Cleaning Up Stainless Steel Parts

ChemPolish™ DD For Particulate Removal from 300 Series Stainless Steel

ChemPolish™ was initially developed more than 20 years ago as a final polish for stainless steel sputtering chambers for the semiconductor industry. It has more recently been found to work extremely well at removing particulate from stainless steel used in the disc drive industry.

The particulate count on parts treated in the ChemPolish™ process are significantly lower than parts that have been either simply cleaned, or cleaned and passivated in Nitric Acid. ChemPolish™ has been shown to remove particulate matter normally exposed by cleaning or passivating because ChemPolish™ specifically attacks and removes protuberant particulates. ChemPolish™ removes particulates especially those with jagged or pointed surfaces from the stainless steel leaving behind a smooth shinny surface free of matter which could interfere with the mechanical operation of disk drives.

The ChemPolish™ process is very rapid, when compared to current cleaning methodology and usually requires only a ten minute clean cycle followed by a one minute immersion for final polish, thus allowing much shorter/smaller process lines.

The ChemPolish™ process leaves a brilliant finish, which can approach mirror-like qualities. This finish appearance can be easily utilized to determine if a part has passed through the ChemPolish™ process.

ChemPolish™ Process Line

Process Line	Concentration & Temperature	Time	Heater Equipment	Process Equipment	Exhaust Required
1. Alkaline Clean MicroClean TC™ (RDZ-1680)	60-90 grams/liter 150°-180° F (65°-80° C)	5+ Minutes	SS - OK Teflon - ?? Titanium - OK Quartz - OK	SS - OK PVC - NO PolyPro - OK	No
2. Rinse, tap water, cascade preferred, can usuallly be sent to drain with only pH adjustment.
3. ChemPolish™ (RD-05)	100% by volume 175° ± 5° F (80° ± 2° C)	1-3 Minutes	Teflon - NO Titanium - OK SS - NO Quartz - OK	PVC – NO PolyEth - NO PolyPro - OK SS - NO	Yes
4. Rinse, deionized water, cascade. (May need to be treated for Nickel & Chromium removal)
5. Dry.

Related Products

• ChemPolish™ (RD-05)
• MicroClean™ TC RDZ-1680

Cleaning Up Die Cast Aluminum Housing

The Al-Brite™ Process for Desmut/Deoxidize of Aluminum Castings

The Al-Brite™ process was developed to de-smut and deoxidize aluminum castings completely, easily, and controllably. The Al-Brite™ process has revolutionized production and finishing of aluminum castings that must be oxide and particle-free for their end applications. Al-Brite™ process eliminates oxide and cleans parts to achieve previously unobtainable low particulate levels.

Besides being effective and complete, the Al-Brite™ process stands out as being controllable and predictable. Process windows can easily be achieved and controlled. The Al-Brite™ process controls allow chemical usage until the bath has become excessively diluted and to bed out. Periodic additions of chemicals extend bath life, a key to reliable, cost effective and quality finishing.

The Al-Brite™ process has shown that it can make several standard process steps obsolete. It can in many cases make pre-etching and subsequent conversion coatings completely unnecessary, thus lowering production costs, while assuring consistent high quality finishes..

The Al-Brite™ process is a simple process that improves bath life and ease of operation. Long bath life minimizes waste treatment issues, which in-turn lowers the overall cost of ownership.

The Al-Brite™ process has improved yields and decreased costs in virtually all aluminum casting cleaning applications.

Recommended Al-Brite Process for Base Castings

Aluminum Prep (RD-20)@60gpl
@60° C
3 Minutes

Rinse Unheated for 45 Seconds

Rinse Unheated for 45 Seconds

Air Knife or Hold for Drain

 

Al-Brite B
(RD-22)This step optional for cost savings
@100%
@25° C
30 Seconds

Hold for Drain

Al-Brite A/B
(RD-21/RD-22)@25° C
3 Minutes
Heavy Agitation

Rinse Unheated Deionized for 20-30 Seconds. Agitation?

 

Rinse Unheated Deionized for 30-60 Seconds.

Dry Unheated Air Knife?

E-Coat

 

The Al-Brite™Process

Related Products

• Aluminum Prep (RD-20)
• Al-Brite A/B (RD-21/RD-22)