Oil and grease etc. to be removed by emulsion cleaning

[JACEK1]

Hello everybody!

I would like you to help me understand the first sentence of a paint specification, namely, "Oil and grease etc. to be removed by emulsion cleaning".

I don't think that it can be understood literally. I decided to find out what "emulsion cleaning" meant. I came across this website: http://www.asminternational.org/mat...al_content/56/10192/ASMHBA0001224/PUBLICATION
EMULSION CLEANING is an industrial cleaning process that uses an organic solvent as the main active agent.
Now that I know what "emulsion cleaning" means, I think I can interpret that sentence properly.
My interpretation is as follows:
Oil and grease etc. are to be removed by means of an organic solvent.
Do you agree with me?
Thank you.
The context:
Oil and grease etc. to be removed by emulsion cleaning. Entire area to be (high pressure) fresh water cleaned in order to remove salts and other contamination. When the surface is dry: Rusty and damaged areas to be cleaned thoroughly by power tool cleaning to St 3 (spot-repairs) or abrasive blasting to Sa 2, preferably Sa 2½ according to ISO 8501-1:2007. Improved surface preparation will improve the performance of the paint system. Dust off residues.

 

[Lynxear]

First of all, with regards to your question format, don't pile one line on top of another like you have done. It makes it very difficult to read that way. Write it this way.

I don't think that it can be understood literally. I decided to find out what "emulsion cleaning" meant. I came across this website: http://www.asminternational.org/mate...24/PUBLICATION

EMULSION CLEANING is an industrial cleaning process that uses an organic solvent as the main active agent.

Now that I know what "emulsion cleaning" means, I think I can interpret that sentence properly.
My interpretation is as follows:

Oil and grease etc. are to be removed by means of an organic solvent. Do you agree with me?

Thank you.

The context:

Oil and grease etc. to be removed by emulsion cleaning. Entire area to be (high pressure) fresh water cleaned in order to remove salts and other contamination. When the surface is dry: Rusty and damaged areas to be cleaned thoroughly by power tool cleaning to St 3 (spot-repairs) or abrasive blasting to Sa 2, preferably Sa 2½ according to ISO 8501-1:2007. Improved surface preparation will improve the performance of the paint system. Dust off residues.

See how much easier it is to read. Now to address your questions.

Now that I know what "emulsion cleaning" means, I think I can interpret that sentence properly.
My interpretation is as follows:

Oil and grease etc. are to be removed by means of an organic solvent. Do you agree with me?

No, that is not correct. An organic solvent is usually a pure chemical for example acetone, xylene or toluene. Perhaps it can be a mixture of two organic chemicals but when they are combined you will not see any layers or cloudiness. A mixture of methyl alcohol and ethyl alcohol would be an example. There are two solvents in the mixture but they look like one.

An emulsion is a mixture that must be shaken before using it. This is because the bottle containing the mixture will sort itself out into layers if it is left standing. That is why you may see instruction "to shake well before using". This will create a uniform mixture before using it.

In this case from your description, the solvent used is the active ingredient of the cleaning product. However, other ingredients are added to enhance its ability to do the cleaning. For example the solvent may be too volatile (evaporates too quickly) so adding another organic solvent or perhaps water make it less volatile so it can come in contact with the surface longer.

So you are right in thinking the solvent is doing most of the work but by itself it probably would not work as well as it does in this emulsion.

If those are instructions written on the can or bottle of the cleaner, they are not written very well. You are from Poland from your profile. If this is a Polish product then the translator is not a native English speaker in my opinion.

In case you are wondering, I have a strong background in many areas over my working life. I was an analytical chemist early in my life.