Q.  "Will ultrasonic cleaning remove the contaminants on my parts?"

A.  The answer to this question relies almost entirely on the bond strength between the part, and the contaminant.  If the contaminant has no physical or chemical bond to the surface, then ultrasonic cleaners will capable of removing it.  However, if the contaminant has a strong bond to the part, such as that found with burned carbons, then a detergent must be selected which will have the ability to loosen the bond to a degree where the ultrasonic cleaner can easily remove it.  This is why the use of proper cleaning fluids is so important in the ultrasonic cleaner.

Q.  "Which ultrasonic frequency would be most appropriate for my application?"

A.  This depends upon many factors, including part size, contaminant, material of construction of the part, and others.  Traditionally, the heavier the part, the lower the ultrasonic frequency in use.  The more detailed the part, the higher the frequency which should be used.  This is one of the advantages of our CROSSFIRE ultrasonic cleaner, which includes more than 1 frequency in the same tank.  CROSSFIRE allows us to provide scrubbing power, without sacrificing penetration and detailed scrubbing action.

Q.  "Do parts need to be rinsed after ultrasonic cleaning?"

A.  Yes.  Since detergents are used in the ultrasonic cleaning bath, these detergents must be removed before it dries onto the surface of the parts, leaving a residue of detergent behind.  For some rare applications, such as the automotive industry, this is acceptable.  However, the majority of Zenith customers would find detergent residues unacceptable.  Also, if parts are rinsed in tap water, water spots from the minerals in the water will be present after drying.  If this spotting is unacceptable, then rinsing in deionized water will be required.

Q.  "How many tanks or process steps will my application require?"

A.  The number of process steps required will always be the same; ultrasonic cleaning, rinsing, and drying.  If you already have rinsing and drying means, then only a single ultrasonic cleaning tank, such as our table-top systems or single-tank consoles, would be required.  If you do not have rinsing and drying means, then a multi-stage cleaning system which includes multiple processing tanks would be required.  Zenith offers industrial-grade 3-tank systems, precision-grade 4-tank systems, and ultra-clean grade 5 and 6 tank systems.  If greater than 6 tanks is required, Zenith can custom-manufacture a system with any number of processing tanks.

Q.  "Will ultrasonic cleaning damage my parts?"

A.  Certain softer metals can be damaged by ultrasonic cleaners.  For example, highly-polished aluminum will be visibly damaged after only a few minutes in an ultrasonic cleaner, and items as hard as glass can also be damaged after extended ultrasonic exposure.  However, there are processing techniques, such as continuous or intermittent oscillation, which can completely prevent such damage from occurring.  This is why Zenith recommends that such parts be test cleaned prior to purchasing a system.  Test cleaning will give Zenith the information it needs to develop a complete process that will prevent damage to the parts, while simultaneously getting the part as clean as required.  Additional information can be found on our ultrasonic damage web page.

Q.  "How do I dispose of the waste fluids generated by the ultrasonic cleaner?"

A.  In the case of a smaller manufacturer, the cleaning fluids can be collected and disposed of as oily detergent waste.  However, many Zenith customers are successfully using Wastewater Evaporators to eliminate the waste which is generated by the ultrasonic cleaner.  Since ultrasonic cleaning fluid is typically 95% water, this portion of the waste is evaporated.  The 5% balance of the waste collects as a sludge in a collection tank which is later disposed of by traditional means.  Zenith can supply wastewater evaporators to drastically reduce the amount of waste material which requires disposal.

Q.  "Can Zenith provide demonstration equipment to allow me to do my own testing?"

A.  In some cases, this is possible, but it is NOT recommended.  Ultrasonic testing is not something that can be adequately performed by most Zenith customers.  In most cases, our customers only have 1 or 2 cleaning fluids to test with, compared to Zenith's 85+ cleaning agents.  Also, the customer will only have 1 ultrasonic frequency and power combination to test with, rather than the unlimited test capabilities at the Zenith facility.  As a result, Zenith recommends that parts be submitted for testing at the Zenith facility to obtain the most accurate result possible.  Additional information regarding ultrasonic test cleaning can be found on the ultrasonic testing web page.

Zenith Mfg. & Chemical Corp.
85 Oak St.
Norwood, NJ  07648-0412
800-432-SONIC (7664)
201-768-6999
sales@zenith-ultrasonics.com

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