ultrasonic shield cleaning with acid (HCL)

[WestCoastMiner]

Hello all,

We run a thin film coating shop where we send our vacuum chamber parts out for cleaning...ie the removal down to the shield base layer...the metal removed is typically gold, platinum, and tantillum, etc...

Some refiners clean our shields with an ultrasonic setup using transducers in an acid environment. Somehow the transducers sit outside the primary acid tank.

Is anyone familar with this setup? Our refiner is but there mum on the process.

Many thanks,

MT

 

[unclesyd]

Try to get away from the HCl if possible. The material of construction will cost a fortune and still get eaten up by the HCl.

We used some pretty large units with outside transducers. These were not nearly as powerful as the immersed transducers. The difference was mainly in the type of transducers. We tried a tank within a tank with the outer tank having the immersed transducers. It worked to some degree but I understand was not very efficient.

A lot of our equipment was made by Branson Ultrasonics.
I would get with a provider of Ultrasonic equipment with your requirements. Make sure you have a technical representative not a salesman. Ultrasonics are not inexpensive.

Here is list of Ultrsonic Cleaners manufacturers:

http://www.ultrasonic-cleaning-equipment.com/

 

[hacksaw]

external transducers are quite common in that application so is the use of acid as long as it is compatible with the base metal (typically stainless). Depending on the size of the apparatus and the base pressure for coating, there are several alternatives to reduce your cleaning costs.

obviously your contractor is good businessman, and does not want his process ending up in the hands of the competition.