Vapor degreasing is a cleaning process used to remove contaminants such as grease, oil, wax, flux, and other organic residues from the surfaces of various objects, typically metal, plastic, or glass components. This method is commonly used in industrial and manufacturing settings to ensure that parts and components are free from these contaminants before further processing, assembly, or quality control checks.
The vapor degreasing process typically involves the following steps:
1. Cleaning Chamber: The object to be cleaned is placed in a sealed cleaning chamber.
2. Boiling Solvent: A solvent, often a chlorinated hydrocarbon like trichloroethylene or perchloroethylene, is heated to its boiling point in a separate sump or reservoir. The solvent should have a lower boiling point than water, allowing it to create vapor at a lower temperature.
3. Vaporization: The solvent vaporizes, creating a dense vapor cloud within the cleaning chamber.
4. Immersion and Agitation: The vaporized solvent condenses on the cooler surfaces of the object inside the chamber, including the contaminants. This condensation process allows the solvent to dissolve and remove the contaminants. The parts can also be agitated or moved to help ensure thorough cleaning.
5. Drain and Dry: After cleaning, the parts are typically drained to remove excess solvent, and any remaining solvent residue evaporates during the drying phase, leaving behind a clean surface.
Vapor degreasing is a highly effective and efficient cleaning method because the solvent can penetrate tight crevices and effectively dissolve a wide range of contaminants. However, it’s important to note that the use of certain chlorinated solvents in vapor degreasing has raised environmental and health concerns due to their potential for ozone layer depletion and other negative impacts. As a result, there has been a push to develop and adopt more environmentally friendly alternatives and safer practices in vapor degreasing processes.
