Cleaning industrial parts and machinery can be a long, arduous, and intricate task. You can never really be confident that you have cleaned those parts and components thoroughly if you do it manually. If you are tasked with cleaning parts such as motor components, engines, filters, print rollers, inter-coolers, heat exchangers, circuit boards, tubes, turbines, dampers, aircraft components, and more, it can take up a lot of time and doesn't guarantee the most precise cleaning. But this is where ultrasonic cleaning solutions come in – and with ultrasonic cleaning, you can get to those nooks, crevices, and crannies with ease and with a delicate process as well. But if you are interested in taking advantage of ultrasonic cleaning, you may have some questions on how beneficial it is and how it works. Here, then, is your best guide to ultrasonic cleaning: how it works and a lot more.



How it works


The ultrasonic cleaning process works using high-frequency sound waves, and these waves are then transmitted within a liquid to clean and scrub the surfaces and inner workings of the parts or components submerged within the cleaning tank. However, the sound waves (around 40 kHz) can "agitate" the liquid comprised of water and a cleaning solvent, and this results in what is known as cavitation.


Cavitation occurs when sonic power or energy produces a cavity or void, and it forms a bubble in a solution of water and a cleaning solvent. The bubbles will then implode and create a significant force that is strong enough to dislodge most contaminants.



What you can expect with ultrasonic cleaning


Compared to other cleaning methods, ultrasonic cleaning is astounding because it doesn't involve using harsh chemicals and mainly relies on the process of cavitation itself. As a result, the cleaning method is ideal for various materials, such as glass, metal, rubber, hard plastic, and ceramics. In addition, it is a highly useful process and has proven effective for dealing with delicate or intricate objects with tiny or minute holes, recesses, crevices, and cracks.


As an industrial parts cleaning service from Sonic Solutions explains, ultrasonic cleaning can remove various contaminants, including but not limited to dust, oil, dirt, grease, grime, pigment, fingerprints, polishing compounds, and flux agents. The ultrasonic cleaning method has already been widely utilised in numerous industries. It includes the medical and dental, the aerospace industries, the automotive, and the electronics, weapons, and jewellery sectors. Some examples of items you can clean using ultrasonic cleaning include firearms, carburettors, industrial machinery components, electronic parts and equipment, and window blinds, amongst others.



More details on ultrasonic cleaning


The fluid or liquid you use for ultrasonic cleaning can be solvent- or water-based. Both solutions have surfactants or wetting agents that can decrease tension on the surface and enhance cavitation. A water-based cleaning solution is more environmentally-friendly than solvent-based cleaning, but cleaning with solvents is regarded as more effective.


The length of time it takes for the ultrasonic cleaning process will vary depending on the material, but on average, it can take anywhere from 3 minutes to 6. Delicate or fragile items like electronics may take longer. If there is more heat, the dirt can loosen faster, and the chemicals can bond more quickly, so many ultrasonic cleaners use heat in temperatures of 57 C to up to 65 C.


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