic cleaning soap. This cleaning agent removes light grease and contaminants from a variety of metals. Contains buffers to protect aluminum finishes and silicates to guard against flash rusting.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

OmegaMaxx – Our most powerful ultrasonic cleaner degreaser. It is excellent for cleaning and brightening ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Not recommended for copper, brass or aluminum.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

OmegaSoft – A superior and powerful multi-component organic water softener.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

OmegaWash – An extremely powerful powdered ultrasonic cleaner soap concentrate for ultrasonic cleaning non-oily residue dirt from metal, plastic and fabric surfaces including mini-blinds and all hard windows.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

OmegaResin – A solution designed to remove polyvinyl chloride, plastic, urethane, polyethylene and epoxy extrusion residue from molds, dies and other surfaces.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

OmegaFinish – A wax removal solution formulated with high pH to remove heavy wax residue from surfaces as well as heavy carbon from stainless steel. Not recommended for aluminum.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

OmegaSupreme – A detergent perfect for removing oils, light grease, dirt, grime, carbon and other contaminants from a wide variety of materials, including stainless steel, titanium, carbon steel, and plastics. This product has better cleaning solvency than OmegaClean.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

OmegaSmoke – A cleaner designed to remove smoke and soot from contents damaged in a fire. Safe to use on glass, rubber, plastic, materials and all surfaces that can be cleaned in water.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

CitriSurf® 2050 – An ultrasonic cleaner passivator, specifically formulated to passivate a limited variety (as compared to CitriSurf 2250) of stainless steel grade surfaces without the use of nitric acid.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

CitriSurf® 2210 – An environmentally-friendly citrus based gel designed to passivate large stainless steel surfaces that cannot be submerged into a heated bath. Product is applied with rollers, brushes or spray.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

CitriSurf® 2250 – An ultrasonic cleaning passivator specifically formulated to passivate (remove free iron molecules) all grades of stainless steel and titanium surfaces without the use of nitric acid. Also removes calcium carbonate from brass, steel and nickel.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Omega Horn Clean 727 – A phosphoric-based cleaning solution ideal for cleaning a variety of brass musical instruments.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Omega Copper Protectant – Designed to protect copper, brass and copper alloys from tarnishing aluminum finishes when used with high pH detergents.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Omega Rust Protectant – A microfilm rust inhibitor formulated to protect aluminum, brass, copper and carbon steel from developing brown and surface rust.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

OmegaBlue – Ink remover product that has been specifically designed to removes ink and ink residue from metal and rubber components, including Anilox rollers. Also used in gun cleaning application – will not remove barrel bluing.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

CleanMor 706 – A revolutionary cleaning agent far superior to sodium-hydroxide based detergents typically used in the 3D and additive manufacturing industry. No airborne powder dust! Specifically designed to remove Stratasys 706 and 3ntr SSU01 soluble support structure.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Omega Aqua Clean LPH – An ultrasonic cleaner solution for electronics is a reduced pH solution designed to clean electronic and electrical components in an ultrasonic tank. Also effective at removing solder flux residue.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Omega Citrus Degreaser – A broad-use citrus-based ultrasonic degreaser used for commercial grade applications, including removal of oily residues and dirt from general content surfaces including mini-blinds and general household items.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Omega Deodorizer – A highly dilutable odor counteractant that eliminates odors resulting from fire, smoke, and water damage.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Omega DeScaler – A descaler formulated to remove rust, corrosion, heat scale and mineral deposits from a variety of metals. Effectively used to remove mineral deposits from heat exchangers. 
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

OmegaZyme – An ultrasonic degreasing soap that effectively cleans light oils and cutting fluids. Best used on Aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, steel, and brass. Solvent free, non-bacterial, and 100% organic.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

OmegaChem – A paint remover to remove petroleum-based paint and paint residue from a variety of surfaces including spray gun nozzles.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

Omega Mold Release Agent – A high pH concentrated mold release agent that is successfully used to remove burnt-on crystalline rubber, plastic and food from molds, dies and other metal surfaces.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

OmegaRinse – An effective drying agent used after the ultrasonic cleaning process. It contains an ionic rinsing concentrate that promotes the sheeting of moisture from metal surfaces, specifically metal mini blinds.
Safety Data Sheet (SDS)

We need to remember that many also contain additives, such as sheeting agents, emulsifiers, and inhibitors, which perform special functions in the solution. The labels, product descriptions, and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) above are accurate on these products, but it’s always best to test a small part first, or to contact us to make sure you’re not making a decision that could adversely affect the part or the quality of the final cleaning.

