Acidic Cleaner for Burn-Off Oven Ash Removal
Ash Cleaner 1 is an acidic liquid that cleans off ash, rust and scale after processing steel in a burn off oven. It is for spray or immersion applications. Ash Cleaner 1 works at room temperature or heated for faster processing. It produces clean, ash-free, and usually smut free surfaces.
Ash Cleaner 1 makes parts ready for painting or subsequent pretreatment. It breaks the bond that pigment particles have with the surface of the metal. It dissolves some pigments. Other pigments require a spray rinse afterwards to remove the particles from the surface.
Ash Cleaner 1 will not remove all unburned organic material. It will remove organic residues and adherent particles. It removes light to heavy rust deposits. It eliminates the need for sand or media blasting.
Immersion Use
When used in an immersion tank, Ash Cleaner 1 is typically used at 10% by volume at ambient temperature. However higher concentrations or higher temperatures will accelerate the process. It may be heated to 150-180 degrees if needed.
Some mechanical action is still required for ash removal. A spray rinse or other process must follow an immersion operation. It is very effective to use this product with ultrasonic equipment. It is very effective to use ultrasonic rinse tanks. After the bond has been broken with the surface the residual material is easy to remove. A low pressure garden hose is usually all that is needed.
Using an immersion tank followed by a spray rinse offers the advantage that chemical tanks build up less pigment residues in the bottom. The rinse tank will be easier to clean, however, both process tanks and rinse tanks build up sludge during usage.
Parts must be rinsed as the acidic residue may cause flash rusting.
Spray Use
Pressure wash systems require very low concentrations. Higher concentration and the higher temperatures require shorter contact times. It is usually used at 5% by volume but concentrations as low as 1-2 percent have been used if heated.
In recirculating spray systems Ash Cleaner 1 should be used at around 5% by volume, preferably at lower pressures. Using this product at too high a concentration or pressure will result in excess foam.
After Cleaning
An air blow-off or an oven accelerates drying but the parts can also air-dry. Parts should be dried in humid conditions to prevent rusting. For longer term storage of sensitive parts a rust inhibiting chemical is recommended.
Advantages
Ash Clean 1 works very effectively at removing residues from steel surfaces quickly and completely. It creates no acidic fumes but spray operations may create a hazardous mist that requires ventilation.. Immersion tanks need no special exhaust systems. A heated tank may produce steam but will not produce hazardous fumes. Ash Cleaner 1 may be used at room temperature if needed.
Disposal
Follow all local discharge regulations before putting this product down a drain. Ash Cleaner 1 is an acidic product that should be neutralized before disposing down a drain. Pigment residues from burn off operations may contain heavy metals such as zinc, chromium, or lead. These pigments may classify the material as a hazardous waste. Although the ingredients of Ash Cleaner 1 are biodegradable, any detergent or cleaning chemical may have problems depending on local codes.
