Ultrasonic Cleaning Systems

What is Ultrasonic Cleaning?

So what exactly does ultrasonic cleaning involve? Basically ultrasonic cleaning is the removal of impurities from objects by submerging them in a container of liquid cleaning solution which is then subjected to high frequency sounds waves. These non-audible sound waves create a cleaning action within the fluid.

How does Ultrasonic Cleaning Work?

This cleaning action is more specifically known as cavitation. Cavitation is the effect caused by the formation and collapse of minute bubbles. The ultrasonic sound waves create these minute bubbles and cause them to race around the tank at high speed. When these bubbles come into contact with the item to be cleaned, the bubble implodes. The cavity created is filled with a liquid cleaning solution, which in turn comes into contact with object to be cleaned, dislodging any impurities which may be attached to the object. The creation of the ultrasonic sound waves is done by a device known as a transducer. The transducer converts electrical energy into ultrasonic energy. The efficiency of this transducer is key to the effectiveness of the cleaning process.

What are the Advantages of Ultrasonic Cleaning?

The beauty of this cleaning method is it's ability, with the help of these bubbles, to reach areas which are simple out of reach of other cleaning methods. Intricate parts and unseen or unexposed areas can be cleaned. Another benefit of ultrasonic cleaning is it often does not require dis-assembly of the object to be cleaned which can be a time saving advantage. Also the ultrasonic cleaning process is low impact and is unlike to stress delicate parts as much as other cleaning methods.

On what would you use an ultrasonic cleaner?

Ultrasonic cleaning is used to clean jewelry. In fact there are bespoke ultrasonic jewelry cleaners. They have also be known to be used as denture cleaners, contact lens cleaners but traditional used in the manufacturing industry for cleaning parts, especially those of a more intricate nature.

So to summarise the three important aspects or components of the ultrasonic cleaning process are the tank or container, which is large enough for whatever is to be cleaned, the cleaning liquid solution and the transducer – bubble maker. These three factors decide the effectiveness of the cleaning process and can be seen as variable which need to be factored together to process to best ultrasonic cleaning system. A company specialising in ultrasonic cleaners will advise on the optimum transducer for a given tank and know which cleaning solution is best suited for your requirements.