|
Wetting
Agent Use In Aqueous Cleaners
Aqueous
cleaners are typically composed of surfacants, which are often
emulsifiers, wetting agents, and dispersants. The cleaners
also have builders for neutralizing water hardness interference,
chelating of inorganic soils, and saponification of natural
oils; and additives for corrosion inhibition, anti-redeposition,
and rinsing.
The
class of surfacant determines the class of the cleaner, and
surfacants are typically classified as anionic, nonionic, and
cationic. A wetting agent surfacant lowers the surface tension
of water to allow the cleaning solution to wet surfaces and
penetrate into, under, and around soils and surface crevices.
They
create a bridge between the water and any hydophobic (water
hating or repelling) surface. You can think of a wetting
agent as having one end of a molecule attracted to the
surface while pulling the water solution towards the otherwise
water-repelling surface, allowing the water solution to be in
contact with more of the surface that needs to be cleaned.
Detergents
use both chemical and physical action to clean, which are
affected in turn by temperature, time, type of mechanical
action, cleaner concentration, and additives. Mechanical
action is provided by immersion, spray, or ultrasonics.
The
chemical and mechanical action involved in aqueous cleaning is
actually a number of processes -- solubilization, wetting,
emulsification, deflocculation, sequestration, and
saponification.
To
learn more about the actions involved with aqueous cleaning,
both with and without wetting agents,
call 914-948-4040 for Malcolm McLaughlin (x160) mmclaughlin@alconox.com
or Phyllis Horata (x151) phorata@alconox.com.
To request a free sample
pack of Alconox detergents you can call (914) 948-4040 or
use the detergent
selection system and sample request form on our site.
To place an order for our
cleaning products follow this link:
Buy
Alconox Products
or call your laboratory,
healthcare, or industrial supply company.
|
