What Can You Clean with an Ultrasonic Cleaner?

How Does an Ultrasonic Cleaner Work?

Ultrasonic cleaners use high frequency sound waves (produced by an ultrasonic transducer) to create cavitation bubbles in a cleaning liquid. When the ultrasonic cavitation bubbles collapse, they create a cleaning action that can remove debris, dirt, grease, and other deposits from surfaces.

The ultrasonic energy produced by high frequency sound waves helps to loosen deposits that are difficult to remove with traditional cleaning methods. As a result, ultrasonic cleaners can be used for a wide variety of cleaning applications. Most ultrasonic cleaners operate at frequencies between 20 kHz and 400 kHz and typically use water or a water-based solution as the cleaning fluid.

What Are Typical Applications for Ultrasonic Cleaners?

The number of items that can benefit from ultrasonic cleaning is vast. The reason? There are just two basic eligibility requirements before something can be cleaned in this manner. The cavitation that powers ultrasonic cleaning and scrubs contaminants off parts will only occur in a liquid environment. As such, you must be able to immerse the item without causing damage. Some qualifying items might surprise you.

For instance, most of us would react with horror at the idea of combining electronics and water, but as long as proper drying techniques are used, an ultrasonic washer will not only clean electronic components, but also clean them more quickly and completely than any other method.

The second requirement is that the part can be dried relatively easily. This eliminates items that are absorbent, but most others can simply be air dried with a blower. For this reason, ultrasonic cleaning is used to remove unwanted materials from everything from jewelry to long rifles, from super-delicate lenses to massive engine parts, from surgical instruments to motherboards. 

Ultrasonic cleaners are safe for a wide range of materials, including most metals, plastics and composites, glass, ceramics, rubber and silicones, precious metals and stones, and hard-wearing textiles. Despite its power, ultrasonic cleaning is non-abrasive and gentle enough for delicate items, like printed circuit boards and medical equipment.  

Factors such as thecleaning time, ultrasound frequency, and temperature of the cleaning solution can be adjusted and balanced to give the best outcome and avoid damaging delicate materials. 

What Contaminants Do Ultrasonic Cleaners Remove?

In general, as long as a contaminant can be removed from the surface it's on, it can be removed with an ultrasonic cleaner. Contaminants that might require time-consuming applications of elbow grease can be lifted free in a few minutes. That's why, to cite one application, disaster restoration firms will use ultrasonic cleaning to remove soot from smoke-damaged items. For an example of the dramatic results users can see, watch this short video of filth being blasted off the surface of a copper part.

Ultrasonic cleaning will remove anything from common dirt and engine sludge to the sort of oily chemicals that can prevent paints and other coatings from adhering to finished products. This includes lubricants, grease, buffing and polishing compounds, cutting oils, and more. One of the few things ultrasonic cleaning won't remove is spores and viruses. If you're cleaning medical instruments, they will need sterilization after other contaminants are removed in your ultrasonic washer.

It's important to select the ideal ultrasonic cleaning solution for the task at hand. For example, a mildly alkaline cleaning solution is suitable for most general cleaning applications whereas tougher jobs may require a highly caustic detergent.

What Are Typical Applications for Ultrasonic Cleaners?

As we’ve discussed, ultrasonic cleaning is a versatile technology that can be used across a wide array of industries and professions. Below are some of the most commonapplications.

Automotive and Aerospace 

In the automotive sector, ultrasonic cleaners are frequently used to clean engine components like carburetors, fuel injectors, and Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs). These partsaccumulate carbon deposits, oil, and grease. Ultrasonic cleaning improves engine performance and extends the lifespan of parts. 

Similarly, in the aerospace industry, parts like turbine blades, gear shafts, and hydraulic systems benefit from ultrasonic cleaning, which removes grease, oil, and oxidation, ensuring that components meet the high safety and performance standards required. 

Medical and Dental Applications 

Ultrasonic cleaning is well suited to the medical and dental industries, where hygiene and precision are critical. It can remove blood, tissue, and other biohazards from surgical instruments, dental tools, and implants. The process ensures thorough cleaning in even the smallest crevices, serving as an important step in preparing equipment for sterilization. 

Firearms Maintenance

Ultrasonic cleaners effectively remove carbon fouling, lead, and gunpowder residue from intricate firearm components like barrels, triggers, and magazines. This cleaning process ensures that firearms remain safe and operational without damaging the metal or causing wear. 

Electronics

In the electronics industry, ultrasonic cleaners are used to clean delicate components such as circuit boards, connectors, and electronic components. They remove flux, solder paste, and other residues without damaging sensitive materials. With ultrasonics,even thin, intricate wiring can be cleaned to remove oil, dust, and other contaminants that could affect electrical conductivity. 

Note that we don't recommend ultrasonic cleaning for removing no-clean flux residues. 

Manufacturing and Printing 

In manufacturing, ultrasonic cleaners are used to clean molds and dies, removing residues and contaminants that can compromise product quality and lifespan. 

Ultrasonic technology is also well suited for cleaning parts created by an additive manufacturing or 3D printing process. These items, which are often complex and delicate, need to be cleaned to remove excess material, support structures, and contaminants. 

In the printing industry, ultrasonic cleaning is suitable for cleaning anilox rolls, which are used to transfer ink onto substrates. Over time, ink, adhesives, and other residues can clog the cells of these rolls, affecting print quality. Removing this buildup is essential for smooth and consistent printing.  

Musical Instruments

Musical instruments require regular cleaning to maintain their sound quality. These instruments can accumulate dirt and oils that lead to corrosion but need careful treatment to avoid damaging delicate components. 

Restoration After Fire or Flood

Ultrasonic cleaning can safely restore items that have been affected by fires or floods. Fast and gentle cleaning makes this a preferred option for insurance companies and restoration professionals dealing with post-disaster recovery. 

Passivation andPost-Processing Preparation 

Passivation is a process to treat the surface of a metal to create ananti-corrosive layer. Ultrasonic cleaners can be used to removecontaminants from the object and then perform the passivation process using a nitric acid or citric acid solution. 

Ultrasonic cleaning can also prepareitems for post-processing, such as sterilization and Cerakote application. Cerakote is used to coat firearms, automotive parts, and other items to enhance their durability and appearance.  

Is an Ultrasonic Washer Right for You?

we offer a wide range of ultrasonic cleaners to cater to various cleaning needs, whether in a compact workspace or a larger facility. Our benchtop ultrasonic cleaners are designed to fit seamlessly into any environment, providing efficient cleaning for small items. For more extensive projects, we have larger ultrasonic tanks available, ranging from 39 to 204 gallons, perfect for handling bigger loads with ease. Additionally, if you already have an existing tank, we can enhance your cleaning process with our high-quality ultrasonic immersible transducers, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency. Explore the possibilities of ultrasonic cleaning with us and discover how it can transform your cleaning operations.

If there's doubt about whether ultrasonic cleaning is the right fit, we’re happy to offer  free testing. You can arrange to submit a typical item from your facility and our staff will test clean it, providing you with detailed results and proving the cleaning effectiveness of our sonic cleaners.

We can also provide a rental machine so that you can test items on your site before deciding whether ultrasonic cleaning is right for your application.

Our customers have blasted grime off everything from golf clubs to oil refinery equipment, from Venetian blinds to nuclear waste cleaning robots.If you would like to know more about how we can help with your cleaning requirements, fill in our short form and one of our experts will be in touch with you shortly.