Glossary and Introduction

Ultrasonic cleaning is a process whereby high-energy soundwaves create minute bubbles in a liquid, which then collapse (implode) and produce local shockwaves. These can be used to break the adhesion between loosely joined materials - for example, dirt on a solid object. The material falling off is kept suspended in the liquid by a use of a suitable cleaning chemical. The liquid can usually be filtered and most of it recovered for reuse. Additionally, it is the ultrasound that causes the dirt to break away from the surface to be cleaned and not the chemical action of the solvent alone. It is therefore usually not necessary to use strong and environmentally unfriendly chemicals. Instead of strong acids or chlorinated or fluorinated hydrocarbons, it is often possible to use water containing a small percentage of suitable solvent or detergent.

The component to be cleaned can then be rinsed in deionized water and left to dry in the air or in the oven to dry faster.

A few common terms in use in ultrasonic engineering are explained below.

1. Ultrasonic - use of sound too high to hear, usually 20 kHz or higher.
2. Ultrasonic Transducer - a device to convert high frequency electrical signal into ultrasound.
3. Ultrasonic Generator- an electronic system which produces high frequency electrical energy.
4. Cavitation - the production of minute bubbles in a liquid usually by use of high intensity sound waves.
5. Deionised - Removal of all chemical impurities from a liquid (usually water).
6. Distilled - Liquid purified by boiling into a gas and condensing back into a liquid.
7. Degassing - Removal of dissolved air in a liquid by irradiating it with ultrasound. Not usually required on modern high-energy cleaners.
8. Foil Test - A method of roughly assessing the ultrasonic energy delivered to the liquid by a cleaner. The cleaner is run with water and a piece of aluminum foil immersed in it. Typically after 10 seconds the foil should be well perforated by holes where the ultrasound has attacked the aluminum and broken it up.
9. Immersion plate - hermetically sealed ultrasonic assembly for immersing in an existing tank.
10. MMS-Multiple Modulation System: developed by Galsonic Pty Ltd to perfect ultrasonic cleaning. Combining and balancing several types of modulations, ultrasonic activity in bath is even, consistent and predictable.

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