Sustainable cleaning solutions for improved profitability and reduced CO2 footprint

Abstract

Surface preparation, in the context of paint applications, can be defined as the removal of contaminants from a substrate surface before subsequent coating steps. It includes the removal of organic and inorganic soils coming from forming applications or those created during welding and joining. Cleaning and degreasing are required to achieve the highest finished part quality and first pass yield during production. Poor removal of soils from the fabrication process can lead to a variety of quality issues. The main concerns for final part quality relate to paint adhesion, corrosion resistance or fluid resistance. Improper bonding of the paint to the base material compromises quality leading to premature part failure. With a lower first pass yield, rework costs will increase, and profitability will decrease. Additionally, a higher defect rate, requiring rework, can generate inefficiencies or bottlenecks that slow production throughput.