Over the years, it seems I have heard everything about ultrasonic cleaning. I don’t know where or how these rumors originated, but there is a great deal of misinformation on the web about ultrasonic cleaners and what they can and cannot do.
For example.
1. Aluminum cannot be put into an ultrasonic cleaner – Wrong. Almost any type of metal can be put into an ultrasonic cleaning system as long as the type of cleaning solution is correct. I’m not sure how this myth got started, but it’s not true. As long as the cleaner is compatible with aluminum, it can be cleaned safely and effectively, as can magnesium, titanium and brass.
2, the printed circuit board (PCB) into the ultrasonic cleaning machine will damage the solder joints – wrong. Many people mistakenly believe that ultrasonic cleaners work by shaking off the dirt on the parts. Obviously, this is simply not how they work. Ultrasonic cleaning systems remove contaminants from the surface of a part by creating tiny cavitation bubbles. Ultrasonic cleaning is actually a very effective method of cleaning PCB.
3, ultrasonic cleaning does not work is ineffective – again, this is wrong. When using the right chemicals (cleaning agents), cleaning cycle time and temperature, ultrasonic cleaning is very effective in removing contaminants. This perception may be caused by a consumer who starts trying to use the wrong chemicals to clean the wrong parts, or uses a device that doesn’t work for the item being cleaned anymore. In any case, this statement is incorrect, and hundreds of different businesses and industries prove my point to me every day.
4, the longer the ultrasonic cleaner runs, the cleaner the parts – this is actually correct, but only to a certain extent. If running the cleaner for 3 minutes can clean the parts, running for 5 minutes may make the parts cleaner. It is up to the user to define the level of cleanliness the part needs to achieve. It may be “clean enough” after only 3 minutes, or it may take a full 5 minutes to be considered acceptable. However, there is only a limited amount of dirt on any part, and once it’s gone, it’s gone. In this case, if after 15 minutes of ultrasonic cleaning 100% of the contaminants and debris are gone, and then run the washer for 5 minutes will not remove more dirt.
4, medical and dental tools are not sterile if they are only ultrasonically cleaned – wrong. Today, many dental offices, medical clinics and hospitals use ultrasonic cleaners only to clean and disinfect their tools and instruments. Using the right cleaning solution, ultrasonic cleaners can remove all bacteria, mold and protein contaminants that may be present on the tools.
5. Before putting parts into the ultrasonic cleaner, they must be wiped clean – error …… Well, a little. There is no need to remove any contaminants from the parts before starting the ultrasonic cleaning cycle, but wiping away excess oil, grease and dirt can effectively reduce buildup or residue in the tank and help speed up the cleaning process.
Ultrasonic cleaners are an extraordinary piece of cleaning equipment because they can handle an almost endless range of materials, remove a very wide range of contaminants, and can do so in minutes. For ultrasonic cleaning to be effective, the chemistry, temperature and cycle time must be correct; once the ideal combination is found, almost anything can be safely and thoroughly ultrasonically cleaned.
