Cleaning of steel rods in a cleanroom
Cleaning of steel rods in a cleanroom
(OP)
I am working on a project looking at improving a cleaning process for stainless steel rods being used in a cleanroom process.
Currently, the rods are used to support a PVC catheter that is dipped inside a cleanroom. The process leaves a solvent residue on the rods that must be cleaned off before they can be re-used.
At the moment, the rods are taken out of the cleanroom, cleaned with detergent in a hot water bath then dried and brought back in.
However, we would prefer to have a cleaning process which could be used in the cleanroom without the need to remove the rods.
Approximately 200 rods are cleaned at any one time, approx. 400mm in length x 2mm in diameter.
Any suggestions would be welcome. A quicker, non-immersion technique would be preferred.
Currently, the rods are used to support a PVC catheter that is dipped inside a cleanroom. The process leaves a solvent residue on the rods that must be cleaned off before they can be re-used.
At the moment, the rods are taken out of the cleanroom, cleaned with detergent in a hot water bath then dried and brought back in.
However, we would prefer to have a cleaning process which could be used in the cleanroom without the need to remove the rods.
Approximately 200 rods are cleaned at any one time, approx. 400mm in length x 2mm in diameter.
Any suggestions would be welcome. A quicker, non-immersion technique would be preferred.





RE: Cleaning of steel rods in a cleanroom
What are your concerns about immersion?
RE: Cleaning of steel rods in a cleanroom
RE: Cleaning of steel rods in a cleanroom
At the moment, we are washing the rods in warm water with a detergent then rinsing.
Has anyone had experience of using a water bath in a cleanroom? Ultrasonic cleaning might be another option.
RE: Cleaning of steel rods in a cleanroom
Perhaps you need to expand and clarify what your concerns are.
TTFN
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RE: Cleaning of steel rods in a cleanroom
Depending on how the residue behaves with pure water you may have a once through or a two step cleaning process. Another approach is to add a cleaner like DeContam to the Immersion or Ultrasonic Bath.
Though not normally used for clean room applications you may want to look at the Vapor Degreasing Solvent, Vertrel, and Bromothane for solvent cleaning.
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http://bromothane.com/Bromo_Products.html
RE: Cleaning of steel rods in a cleanroom
> Triton X-100 surfactant
> Acids galore, HF, HCL, HNO3, etc.
> Solvents galore, acetone, methanol, MEK, TCE, etc.
Reagent grade chemicals are compatible with those levels of cleanliness, and the rest is instantiated within a cleanhood.
TTFN
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