Neutral Aqueous General Information Neutral aqueous cleaning uses neutral or near-neutral pH aqueous solutions. Neutral aqueous solutions may include the use of surfactants, builders, and other additives. Neutral solutions work well when a high degree of chemical solvency is not needed. The use of surfactant additives greatly increases the wetting capability of aqueous solutions. Chemical additives are available in liquid or powder form. Neutral solutions are excellent for use in spray or ultrasonic equipment. Neutral chemistries are not ideal for immersion processes, which depend more on chemical action. Neutral solutions are excellent at removing chlorides or other salts. These chemistries are also good for organic soils and particulate removal. Many types of existing equipment can be converted to neutral water with minimal effort. The major concern will be corrosion i.e. can the system pumps and tanks handle water without corroding. The major issue with neutral solutions may be the possible requirement for a drying system. Common drying systems include forced hot air, infrared heating, or centrifugal spinoff. The use of hot water may raise the part temperature enough to provide adequate flash drying. The condition of incoming water may have a great effect on the efficiency of water cleaning. Water hardness and other chemical properties vary widely from region to region. Neutral aqueous solutions may be sensitive to variations in soil loading on your parts. State Information | Glossary | Conversion Checklist | Comments Home | Process Advisor | Alternatives | Links | Search All SAGE material, Copyright© 1992, Research Triangle Institute Last Update: 16 March 1995 sage@rti.org http://clean.rti.org/alt.cfm?id=neu&cat=gi