In Part I, we discussed “What is clean?” and the harmful effects of unclean. In Part II, we will describe a simple suggestion to determine cleanliness that does not require or demand (as in the case of cleanliness specifications dictated by some processes) expensive laboratory equipment, clean rooms, etc. Pay Attention to the Water Break Free Surface Generally, the first and simplest sign we look for in a “clean” surface is a “water break free” part emerging from the rinse steps after the soak and electrocleaner. A water break free surface should have a coating of water, adhering across the … [Read more...]

One of the most common phrases I hear from metal finishing managers when referring to their pretreatment cycle and working with them in choosing a cleaner for their process is, “We need the part to be clean.” But what is clean? How do you define clean? Can parts be too clean?  From parts washing between assembly steps at large automotive manufacturers, to clean assembly rooms, to parts involved in paint and plating pretreatment, the word “clean” takes on several definitions and concepts. In this two-part article we will describe: Our definition of "clean" to meet the gambit of finishing … [Read more...]