It’s always best to err on the side of caution, particularly with delicate or one-of-a-kind parts that may be difficult or impossible to replace. Regardless of the part or material, there’s almost always an appropriate ultrasonic cleaning solution that will safely remove contaminants from it.

Examples of Ultrasonic Cleaning Solutions in Action

• How To Strip Paint From Machined Parts
• Ultrasonic Precision Cleaning for Aerospace Safety
• Cleaning Aerospace Parts with Ultrasonic Cleaners
• Snowmobile Engine Cleaning with Ultrasonics
• Gun Cleaning with Ultrasonic Cleaners
• 3D Spinal Implants and Ultrasonic Cleaning
• Clean Your Firearms 3 Times Faster with Ultrasonic Gun Cleaning
• Using Ultrasonics for Cleaning Truck Fuel Injectors
• Ultrasonic Cleaning for Dentures
• Using Ultrasonic Cleaning Technology for Food Plants
• Ultrasonic Cleaning for Bike Parts
• Clean Your Musical Instruments with Ultrasonic Cleaning
• Ultrasonic Cleaning for Pharmaceutical Equipment
• Cleaning and Sterilizing Medical PPE with an Ultrasonic Cleaner
• … and many more found on our blog!

Contact our Team of Ultrasonic Cleaning Experts

Trying to find the best ultrasonic cleaning solution for your application or have other questions regarding ultrasonic cleaning? Contact our experts at Omegasonics by calling 888-989-5560, emailing us at Omegasonics@Omegasonics.com, or by filling out our online contact form.

Fortunately, cleaning technology has advanced along with the tech that powers these futuristic engines. Ultrasonic cleaning has come into its own, allowing aerospace parts to be cleaned in mere minutes instead of hours, and with a minimum of effort. Not only do ultrasonic cleaners clean thoroughly, but also cleans gently, extending the life of aerospace parts and keeping them from weakening or being damaged, increasing flight safety overall. All this adds up to significant savings within the aerospace industry, money which can, in turn, go back to further research or to other needs.

What is Ultrasonic Cleaning?

Ultrasonic cleaning works through a physical principle known as “cavitation.” Cavitation occurs when ultrasound waves created by a transducer pass through a liquid and strike against an object immersed in that liquid. The ultrasonic waves create millions of tiny bubbles which release strong jets of energy when they collapse. These energy jets produce an intense force that dislodges grime from the object being cleaned. One advantage of ultrasonic cleaning is that it cleans from every surface of the object, even interior, hard-to-reach spaces, and crevices. Also, ultrasonic cleaning is relatively gentle and avoids the use of harsh chemicals and solvents.

Precision Cleaning with Ultrasonic Cleaners

Companies that do precision cleaning for aerospace contracts, as well as the aerospace companies themselves, can benefit from the time and cost savings–as well as the more thorough cleaning–they can achieve using ultrasonic cleaners. For example, in the past, cleaning a machined part such a manifold containing many small holes meant difficult and painstaking labor and potentially substandard cleaning. With ultrasonic cleaning devices such as those manufactured by Omegasonics, however, grime and contaminants are easily loosened and can be rinsed away. What’s more, Omegasonics offers a wide variety of models for every industrial need and capacity, from small machines suitable for cleaning dental instruments or handguns, to large capacity machines for cleaning car or aerospace parts. Some of these machines feature filtration systems that allow the detergent solution to be reused, a feature which some ultrasonic cleaners lack, causing them to have to be emptied and cleaned frequently.

There’s an Omegasonics Ultrasonic Machine for Your Exact Need

One of the things Omegasonics is known for is customer service and adapting its offerings according to the need for the customer. For example, one precision cleaner wanted to purchase ultrasonic cleaners, but decided that for its workflow, automating the entire cleaning process was not a good practice because it required a lot of calibration and maintenance. Bottomline for them: some parts cleaning required a human touch to ensure they were completely and thoroughly cleaned. Omegasonics worked with them to select ultrasonic cleaning machines that helped this company strike a good balance between automation and the human touch, enabling the precision cleaning company to automate a good section of its workflow but still leave room for finishing the cleaning with manual brushing and rinsing.

