Preventing Pinholes in an Ultrasonic Cleaning Tank

Preventing Pinholes in an Ultrasonic Cleaning Tank

The use of ultrasonic cleaners for use in industrial units, medical and dental clinics; and for domestic cleaning jobs, has proliferated for three main reasons. 1) They are economical to purchase and operate; 2) they don't have moving parts like gears and ball bearings that require frequent lubrication or other forms of servicing and 3) they are sturdy workhorses that require very little maintenance.

That said, even the strongest equipment will become less productive if it is handled roughly or carelessly. Consider the stainless steel tank into which the cleaning solution is poured. Normally, one thinks of stainless steel as a maintenance-free material; and while it is rust-proof under normal conditions, improper use can cause pinholes, dents and abrasions on the tank walls and bottom. These are the starting points for corrosion.

Pinholes and dents are most commonly caused by accidently dropping sharp objects generally the parts to be cleaned on to the tank bottom. Apart from the potential for future corrosion, this can actually cause the ultrasonic cleaner to malfunction. Remember that the tank bottom of an ultrasonic cleaner has the piezoelectric transducer glued to it; and it is the transducer that generates the ultrasonic waves that cause cavitation in the cleaning solution. In other words, it is the heat of the ultrasonic process.

Apart from accidental dropping, you should definitely avoid placing the parts to be cleaned directly on the tank bottom. This way, you not only prevent any physical damage to the transducer, you can ensure that the parts do not reflect the ultrasonic energy back into the transducer, thereby causing the ultrasonic process to be disrupted. The objects to be cleaned should be kept at least one inch from the tank bottom; and the best way to achieve this is to place them in a tray suspended from the tank wall. An open mesh basket is your best bet, since this will allow free access of the ultrasonic waves to the parts and ensure effective cavitation. The Elmasonic range of ultrasonic cleaners has plastic-coated handles for suspending the basket or tray. This ensures that no abrasion takes place on the tank walls even after repeated use.

Some ultrasonic cleaning applications require the use of strong acids, like hydrofluoric or hydrochloric, in the cleaning solution. Not surprisingly, these have the potential of corroding the inner surfaces of the cleaning tank. Pinholes are the most apparent manifestation of this damage. If the use of acidic cleaning solutions is unavoidable, it is recommended that it be contained in a separate acid-resistant vessel which is then immersed into a solution of water, to which an interlacing agent has been added. This will provide adequate protection to the stainless steel tank. Some manufacturers, like Elma, provide an auxiliary acid-resistant container as a standard, optional accessory.

With adequate precautions, the stainless steel tank can last almost indefinitely. Always bear in mind that manufacturers will not honor the standard warranty if they can establish that damage is the result of improper handling.

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