©AIRBUS INDUSTRIE

PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

PROCESS SPECIFICATION

01-01-04

ELECTROLYTIC DEGREASING

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 ®AIRBUS INDUSTRIE
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

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 ®AIRBUS INDUSTRIE
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

LIST OF EFFECTIVE PAGES

SUBJECT PAGE DATE

RECORD OF REVISION 1 Feb 01/94

LIST OF EFFECTIVE PAGES 1 Feb 01/94

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Feb 01/94

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Printed in Germany
 ©AIRBUS INDUSTRIE
PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUBJECT PAGE

1. GENERAL 1

1 .1 Subject 1
1 .2 Limitations of use 1
1 .3 Health and safety statement 1

2. EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS 1

2 .1 Equipment 1
2 .2 Materials 2

3. PROCESS 3

3 .1 Flow chart 3
3 .2 Manual cleaning 4
3 .3 Degreasing with solvent in vapour phase 4
3 .4 Alkaline degreasing 4
3 .5 Rinsing by immersion 4
3 .6 Inspection 4
3 .7 Electrolytic degreasing 4
3 .8 Rinsing by immersion 5
3 .9 Inspection 5

4. QUALITY REQUIREMENTS 5

4 .1 Equipment control 5
4 .2 Process control 5

5. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS 6

Appendix 7

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 ®AIRBUS WDUSTRIF
MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
PROCESS AND

1 . GENERAL

This Document shall not be used as a basis for manufacture and supply of
original and replacement parts to AIRBUS INDUSTRIE unless specifically
required in a contract or purchase agreement .

1 .1 Subject

The specification defines the procedures and inspections for electrolytic

degreasing process (removal of oil, grease, certain types of wax, etc .)
on steel and Copper and Copper alloys .

This process, which uses an alkaline solution with an applied

electrolytic current, is a convenient means of cleaning metal surfaces
prior to further processing .

Electrolytic degreasing is carried out either anodically, cathodically,

or by means of a pole reversal process .

1 .2 Limitations of use

This process must not be used for :

Aluminum and Aluminum alloys .

Titanium and Titanium alloys .
Magnesium and Magnesium alloys .
Components (detail parts or sub-assemblies) where there is a risk of
liquid entrapment .

Steel of a strength >_ 900 N/mm2 must not be degreased cathodically .

1 .3 Health and safety statement

This specification does not necessary detail all the precautions

necessary to meet the requirements of health and safety .

It is the responsability of the user of this specification to consult

and establish appropriate Health and Safety precautions and the method
should be operated only by trained personnel .

2. EQUIPMENT, MATERIALS

2 .1 Equipment

2 .1 .1 Baths

The tank for containing the cleaning solution shall be made from mild
steel, stainless steel or any kind of plastic material resistant to the
temperature and alkaline solution .

Galvanised, tinned or lead lined tanks shall not be used .

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PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

2 .1 .2 Electrodes

If the tank is made in mild steel material, the tank may be electrically
connected as an electrode .

If the tank material is made in plastic, the electrodes will be made in

mild steel, or Nickel-plated steel .

2 .1 .3 Heating system

Heating coils and a means of temperature measurement and control of the

solution are necessary .

2 .1 .4 Agitation

Though not mandatory, any type of mechanical agitation is convenient,

except pressurized air, which would considerably increase the carbonate
content in the bath .

2 .1 .5 Power source

A DC generator or a rectifier may be used . The alternating component

shall not exceed 107. .

The bath used in the process shall be fitted with ammeters and
voltmeters with an accuracy of ± 57. .

2 .2 Materials

Several types of electrolytic degreasing composition are available (see

Appendix) .

The concentration temperature and operation parameters of these baths are

described in the appendix .

The water for preparation of the baths and for rinsing shall be
according to PMS 01-01-18 .

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PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

3. PROCESS

3 .1 Flow chart

Apply the following

surface treatment without
allowing part to dry

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PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

3 .2 Manual cleaning

Manually clean parts with approved solvent, in order to remove ink marks
and protection grease, thus preventing contamination of subsequent baths .

3 .3 Degreasing with solvent in vapour phase

This kind of degreasing will be realized according to the PMS 01-01-01 .