Want to know more about how ultrasonic cleaning can enhance safety in the aerospace industry while lowering costs? Contact our experts at Omegasonics at 888-989-5560 or email us at omegasonics@omegasonics.com

What is an Ultrasonic Cleaning Solution?

An ultrasonic cleaning solution involves the combination of ingredients put together in such a way to bring about the desired type of cleaning reaction. Ideally, an ultrasonic cleaning solution, or detergent, should contain ingredients that lower the surface tension of the liquid. This has the effect of increasing cavitation in the liquid as ultrasonic waves pass through it, thereby multiplying the cleaning effect, overall.

Cleaning Solution Types

Cleaning solutions and detergents vary in formula composition depending on what sort of object is meant to be cleaned and the material of which it’s made. There are general use soap solutions, descalers for cleaning rust or mineral deposits, enzyme solutions for removing heavy grime, low pH cleaners for brass, and many other specialty detergents. For a full list of all of solutions available, visit our ultrasonic cleaning solutions page.

Cleaning Solutions Are Green

Unlike harsh chemical solvents, which must be disposed of and/or stored with care, since they pose a real danger of contaminating the environment, ultrasonic cleaning solutions are much greener. These detergent solutions are usually made from ingredients that are easily broken down and/or disposed of without harm to the environment. They can be safely stored without much need for safety precautions and can be handled without extensive safety equipment. More information on the safe, solvent-free, solutions Omegasonics offers:

• Green Clean! Ultrasonic Cleaning is Environmentally Safe and Friendly
• Start Going Green with Water-Based Soaps in Ultrasonic Cleaning
• Omegasonics the Environmentally Friendly Cleaner
• Environmental Benefits of Ultrasonic Cleaning
• Why We Use No Industrial Solvents in Our Cleaners

Reusing Cleaning Solutions

Another advantage of ultrasonic cleaning solutions is the ability for many of them to be used and reused in industrial cleaning applications. Their longevity lowers operating costs for ultrasonic cleaning, overall. Best practice for reuse of ultrasonic cleaning detergents involves installing specialized filters in the ultrasonic cleaning device to catch particles and debris and/or separate oils and contaminants out from the detergent.

With the filter in place, the detergent can be drained back out of the machine after use and reused until the detergent itself begins to break down and lose effectiveness. Actual longevity of the detergent solution itself depends on the type–manufacturer’s recommendations should be followed in this case.

Disposing of Cleaning Solutions

Once the ultrasonic cleaning solution is exhausted, it must be disposed of. Although ultrasonic cleaning solutions are much greener than industrial solvents, they must be handled in a similar way to other household detergents and should not be simply introduced directly into the wastewater disposal system. Most companies store used detergent in drums to be collected by a waste management company and disposed of properly. Since the detergent solution is about 95% water or higher, this disposal should be simple and inexpensive. More information on the disposal of cleaning solutions:

• Ultrasonic Cleaning 101 – Disposal
• A Safer Way to Handle Industrial Waste Disposal
• Is Recycling Harsh Cleaning Chemicals the Right Choice?

Heat and Ultrasonic Cleaning Solutions

Besides the power of cavitation and the accompanying detergent, effective ultrasonic cleaning may also rely on the introduction of heat to the liquid bath. Heat has the effect of efficiently eliminating trapped air in the liquid bath, increasing the effectiveness of cavitation. A temperature of 122-149 °F (50-65 °C) is optimal for most industrial cleaning applications. However, for some medical cleaning applications, temperatures below 100 °F (38 °C) may be required in order to prevent protein coagulation.

Contact our Team of Ultrasonic Cleaning Experts

Interested in finding out more about how ultrasonic cleaning can benefit your company? Contact our experts at Omegasonics by calling 888-989-5560, emailing us at Omegasonics@Omegasonics.com, or by filling out our online contact form.

Learn more about solvent free ultrasonic cleaning and find out how you can use this cleaning tool in your workplace:

The Power of Cavitation the Ultrasonic Cleaning Solution

To effectively remove contaminants from your products, there are certain important steps that must be taken. For example, at the microscopic level you need to break the chemical bonds that allow contaminants to attach to a surface. In most cleaning processes, solvents are used to weaken these chemical bonds so that you can easily scrub contamination away.

