Choosing a Metal Parts Cleaning Method: What You Need to Know

Today, most metal fabricators and machine shops typically have two parts cleaning options. Aqueous water-based cleaning, or solvent-based cleaning inside a vapor degreaser. Both methods can provide quality cleaning results. However, each has its distinct drawbacks and advantages.

Aqueous or water cleaning

Aqueous cleaning is a process which uses water and chemical additives to get parts clean. The water is treated with a variety of chemicals. These include detergents or surfactants, builders and  emulsifiers. Also saponifers, sequestering agents, chelating agents, and a variety of other compounds to boost the cleaning performance.  Using a three-step process, parts are washed in a series of machines. Then followed by a secondary rinse step to carry away any detergent residue. Then a third step dries the parts using hot air knives or isopropyl alcohol.  Aqueous cleaning works with a combination of detergents, high heat and agitation, also known as ultrasonics, to break down soils and remove them from the parts surfaces.

Depending on the reactive additives incorporated into the water, the cleaning agent can be very mild or very strong and can range from nontoxic to dangerous.  Some of the additives can be very aggressive on different metals, plastics, or inks. So, test all parts materials for compatibility prior to cleaning. In addition, the parts should be tested post-cleaning to assure no reactive material is left behind from the rinse process. After cleaning, the waste water is filtered, distilled, deionized, and osmosis prepped for disposal.

Aqueous cleaning works well and is particularly useful when combining the cleaning process with other procedures like depositing rust-preventers and brightener coatings.

Solvent-based cleaning

Solvent-based cleaning cleans, rinses and dries parts in just one step inside a single machine. Parts are placed inside a vapor degreasing machine filled with a solvent-based cleaning fluid.  Most solvent-based cleaning fluids are a mixture of compounds that can include hydrocarbons like mineral spirits, isopropanol and ethanol.  The compound combination, determines the cleaning fluid’s effectiveness and its material compatibility.  The vapor degreaser uses just one type of cleaning fluid or is a mix, blend or custom formula to remove a specific soil from a specific substrate, maximizing cleaning effectiveness.

Parts are immersed in the continuously filtered and distilled cleaning fluid to dissolve the soils from the parts surface. In some instances, ultrasonic agitation adds more cleaning muscle.  Additional detergents or additives are not needed to dissolve the soils. As the parts come out of the cleaning fluid, they undergo a brief vapor rinse and drying process. The cleaning fluid condenses and drips back into the vapor degreaser for reuse. The vapor degreaser reuses and recycles the cleaning fluid for hundreds of times before it needs to be refreshed or replaced. This helps reduce the cost hazardous waste removal. The parts come out clean, rinsed, dried and ready for the next stage of production.

Since the cleaning, rinsing and drying are done in one machine, the vapor degreaser cleans a high volume of parts quickly (about 6-20 minutes). Plus, the cleaning fluid boils at a lower temperature with less heat than the water in an aqueous system. This translates to greater safety for sensitive parts. The parts also require less drying time which means less energy usage.  Solvent-based cleaning also leaves no residue and dries without stains or spots.

Vapor Degreasing Fluids

Some of the more popular cleaning fluids used in metal fabricating and machine shops include n-propyl Bromide (nPB), Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Perchloroethylene (Perc). However, many companies are moving away from these older solvents to improved, updated cleaning fluids. The new fluids clean just as effectively, but without the worker safety or air quality concerns of the older solvents. There are a number of good sustainable, low GWP (global warming potential) and low ODP (ozone depleting potential) alternatives on the market today.

Which one is best for you?

To determine if aqueous or solvent-based cleaning is better for your particular cleaning task, it is important to not make the decision based on cost alone. You should look at the entire cleaning task and consider all the factors. There are many things to consider, however three main points stand out. The contamination on the parts, the shape of the parts cleaned and the throughput requirements. All three must work together to deliver the best possible cleaning results.

What is the contaminant?

There is an old saying in the industry about parts cleaning: “like dissolves like”.  So, the best way to remove contamination is to use a cleaning fluid that is chemically similar to the contaminant itself. Contaminants are polar (inorganic), non-polar (organic) or particulate.

