SEDL / STP / STP1181-EB / STP15947S

Experience and Initiatives in Replacing Ozone Depleting Chemicals for Precision Cleaning at the U.S. Air Force's Aerospace Guidance and Metrology Center

Hunt, DE
Chief Scientist, AGMC/CN, Aerospace Guidance and Metrology Center, Newark Air Force Base, Ohio

Milholen, CV
Project Engineer, AGMC/MAEL, Aerospace Guidance and Metrology Center, Maintenance Engineering Division, NAFB, Ohio

Pages: 10    Published: Jan 1993

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Abstract

The Aerospace Guidance and Metrology Center has historically been a major user of Ozone Depleting Chemicals (ODCs) for precision cleaning operations. The Center has developed aqueous processes to the point where they are being implemented as alternatives for the vast majority of its precision cleaning requirements. Included in the materials and assemblies being cleaned with aqueous processes are beryllium and precision instrument bearings. The Center has also developed a method to quantitatively compare the cleaning effectiveness of one process to another. The method involves the use of stable isotopes and has proven to be effective for measuring organic contaminant removal in parts and assemblies with complicated geometries such as hidden cavities, dead end screw holes, small diameter fill tubes, etc.