Ultrasonic Cleaning of Titanium Parts: What to Consider for the Medical and Aerospace Industries

Titanium: The Metal That Can Do It All

High-stakes industries, like the aerospace and medical fields, demand equipment built to survive extreme environments, integrate with human tissue, and maintain structural integrity for years. Titanium is that lightweight, strong, and durable metal that serves these industries on a daily basis. In the aerospace field, titanium’s high melting point and stress resistance are critical for jet engines and hydraulic systems. In the medical field, its biocompatibility makes it the standard for spinal and joint implants.

During the manufacturing process, residues can be left behind and must be removed through ultrasonic cleaning of titanium. In these high-stakes fields, each part must be cleaned and validated down to the microscopic level. Contaminants like these can cause aerospace machinery to rust or lead to life-threatening infections for medical patients. But carrying out a successful titanium ultrasonic cleaning process depends on the proper chemistry, frequency, pH, temperature, and time.

A Specialized Cleaning Approach for Titanium

Titanium is very susceptible to two issues: hydrogen embrittlement and stress corrosion cracking (SCC). Keep these two aspects in mind each time you carry out ultrasonic cleaning of titanium.

Hydrogen embrittlement can occur if an ultrasonic bath becomes too acidic. Titanium has the ability to absorb hydrogen atoms during this process which leads the metal to become brittle. Brittle titanium can lead to equipment failure in almost all cases.

Stress corrosion cracking is likely to affect your titanium if it comes in contact with chlorine. Be wary of using general-purpose degreasers to clean titanium. Traces of chlorine, combined with high temperatures, have the ability to cause cracks in titanium.  

But ultrasonic frequencies can provide powerful cleaning results, keeping these issues in mind.

For safe, effective results, try JAYCO’s JC 205C for titanium ultrasonic cleaning. JC 205C is a near neutral process detergent that is safe on ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, and non-metallic surfaces including most plastics.

The Benefits of Ultrasonic Cleaning

For industries that rely on strict safety guidelines, reliable equipment, good performance, and meticulous cleanliness, ultrasonic cleaning is crucial. With both medical and aerospace parts, ultrasonic cleaning of titanium ensures that surgeries are successful, rockets are launched without failure, and entire industries can operate while remaining compliant. These intense, demanding fields cannot afford mistakes, high mortality rates, and malfunctions.

JAYCO’s JC 401SC is an optimal detergent for use in rotary basket cleaning in both the aerospace and medical industries. 

In the aerospace industry, ultrasonic cleaning of titanium parts:

• Preserves Material Integrity: This cleaning method stops corrosion, ensuring that expensive aerospace parts maintain their strength for years.
• Produces Repeatable Standards: Automated ultrasonic processes can help eliminate human error, guaranteeing that each batch meets the same specifications.
• Safeguards Material Specs: Ultrasonic cleaning removes dirt without eroding layers of the component itself.
• Eliminates Debris-Related Failure: Stripping away microscopic pollutants, prevents the localized blockages that can jeopardize flight-critical fluid paths.

JAYCO’s JC 300C is optimal for use with titanium and many other metals during ultrasonic cleaning for the aerospace industry.

In the medical industry, ultrasonic cleaning of titanium parts:

• Cleans Oddly Shaped Parts: Medical devices are increasingly intricate and ultrasonic cleaning reaches into holes and hinges where manual scrubbing fails.
• Provides Consistency and Compliance: Unlike manual washing, automated ultrasonic cycles provide repeatable results that keep parts producers compliant.
• Is Gentle on Delicate Parts: It effectively cleans fragile tools without the mechanical stress of brushes, preserving sharp and delicate components.

JAYCO’s JC 400M is optimal for ultrasonic cleaning in the medical industry.

The Ultrasonic Cleaning Process

Step 1: Chemical Solution Selection

First, match the chemistry to the specific alloy and industry requirements you are following.

Aerospace: Uses high-pH alkaline degreasers to emulsify heavy machining oils, carbonized residues, and coolants. The chemistry must be chlorine-free to prevent stress corrosion cracking. We recommend JAYCO’s JC 300C for this process.

Medical: Uses mildly alkaline detergents designed to break down manufacturing residues.

In both sectors, take care to prevent hydrogen embrittlement, a process where titanium absorbs hydrogen from the cleaning bath and becomes brittle.

Step 2: Degassing

Fresh water is actually detrimental to your ultrasonic cleaning process. Run your system for 5-10 minutes before you introduce the parts that need cleaning. Since fresh water contains dissolved air, the air bubbles absorb the shock of the cavitation bubbles. Degassing the water by running the system ensures that air bubbles can hit the titanium surface with sufficient force.

Step 3: The Ultrasonic Cycle (Cavitation)

During this stage, submerge the part in a stainless steel basket. Titanium parts should never touch the bottom of the tank to prevent damage.

Aerospace Parameters: 40 kHz frequency is typically used to produce larger, more powerful bubbles that can effectively strip tough manufacturing residue and is still mild enough on most substrates.

Medical Parameters: Medical Parameters: Medical typically uses 25kHz and 40kHz for washing. In addition, the use of higher frequencies is used (80 kHz to 120 kHz) to create less intense bubbles that penetrate the microscopic pores of medical parts without damaging them.

Temperature: Maintain a temperature between 140°F and 160°F to break down oils and accelerate the chemical reaction of the detergent.

Step 4: Rinsing

Rinsing is extremely important in the Aerospace industry as any chemical residue left on a titanium part can lead to failure. On the first rinse, use clean, heated water to remove the bulk of the detergent. For the last rinse, use deionized water or reverse osmosis water.

Stage 5: Drying and Validating

Titanium must be dried quickly to prevent localized oxidation or spotting.

Some aerospace and medical facilities use vacuum dryers. This allows water to boil off the part at room temperature.

To verify the success of the ultrasonic cleaning process, aerospace parts are checked for “Water Break Free” surfaces or by contact angle measurement, meaning that no oil remains. They are also inspected under UV light. Medical parts are tested to ensure that no organic matter survived the ultrasonic cleaning process.

For reference: Parts are also tested for non-organic matter. This is typically done through total residue testing or non-soluble residue testing. Non-soluble residue tests pick up metallic particles and nonmetallic particles.  

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To learn more, read our blogs on Ultrasonic Cleaning Chemicals 101: A Look at Today’s Options and Are You Using The Best Ultrasonic Cleaner Solution?

Still not sure which ultrasonic cleaner is right for you? 

Contact the JAYCO team to set up a consultation. We’ll get you paired with the perfect chemistry for the job. 

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JAYCO Chemical Solutions is North America’s single-source provider of engineered cleaning solutions. From process analysis and application engineering to delivery and support, JAYCO improves operations for precision metal, medical, optical, UHV, space/aerospace and general manufacturing customers. 

For more information on JAYCO Chemical Solutions, our products and our markets, please call us at (814) 593-0022, or email us at info@jaycochem.com.