TABLE OF CONTENTS Most industrial cleaning processes use a combination of the operations listed below. The particular cleaning process chosen depends on the nature of the soil to be removed, how heavily the workpiece is soiled, how clean it must be after the operation, and the size, shape, and material of the workpiece. Cleaning operations are performed for aesthetic reasons but most importantly are done to prepare the surface for some coating or finishing operation or assembly. Most cleaning operations are followed by rinsing and drying, particularly if a liquid cleaning agent is used.
A fiber or wire brush, normally power driven in industrial applications, is moved against the surface of the workpiece, removing solid material such as rust, caked dirt and loose paint. The stiffness of the bristles depends on the bristle material and the bristle length and thickness. The brush configuration can be adapted to the strength and degree of adhesion of the soil. Brushing is usually only the first operation of a cleaning sequence.
Abrasive particles, at high velocity, are driven against the workpiece surface. The process is used to remove scale, rust, dry surface dirt and paint but is not effective in removing grease. Various abrasives can be used, from hard silicon carbide, aluminum oxide and steel shot, to softer materials such as plastic beads, corn cobs, nut shells and rice hulls. In addition to cleaning, abrasive blasting may be used for deburring, surface strength improvement or...