3 .4 Alkaline degreasing

This kind of degreasing will be performed according to the PMS 01-01-03 .

3 .5 Rinsing by immersion

After the alkaline degreasing, the part shall be introduced in a bath

with water during a minimum time of 2 minutes .

The rinsing must be made immediately after the exit of alkaline

degreasing bath to avoid product deposit on parts .

The quality of this water is defined in the PMS 01-01-18 .

3 .6 Inspection

After rinsing the parts shall be inspected visually according

chapter 4 .2 .2 .

3 .7 Electrolytic degreasing

Parts shall be placed in the bath in such a way that they do not touch
and are completely immersed .

There are three different classes of electrolytic degreasing .

3 .7 .1 Anodic degreasing

Parts are switched as anode .

The principal advantages are :

No risk of hydrogen embrittlement .

Mechanical properties are not affected .
Dissolved contaminants are not separated .

3 .7 .2 Cathodic degreasing

Parts are switched as cathode .

The principal advantages are :

High gas evolution on the component results in an efficient cleaning

effect .
No passivation of the surface .
No discolouration of non ferrous metals .

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 $AIRBUS IHDUSTRIE
SPECIFICATION
PROCESS AND MATERIAL

3 .7 .3 Pole reversal process (cathode/anode cycle)

An optimum cleaning effect is achieved by pole reversal . The last

operation must always be connected to an anode circuit to prevent an
enrichment of hydrogen at the surface .

3 .8 Rinsing by immersion

After the electrolytic degreasing, the part shall be introduced in a

bath with water for a minimum time of 2 minutes .

The rinsing must be made immediately after the exit of alkaline

degreasing bath to avoid product deposit on parts .

The quality of this water is defined in the PMS 01-01-18 .

3 .9 Inspection

After rinsing the part shall be inspected visually according

chapter 4 .2 .2 .

4. QUALITY REQUIREMENTS

4 .1 Equipment control

4 .1 .1 Electrical equipment

Check the DC generators or rectifiers as well as the accuracy of

ammeters and voltmeters (see chapter 2 .1 .5) .

4 .1 .2 Bath temperature

Check the calibration record of thermometers and thermostats .

4 .2 Process control

4 .2 .1 Chemical control of the bath

All the process baths shall be kept in an absolute clean condition and
within the established chemical composition limits .

With the periodicity established by the Quality Assurance Authority, the

required chemical analysis and proper regenerations shall be made to
ensure that the process requirements are meet .

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PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

4 .2 .2 Visual inspection

Check water-breakfree after rinses .

Check that there is no alkaline retention in holes and cavities .

Check that the surface of the metal is of even appearance and free
from pits, erosion oxide dirt grease, oil, etc .

Check that there are no fingerprints, areas of discouration or other

surface marks .

5. REFERENCED DOCUMENTS

PMS 01-01-01 Degreasing using chlorinated solvent in vapour phase

PMS 01-01-03 Alkaline degreasing

PMS 01-01-18 Water for chemical treatments

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PROCESS AND MATERIAL SPECIFICATION

CONCENTRATION
PRODUCT TEMPERATURE TIME DENSITY
MAKE-UP CONTROL °C minutes A/dm 2
g/l g/l

SVB 441 100 ± 10 70 - 110 20 - 60 1 - 5 10 - 15

(Cyanogen free)

Degreasing bath "U" 100 ± 10 70 - 110 20 - 60 1 - 5 5 - 12

(Cyanogen free)

JET RR 440 100±10 70-110 65-95 1 -5 10-15

(Cyanogen free)

ARR 4181 100 ± 10 70 - 110 60 - 70 1 - 5 5 - 30

(Cyanogen free)

Radical 1012 98 ± 1 80 - 100 20 - 40 1 - 5 5 - 10

(Cyanogen free)

Alklenz 909 50 ± 5 40 - 60 85 - 95 5 max . 2 .5 - 5

Mixture of low 160 ± 10 100 - 200 Ambient 5 - 10 3 - 5
cyanide deruster
plus sodium cyanide

MINCO 35 ± 3 25 - 40 60 - 70 1/2 - 2 1 - 2

Appendix

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