Ultrasonic cleaners work on a different principle. Instead of weakening the chemical bonds through the use of solvents, ultrasonic cleaners use the power of cavitation.

Cavitation works by directing millions of tiny, high energy bubbles at the surface of a product. When the bubbles collide with the surface, they release their energy and break the chemical bond, which loosens the contaminants and cleans your machine parts.

Surface Tension & Cavitation

At this point, you may be wondering how the bubbles produced during the cavitation process are able to hold together. The answer, simply, is surface tension, which also is what allows water to form droplets and soap bubbles to float.

The key to ultrasonic cleaning solutions is that surface tension is reduced in the cleaning tanks with a cleaning solution. This allows the small bubbles to hold more energy and also makes ultrasonic cleaning more effective.

Since the cleaning solutions, called surfactants, are designed to reduce surface tension instead of break chemical bonds, they are typically very mild and environmentally friendly.

More information on Surface Tension and Cavitation:

• How does ultrasonic cleaner technology clean?
• Lower Surface Tension means More Cavitation
• Why Our Ultrasonic Soap is Better
• 3 Performance Boosters for Your Ultrasonic Cleaner

Disposal of Solutions

Typically, ultrasonic cleaning baths and the solutions that are used in them are water based and environmentally friendly. While this isn’t the case for every cleaning solution, most are very easy to dispose of, as long as you consider the contaminants that are also being disposed.

Depending on the contaminant that you are cleaning, disposing of your cleaning solution may be difficult. Before disposing of your solutions, make sure that you check all of the contaminants so you are properly treating any environmental hazards.

More information on Disposal:

• Ultrasonic Cleaning 101 – Disposal
• A Safer Way to Handle Industrial Waste Disposal

Solution Lifespan

How long can a solution sit on the shelf before it needs replacing? The quick answer is that it depends on the type of solution. Some solutions, like emulsifiers, are very powerful but have a very low lifespan because of quick oil saturation. Other solutions, such as separating detergents, are much longer lived but they are not as effective at cleaning tough products.

As you can see, there is often a tradeoff when selecting what cleaning solution you would like to use. Omegasonic’s staff is very helpful and can work with you to determine the right balance of longevity and cleaning effectiveness.

More information on Lifespan:

• Ultrasonic Cleaning 101 – Longevity

Contact our Team of Ultrasonic Cleaning Experts

Have questions regarding ultrasonic cleaning or cleaning solutions? Contact our experts at Omegasonics by calling 888-989-5560, emailing us at Omegasonics@Omegasonics.com, or by filling out our online contact form.

Types of Ultrasonic Cleaner Solution

Traditionally, solutions used in ultrasonic cleaning were made of some pretty nasty chemicals. Freon and trichloroethane were used to great effect in the process. With new green chemical regulations, specifically ones that target products like these organic compounds, solutions have been moving in an environmentally friendly direction.

There are now a wide variety of water based solutions available to use in your cleaning tank. Water is known as the universal solvent for a reason; it is excellent in the role.

It is hard to get more environmentally friendly than water. Water is also chemically inert, not poisonous and will not catch fire. The downside is, water which is considered contaminated can be hard to dispose of. Before using water based solutions for cleaning, make sure that you have a proper disposal plan in place. More information on green solutions:

• Start Going Green with Water-Based Soaps in Ultrasonic Cleaning
• Alternatives In Cleaning With Toxic Solvents
• Why We Use No Industrial Solvents in Our Cleaners

To improve the performance of water, it is best to add detergents to the mix. This assists when you are attempting to rinse and dry already cleaned parts. Detergents also aid in loosening the bonds between the contaminate and the substrate you are trying to remove it from. They can also help to clean hard to reach areas that may not come clean with water alone.

The properties of water also allow it to compress more easily than organic solvents. This means you get more energy out of your tank than you would using other compounds.

Ultrasonic Cleaning Solution Temperature

Along with the type of solution that you are going to use, be very careful to monitor the temperature of the solution. There are a lot of things going on in the solution during cavitation that can cause unexpected and possibly even negative results.

Generally speaking the warmer the solution is, the better the cavitation results. The issue is when you start approaching the boiling point of the solution. Here are two simple ways of testing cavitation.

