Property of Ultrasonic Power Corporation -
© 2017
Publication #170119-jsw
18
The following should be considered the main components of aqueous ultrasonic cleaning
chemistry:
A. Water - hard, soft, DI or distilled
B. pH
C. Surfactants
Wetting agents
Dispersants
Emulsifiers
Saponifiers
D. Optional ingredients
Sequestrants
Inhibitors
Buffering agents
Defoamers
T
HE CHEMICAL FORMULATION MUST CONSIDER ALL OF THE ABOVE CHARACTERISTICS
.
Some chemicals that are designed for spray cleaning, or that include rust inhibitors, are not
suitable for ultrasonic cleaning.
PROXIMITY
TO
THE
TRANSDUCER:
The procedure for ultrasonic cleaning is generally as follows: Put parts in basket and place
basket through three or four process steps; ultrasonic wash, spray rinse (optional), immersion
rinse, dry. Some parts loaded in baskets can mask or shadow from the radiated surface of the
ultrasonic transducers. Most ultrasonic cleaning systems are designed for specific applications.
Bottom mounted transducers or side mounted transducers are decided upon during the process
design stage. Automated systems must specifically address the location of the transducers to
insure uniformity of the cleaning. Some parts require individual placements to separate the part
for cleaning or subsequent processes. Some parts require slow rotating or vertical motion during
the cleaning to insure critical cleanliness.
