FINISHING AND COATING MAGAZINE:
Vacuum Cycling Nucleation Agitation Cleaning Benefits
VCN can be much more effective than Ultrasonics, especially for small, delicate parts or complex parts with difficult-to-reach internal surfaces. Below is a comparison of some areas where VCN can be more effective.
Ultrasonics |
VCN |
||
Internal Cleaning |
NO |
YES |
Ultrasonics can’t penetrate solid surfaces. |
Damage to Delicate Parts |
YES |
NO |
Ultrasonic bubbles are small and aggressive, capable of shocking contaminants from a surface. VCN bubbles are large and gentle, moving fluid throughout a part. |
Load Dependent |
YES |
NO |
Solid surfaces adsorb ultrasonic energy. The larger the load, the greater the energy dissipation and the more energy required. |
Uniform Treatment |
NO |
YES |
Ultrasonics is adsorbed on the surfaces closest to the transducers. Parts located inside a basket can receive little to no ultrasonic energy. |
Targets Contaminant |
NO |
YES |
Vapor needs a solid surface to begin forming. Vapor nucleates in regions of high surface area to fluid volume. VCN likes to create vapor in tight areas. |
Chemical Delivery to Surface |
NO |
YES |
When a fluid has been contaminated, the cleaning process either slows or ceases. VCN replenishes all areas with fresh cleaner in seconds. |
Effectiveness With Solvents |
LOW |
HIGH |
Ultrasonics likes to operate at temperatures low enough to ensure that the vapor formed collapses rather than evaporates. Solvents are often used at the boiling point. |
Concentrations Required |
HIGH |
LOW |
Since VCN continuously replenishes cleaner at the surface, lower concentrations of surfactant are required to achieve effective cleaning. |
Effective Rinse Method |
NO |
YES |
At the end of cleaning, surfactants are now the contaminant. Using VCN with your rinse water quickly and efficiently removes surfactants from your surface. |