If we review some high school chemistry, you might remember that pressure can affect the boiling point. Even if you do not remember that, just look at the instructions for a package of noodles or rice at high altitudes. You will see at lower pressures, it is easier to boil water. What does this have to do with your ultrasonic cleaner?

What you are actually doing is creating little waves of energy in the solution. The front of the wave has increased pressure. This means at the back of the wave, there is decreased pressure. If the combination of the drop in pressure and the temperature of the solution exceed the boiling point of your solution, you can develop bubbles, reducing the effectiveness of your ultrasonic cleaner.
Solutions are often used in combination with heat, which effectively eliminates entrapped air in the water tank. For most applications, a temperature of 122-149 °F (50-65 °C) is effective. However, for some medical applications it is generally accepted that solutions should be used at temperatures below 100 °F (38 °C) to prevent protein coagulation.

Helpful Ultrasonic Cleaning and Solutions Resources

• Ultrasonic Cleaning 101
• What Does Ultrasonic Mean?
• Advantages of Ultrasonic Cleaning
• How To Choose the Correct Ultrasonic Cleaning Solution?
• The Importance of Choosing the Right Ultrasonic Soap for Cleaning
• How an Ultrasonic Cleaner Works – Part 1
• How an Ultrasonic Cleaner Works – part 2 – Chemistries
• How an Ultrasonic Cleaner Works – part 3 – Temperature
• How an Ultrasonic Cleaner Works – part 4 – Frequencies
• How an Ultrasonic Cleaner Works – part 5 – Bubble Size
• How Do Industrial Washers Work?
• Ultrasonic Tabletops – Powerful, Convenient Parts Cleaning
• … and many more found on the blog!

Contact our Team of Ultrasonic Cleaning Experts

Trying to find the best ultrasonic cleaning solution for your application or have other questions regarding ultrasonic cleaning? Contact our experts at Omegasonics by calling 888-989-5560, emailing us at Omegasonics@Omegasonics.com, or by filling out our online contact form.

Over time, your ultrasonic cleaner solution can have a build up small gas bubbles in the liquid. These bubbles can cause problems with the operation of your ultrasonic cleaner.

Bubbles and Dissolved Gasses Make for Unwanted Partners

Ultrasonic cleaners work by creating waves in the tank. Think about a surface wave on a calm body of water; the high part of the wave inside the tank is a region of increased pressure.

The trough of the wave is a low pressure area. These low pressure areas will allow bubbles to form. When your ultrasonic cleaner solution has dissolved gasses in them, they will make their way into these low pressure areas.

Dissolved gasses in the low pressure areas will combine with the bubbles that are already there and make them increase in size. The larger bubbles will in turn start to absorb the smaller bubbles. This increases their surface area, creating larger air pockets in the solution.

Bubbles Act like Cushions

The way an ultrasonic cleaner works is by using very small bubbles to create a vibrating action to clean your item. If the large bubbles created from the dissolved gasses are allowed to form, they will create a barrier between the part you wish to be cleaned and vibrating bubbles.

This means that your cleaner will not be nearly as effective as it should be when operating at a particular temperature and frequency.

Degassing

Along with the need to degas to increase cleaning effectiveness, you might also want to consider degassing in a few other cases:

• If you are measuring the size of cleaned off particulates, dissolved gasses can cause measurement errors
• Degassing lubricants can increase their effectiveness and reduce pump wear

How to Degas Your Ultrasonic Cleaner Solution

In order to degas your solution you will need the aid of a chemical additive. Degassing chemicals, called cleaning chemistry, will be added to the solution after you raise the temperature of the solution.

Degassing techniques work much better with your solution at a higher temperature. Remember to keep the temperature below the boiling point, as this will just add more gas to your solution.

Once you have raised the temperature, add your cleaning chemistry and begin to operate your ultrasonic cleaner. You will want to operate the cleaner for about 10 to 30 minutes. The time is mostly dependent on the size of your tank, as well as the amount of ultrasonic cleaner solution you are attempting to degas.

Some tips to remember when degassing:

• Lower amplitudes work better for degassing
• A slight vacuum above the tank can assist in releasing gasses
• Avoid generating turbulence in the tank

Degassing can be an important step in not only keeping your cleaner running at top efficiency, but making sure you limit wear and tear on the unit. Omegasonics offers a wide range of cleaning products and ultrasonic cleaning devices. Contact us today!