Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner
Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners use ultrasonic frequencies to clean products such as rings, necklaces, watches, etc. These cleaners, along with an appropriate cleaning solution, are capable of cleaning even the hardest to reach cracks and crevices in the jewelry. Aqueous and organic solvents are the two cleaners used in an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner. An aqueous cleaner is a solution in which the solvent is water and, therefore, extremely gentle to jewelry. An organic cleaner contains a chemical solvent which might be too harsh on jewelry depending on the chemical used. The best solutions to use in ultrasonic jewelry cleaning equipment are non ionic surfactants, detergents and ammonia. Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners are ideal for cleaning most metal jewelry, such as gold, stainless steel and silver, although this process may be a little too rough for certain gems set in jewelry pieces. Durable stones, such as diamonds, rubies, garnets and sapphires can benefit from an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner, but emeralds, ambers, opals and pearls, which are softer stones, could get dulled or damaged in the ultrasonic cleaning process.
Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners work when electrically signaled ultrasonic frequencies travel through liquid, stretching and compressing the water medium. When the amplitude of the ultrasonic waves increase to a level at which the water can longer stretch, the water tears apart and millions of vacuumed bubbles are formed under the negative pressure. The size of these bubbles increases until their equilibrium is reached; the bubbles then are rapidly compressed by the water and create millions of tiny powerful microbursts from microbubbles cleaning the jewelry. Ultrasonic jewelry cleaners use ultrasonic transducers to work, though some portable cleaners may be battery operated. The cleaners are small tanks that contain a basket which holds jewelry, and on the outside of the tank are pressure controls. Environmental concerns raised in the last decade have made some companies change the chemistry in their solvents, and replace them with biodegradable solvents which eliminate ozone depletion potentials and other hazards. These more environmentally friendly water based solutions replace some of the chemicals used for degreasing. Many companies are also redesigning their cleaning equipment to ensure the solvent is reclaimed automatically in the unit so there is no significant waste stream.
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Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaners Image Provided by ESMA, Inc.
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