How to Ask About Precision Cleaning: Various Methods and Their Applications

How to Ask About Precision Cleaning: Various Methods and Their Applications

More than a simple dusting or the occasional wiping down of vital equipment, precision cleaning is extensive cleaning. Not extensive in the fretty or overbearing way, but extensive in a necessary way. Precision cleaning is more than just a touch-up on appearance, as it can improve human health, machine health, and productivity.

But, any knowledgeable precision cleaning company will be well versed in what procedures they offer. With so many options, it could make for an overwhelming experience -- especially for newcomers. Asking for the perfect method can be a challenge, but we’re here to help. We’ll keep it simple, and you’ll have a more comprehensive idea of precision cleaning.

Various Precision Cleaning Methods

Though no two precision cleaning companies are fully alike, the biggest ones will offer the same services. These include (but are not limited to):

● Mechanical Cleaning/Descaling

● Passivation

● Degreasing

● Ultrasonic Cleaning

We'll examine how the procedure works and why it may be necessary for your machines for each method.

Mechanical Cleaning/Descaling

Scaling refers to the build-up of mineral deposits within equipment; they are formed when water and equipment's internal components interact. Mechanical cleaning, or "descaling", is the process of removing the excess mineral deposits contained within.

The first step of descaling is to loosen the mineral deposits. A service will perform:

● Brushing

● Shot preening

● Grit blasting

● Tumbling

● Grinding

Once the mineral deposits become loose, valves and other components will need to be cleaned of loose dirt, debris, and scales. This is achieved by using several methods:

● Vacuum cleaning

● Brushing

● Air Blowing

● Flushing with solvent or clean water

The Purpose of Descaling

The scales that build up within equipment can cause numerous problems. Equipment health, human health, and heating safety are jeopardized when scales are present. The longer they continue to build up, the more potent their effects will be.

● Equipment health - Scale build-up will clog filters, pipes, and valves. When these components are clogged, they will not perform effectively while constantly working in overdrive for minimal results.

● Human health - Equipment used in colder environments or serves the purpose of cooling is susceptible to hosting Legionella bacteria -- culprit to a common type of pneumonia. When scales, dirt, and slime are present in air filters and valves, Legionella breed even faster.

● Heating safety - While metal equipment is conductive of electricity, scales formed from magnesium and calcium create insulation. These scales will make equipment more susceptible to overheating and can be especially dangerous for boilers and pipework.

Passivation

Without all the chemistry jargon, passivation is a treatment for stainless steel equipment; it involves the removal of external contaminants by using a chemical solution. These contaminants exist in the form of free irons that form rust when exposed to oxygen and rainfall.

To remove free irons before rust settles in or remove rust in general, an acidic solution is applied to the surface or flushed through filters and valves for internal precision cleaning. Solutions such as nitric acid will be used to clean equipment without affecting the components themselves in any harmful manner.

The solution is used on the surface of the equipment and can be flushed through valves and filters. Checking valves and filters beforehand could give you a better idea of what you need for your cleaning.

The Purpose of Passivating

Passivating removes rust and the potential for rust, which can be detrimental to machine health. By regularly passivating, machines will be less susceptible to rust. This promotes equipment durability, safety, and conductivity.

● Equipment durability - Rust weakens the typically sturdy metal structure by replacing it with a brittle powder substance. As a result, equipment becomes dented more easily and will need to be replaced more often.

● Safety - While rust does not cause biological concerns, for the most part, it can become a safety concern. Like bridges and roads that collapse because of unchecked rusting, the equipment can be ravaged by rust. Because equipment structure is altered and damaged, the equipment may fail to function properly, causing harm.

● Conductivity - Similar to scaling, rust makes conductive material more inductive. This will push equipment to push harder for the same results and increases the likeliness to overheat.

Degreasing

Degreasing is a process that utilizes low concentrations of alkaline cleaners to remove lubricants and oils. While it possesses certain uses on its own, it is often used to increase the effect of passivation.

