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51346-007 GB/2020-08
1
electronic GmbH & Co. KG • Heinrichstraße 3-4 • 12207 Berlin • Deutschland • [email protected]
Checking the ultrasound e
ff
ect
For testing purposes, it is recommended that a foil test be conducted (twice a year).
To conducted the test, commercially-available aluminium foil, scissors, a waterproof pencil,
and a beaker holder together with inset beakers are required. Next, a comparison is made
with previously-generated foils.
IMPORTANT
The foil test must be conducted in inset beakers since aluminium foil remains may clog the
cooling circuit. Therefore, it also important to ensure during the test that no aluminium foil
ends up in the oscillating tank.
Foil test
A foil test
2
is recommended for testing ultrasonic baths. It is to be conducted upon initial
startup, and at regular intervals thereafter (e.g. every 3 months). The frequency of testing is
the responsibility of the user.
The foil test is a simple procedure to demonstrate the intensity and distribution of cavitation
in an ultrasonic bath. To do so, aluminium foil is stretched over a foil test frame. It is
perforated or destroyed to a certain degree by cavitation, depending on the duration.
For purposes of reproducibility, it is important that the test conditions remain constant:
• level of liquid in the oscillating tank (2/3) and in the sample vessel
•
temperature of the tank contents
• degassing time, if applicable (degassing for 10 mins. before the test)
• foil properties (thickness, surface)
• foil
positioning
• sonication
time
• concentration and type of ultrasound preparation
Foils can be archived in a suitable way (scanning, photos, etc.) This allows the foils to be
compared at any time. The perforated areas of all foils should have approx. the same
dimensions and distribution – the results are never identical.
A process validation, e.g. for the treatment of medical products, can only be achieved by
conducting regular foil tests. Film: http://bandelin.com/folientest/.
Fluid for the foil test
In order to obtain an adequately strong cavitation e
ff
ect, the surface tension of the water
used must also be reduced for the foil test with the help of surfactant preparations(in
the ultrasonic bath and in the inset beakers). We recommend the following ultrasound
preparations:
STAMMOPUR DR 8, STAMMOPUR R, TICKOMED 1, TICKOPUR TR 3, TICKOPUR R 30,
TICKOPUR TR 7
If none of these preparations is available, a neutral or mildly alkaline preparation that
does not destroy aluminium may be used. The preparation must be approved by the
manufacturer for use in ultrasonic baths.
2 Investigations on test procedures for ultrasonic cleaners. IEC/TR 60886 (1987-03)