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Q&As since 1989


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Cleaning of aluminium castings for race applications

I need to clean aluminium gearbox castings. The castings are for the racing industry, so must be very clean indeed, and have complex internal passageways that may retain contaminants. As yet no acceptable standard (by weight) for contamination has been agreed, so I am looking for options that may archive the best possible result. The likely contaminants are zircon sand, fettling residues (lubricants and swarf), and steel shot. Please suggest the best process or processes.

Ian Fellows

2006

Have seen hot water with appropriate additives pumped thru aviation engine parts. Used compressed air to create a severe turbulence. Requires fixturing and high pressure/high volume pump.

James Watts
Navarre, Florida
2006

Anything that can work as a cleaning media and subsequently be dissolved by nitric acid might work. There is also dry dry ice blasting. Noisy, expensive and maybe not perfect but leaves no harmful residues.

Guillermo Marrufo

2006