Vacuum Cycle Nucleation (VCN)
How to Clean Porous Metal Parts
Vacuum Cycle Nucleation (VCN) is the most exciting advancement in industrial cleaning since the introduction of ultrasonics. VCN provides superior performance in both aqueous and solvent applications.
Nucleation selectively forms in holes, trenches, and beneath particles, where convective heat transfer is restricted, enabling vapor bubbles to form and grow more effectively, thereby allowing nucleation to progress unabated and improve cleaning performance.
Solvent Cleaning of Wound Screen in Field Unit
The video shows a wound screen 10” diameter roll producing a matrix of very small passages for fluid transfer. Recognizing the critical role of cleaning, the screen comes from a stamping machine that is dripping with oil since it is wound immediately after stamping. The fluid is n-Propyl Bromide, and the screen is made of copper.
The VCN process nucleates vapor bubbles on the screen, which helps dislodge spent fluid from the matrix. When the vacuum is paused, fresh fluid quickly enters the screen to continue cleaning, ensuring effective removal of contaminants.
Vacuum Cycling Nucleation (VCN) for internal cleaning of parts:
- VCN works inside tight offsets. During the initial vacuum, air is removed from the part’s interior.
- On the initial pressure cycle, fluid is forced into the void spaces within the part.
- On the subsequent vacuum cycles, vapor bubbles grow inside the part and force fluid from the internals of the part.
- Reactant chemicals, soluble material, particles and surfactant micelles are purged from the part during this cycle.
- On the subsequent pressure cycles, fluid reenters the part’s internals, bringing fresh treatment chemicals.
- Cycling continues until the part is fully processed.
