Surface World April 2020 Surface World April 2020 | Page 40

WATER & EFFLUENT TREATMENT Geiss UK Ltd. is the UK's fastest growing industrial cleaning solvent supplier Titanium – traditionally associated with leading edge aerospace industries is now becoming a standard in many manufacturing applications. Alloyed with other metals the excellent corrosion resistance, unequalled strength- to- weight ratio and high malleability has elevated this most versatile of metals to applications including medical, petrochemical and automotive component manufacture. The big question remains – how do we clean it? Understandably aerospace remains the critical benchmark in high integrity surface cleanliness requirements. Typical methods of testing include Total Organic Compound (TOC) residue, surface energy (often measured in Dynes/Centimetre) and gravimetric analysis. The simplest and most readily available at modest cost is the use of test inks which has evolved from the traditional “water break” test but constitutes a rather more subjective method to accurately record and document ongoing results.       So, how do we clean it? The critical question has always been long term viability. Stress fractures and associated failures remain at the core of the approvals structure. With the demise of trichloroethylene, the solvents of choice are clear: Perchloroethylene is an obvious alternative and remains the solvent species of choice for many aerospace applications. Of course, products such as modified alcohols and A111 hydrocarbons will increasingly be considered but validation can take some time. Official accreditations are a critical factor in the approval hierarchy and the overriding demand is compliance with ASTM F945. Perchloroethylene by Richard Geiss GmbH holds such approvals and with the demise of brominated solvents the demand for highly stabilised chlorinated products is assured. Geiss UK Ltd. is the UK's fastest growing industrial cleaning solvent supplier and represents market leader Richard Geiss GmbH, Europe's leading provider of ultra-high purity and highly stabilised aerospace approved recycled solvents including perchloroethylene. 38 APRIL 2020 A full back up and support structure including laboratory facilities, test kits, stabilisers and TLB Secure-Tainer bunded shipment and storage containers is available with full training in all aspects of solvent management. As machining tolerances become ever more stringent the need for surface cleanliness is rising accordingly. High level industrial cleaning always requires the same respect and attention as any other aspect of the production process but so many manufacturers (many of whom are household names) consider it to be an “afterthought”. The dismissal of such responsibilities has often proven to be disastrous. For more information please contact: Glenn Greenlees - Geiss UK Ltd Telephone: 0151 326 2237 Mobile: 07973 507401 Email: [email protected] read online: www.surfaceworld.com