In the space exploration and hardware manufacturing industry, every component must be designed, manufactured, and tested to the highest standards, with no room for error.
When a leading space technology company approached our industrial parts cleaning advisors with a request to clean their 3D-printed titanium components, we had to provide a solution that would not only meet their needs but also exceed their expectations.
The company’s specifications required various components to be critically cleaned in order to meet the requirements of liquid oxygen (LOX) applications. The parts were contaminated with printing particulate and hydrocarbon oils from machining and needed to be cleaned to a level of purity that would ensure their safety and reliability in space.
To achieve this level of cleanliness, we designed an immersion wash and ultrasonic tank cleaning process using our AquaVantage® 815 GD aqueous chemistry. This powerful cleaning solution is specifically designed to remove particulate and contaminants from metal surfaces, while also being safe for use on titanium components.
With a concentration of 10% +/-, it was able to effectively dissolve the hydrocarbon oils and lift the printing particulate from the surface of the parts.
To ensure that the cleaning solution was effective, we set the temperature of the immersion washer and ultrasonic tank to 155-165°F (68-74°C). The parts were then immersed for 10-20 minutes, depending on the level of contamination and the type of component being cleaned.
After the cleaning process was complete, the parts were rinsed with deionized (DI) water at a temperature of 145-155°F (63-68°C) for 5-10 minutes. This helped to remove any residuals and ensure that the parts were free from contaminants.
The results of our cleaning process were a success. The 3D-printed titanium components were critically cleaned to the required level of purity and were ready to be used in LOX applications.
By using our AquaVantage® 815 GD chemistry with immersion and ultrasonic parts cleaning processes, we were able to provide a fast, efficient, and effective solution that met the stringent requirements of our space technology customer.