The Purpose of Degreasing

Whether the grease is naturally occurring or something that your machine requires, degreasing on a routine interval may be beneficial. Degreasing promotes accuracy, compatibility and improves passivation.

● Accuracy - Layers of oil and lubricant may interfere with an equipment's ability to read intricate data. Routinely scheduled meter and gauge cleanings will remove grease and make them more accurate.

● Compatibility - When equipment is greasy, certain materials will not be compatible with one another. These material incompatibles will cause malfunction or stop equipment from functioning altogether.

● Improving passivation - When lubricants and oils are removed, the acid solution used in passivation will directly contact the metal surface. Without the grease to act as a barrier, passivation will be more thorough and form a protective film around the surface. This protective film has anti-erosion properties.

Ultrasonic Cleaning

Ultrasonic cleaning utilizes high frequencies (20-40 kHz) that form cavitation bubbles that move the cleaning solution to every nook and cranny of the equipment. The ultrasonic frequency pressure then causes the solution to bubble rapidly at these sites, dislodging contaminants like dust, dirt, and grime.

The Purpose of Ultrasonic Cleaning

As machine parts become more compact, intricate, and delicate, abrasive precision cleaning methods can ruin machinery completely. But, ultrasonic cleaning is gentle, effective, and versatile. Utilizing high frequencies in precision cleaning ensures that our components remain safe, promotes human health, and ensures flexible cleaning.

● Component safety - With frequency waves and a mild solution, even the most intricate parts will be safe. That’s because there are no demanding steps like scrubbing, pressure spraying, or flooding. Gauge and transducer cleaning can be done effectively despite their delicateness and size.

● Human health - Not only are contaminants removed by this process but so are mold and bacteria.

● Flexibility - Even the smallest of equipment can be cleaned with this process. The high frequencies allow the solution to penetrate and enter crevices, cracks, and tight spaces that other procedures cannot manage.

Precision Fabricating & Cleaning provides precision cleaning services to the following specifications:

0-73579, 1P00070, 1P00071, 24555-GEN-0001, 24555-SPEC-0003, 5-75014, 5-75059, 5-75192, ARP1176, ARP598, ARP599, AS4059, AS598, ASTM D1193, ASTM F312, ASTM F331, ASTM G93, CGA 4.1, IEST-STD-CC1246, ISO 14644 .ISO 14952, JSC-SPEC-C-20C, KSC-C-123 ,MA0110-301, MA0110-301, MAP211025 VC, MIL-PRF-27401, MIL-SPEC-164D, MIL-STD-1246, MIL-STD-1246, MSFC-SPEC-164, NAVY OXYGEN CLEANER NOC, PWA 80-81, RA0110-018, RA0110-046, RA0110-047, RA0110-24, RA1110-022, RA1110-025, RA1610-065, RA1610-075, RA321270, RAPWA80, RAPWASP80, RPTSTD-8070-0001, SAE ARP 598, SAE ARP1176, SN-C-0005, STP0565, STP0637 ,STP1012, RL10012, D-0656395 ,MC072214, B185020, STP 50408, MP 50063, AS 611

Let Precision Fabrication & Cleaning help you with our top-notch precision cleaning services. Click HERE to start a conversation with PFC.

References:

Top 10 Benefits of Using Ultrasonic Cleaners, Part 1

Precision Cleaning: What Exactly Does This Mean?

Why Do We Need To Descale: 5 Important Reasons

Passivation and it's benefits

About PFC: Precision Fabricating & Cleaning is an innovative, highly qualified company with unique capabilities to accomplish a wide range of industrial testing and Precision Cleaning services, specializing in Hydrostatic Testing, Oxygen Cleaning Service, Cryogenic & Cold Shock Testing, Mobile Field Cleaning, Passivating/Passivation, High Purity Cleaning, Ultrasonic Cleaning, and so much more.


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