Cleaning Prior to Painting

Cleaning/ degreasing application.

Parts cleaning using a dip tank parts washing system prior to paint.

Problem.

A highly alkaline, caustic cleaner was being used in a wash tank cleaning system to clean parts prior to paint. The customer a major furniture manufacturer complained that his parts were not getting thoroughly cleaned, causing problems in the subsequent painting operation. The alkaline cleaner he used was being neutralized by acidic cutting fluids. To overcome this neutralization, the customer had to maintain a concentration of alkaline cleaner at 50 percent. Heavy build up of soap scum regularly plugged up the wash tank filters.

BioChem solution.

The customer switched to Bio T 300B for cleaning metal parts. The parts are dipped into a 3700-gallon wash tank that contains 15 percent solution of Bio T 300B. Light cutting and stamping oils are removed from the parts. The process by which the parts are cleaned is as follows:

Parts are dipped in a 15 percent solution of Bio T 300B (85 percent water). Total immersion time is approximately seven minutes. The wash tank runs at room temperature and is recirculated through a series of three 25-micron polypropylene bag filters.
Parts are then taken from the wash tank into a deionized water jet spray rinse. When rinse water becomes milky white it is pumped directly back into the wash tank. Total rinse time is about five minutes.
From the first rinse tank, the parts are then taken into an electrodeposition paint tank. The parts are grounded and the paint tank is charged. Paint adheres to the wet parts via charge differential.
From the paint tank, the parts are taken into a second water rinse tank. This rinse tank removes any excess paint from the parts.
Finally, the parts are placed in a hot air oven for drying.

The advantages of switching to Bio T 300B are numerous. Some of the major benefits from switching to Bio T 300B are listed below.

• More effective cleaning system.
• Higher quality paint process.
• Reduced consumption of chemicals (15 percent compared to 50 percent concentration).
• Less maintenance required by production workers.