Polar or inorganic contaminants

Inorganic contaminants are soluble in water. In machining, polar soils include salts, soaps, emulsion residue, graphite, and anti-wear and extreme pressure additives. They also include oxidation like rust and tarnish, heat scale, smuts, carbonaceous, and metallic compounds. Aqueous cleaners are good at removing these contaminants since the water-based detergents and surfactants emulsify and encapsulate contaminants so they can be washed away.

Non-polar or organic soils

Organic soils are solvent soluble. Therefore, using a solvent- based cleaning fluid is the best choice. Typical non-polar or organic contaminants include halogenated, oxygenated and hydrocarbon soils like machining and stamping oils, thick grease, wax, baked-on resins, corrosion protection agents and esters. They also include things like drawing compounds, spinning lubricants, buffing compounds and fingerprints. Solvent-based cleaning is ideal for these types of soils since the solvent dissolves the contaminants and washes them away.

Particulate Contaminants

Particulate includes insoluble contaminants like metal chips, shavings, dust, dirt, soot, surfactants, stearates, fibers, polishing pastes and any other contaminant that will not dissolve in water or solvent-based cleaning fluids. Instead of solubilizing or dissolving, the particulate displaces or lifts off the components and then washed away. The cleaning fluid gets under the particulate, dissipates the static holding it to the part and floats it off the surface. Displacement cleaning is used in both aqueous and solvent-based cleaning methods.

What is the parts shape?

Parts geometry dictates which cleaning method to use.  For example, if a company is cleaning miniature, intricate steel parts with tiny blind holes that are subject to corrosion, then aqueous cleaning might not be the best option. It could be difficult to not only remove the contaminant out of the tight spaces, but the water may also get trapped inside the parts. Even with adding heat and extensive drying, there is a real risk of water getting trapped and causing corrosion. Therefore, in this particular instance, solvent-based cleaning is a better option.

Solvent-based cleaning fluids have a lower surface tension and are less viscous than water. This means the liquid solvent and the solvent vapors more readily get into, and even more importantly, out of blind holes and any gaps between stacked parts. Solvents are better at wetting part surfaces and evaporating out of tight spaces.

On the other hand, a company might have very simple parts that needs to have heat scale removed. Perhaps the parts are made from aluminum where rusting is not a concern. At that point, aqueous cleaning may be a better choice to remove the heat scale. Aqueous cleaning may also be more appealing if the company already has an aqueous system in their shop and an already established waste water handling process. At that point it might be easier and more cost effective to use the existing equipment instead of investing in vapor degreasing equipment and solvent-based cleaning fluids.

What are the throughput requirements?

Throughput requirements is the third consideration when determining which cleaning method to use. Aqueous systems typically have longer cleaning cycles due to the need for several washing, rinsing and drying stations. In addition, they may require mechanical spraying and washing systems and higher working temperatures to get the parts to the required cleanliness standard. This all take additional time and impacts throughput rate. Plus, aqueous systems require the input of chemists and engineers to ensure they are within operating parameters, including pre-wash conditioning and post-wash water treatment.

In contrast, vapor degreasing is performed quickly and cleans consistently down to the submicron range. It does require filter replacements and the cleaning fluid needs to be periodically boiled down and removed. However, the new next-generation fluids no longer require acceptance testing or scavengers to prevent them from going acid, eliminating the time needed for maintenance.

Environmental Impact

With any cleaning method, the goal is to produce clean parts at the lowest possible cost to maintain profitability and overall business success. However, sustainability should also play a role. The cleaning method must be non-nontoxic and as safe for workers as possible. Whether aqueous or solvent-based, either cleaning method impacts the environment and you cannot avoid it by switching from one cleaning method to the other.  The goal is to minimize water pollution, control emissions and limit waste disposal. Therefore, when choosing which cleaning method to use, it is recommended that you work with a precision cleaning expert that specializes in both aqueous and vapor degreaser solvent cleaning. They can help assess your particular cleaning project and recommend the fluids and process that will work best.