Cleaning Aluminum Engine Parts in an Ultrasonic Cleaner

Aluminum engine parts may require routine cleaning or removal of contaminants before re-building. Because aluminum is softer than steel, scrubbing it or scraping it to remove contaminants may damage the surface of the part. While manual or mechanical scrubbing is the typical cleaning procedure for aluminum, soaking parts in strong solvents to soften hard deposits is another procedure.

Ultrasonic parts cleaners can clean and remove deposits faster and more thoroughly, efficiently, and safely than traditional cleaning methods. What's more, an ultrasonic cleaner delivers superior cleaning results and reduces costs.

Ultrasonic cleaners rely on the generation of microscopic cavitation bubbles in the cleaning solution. As the ultrasonic sound waves pass through the liquid, these bubbles form, and collapse, producing high-energy jets. The jets strike the surface of the aluminum and dislodge deposits and films.

Two of the significant advantages of using ultrasonic cleaners are complete one-step cleaning and a safer working environment. There is no need for manual or mechanical scrubbing or the use of harsh and toxic cleaning chemicals. Just place the parts to be cleaned in the cleaning solution inside the tank and let the ultrasonic system work without supervision. The tiny cavitation bubbles penetrate wherever cleaning solution is present and clean even inside dead-end holes, inside threads, in nozzles, and around intricate shapes. The result is completely cleaned surfaces.

The chosen frequency is also the key to proper cleaning of aluminum engine parts, which use different alloys, coatings, and metal treatments depending on the characteristics needed for the part. The resulting metal surfaces can vary in hardness, which can be damaged by the cleaning action that is too robust. Kaijo can recommend the correct frequency for cleaning aluminum engine parts with different characteristics. Low frequency ultrasonic settings that include the commonly used 40kHz frequency for industrial cleaning will erode aluminum parts. Kaijo assists customers in choosing the proper frequency to safely cleaning critical engine parts.

The size of cavitation bubbles generated by the ultrasonic system depends on the frequency. Low frequencies produce larger bubbles and jets with enough energy to damage soft and delicate surfaces. Higher frequencies, on the other hand, generate smaller bubbles with less jet energy. The lowest frequency delivers extremely powerful and robust cleaning action, which is ideal for cleaning hard surfaces and surfaces with heavy contamination. If the surface of the part to be cleaned is softer, a higher frequency has to be used to avoid pitting of the metal surface.

The complete article, "Cleaning Aluminum Engine Parts in an Ultrasonic Cleaner", provides more detail about how Kaijo's ultrasonic cleaners thoroughly clean aluminum engine parts. For a free consultation or quote contact Kaijo Shibuya at 408-675-5575 or email info@kaijo-shibuya.com.