Ultrasonic Cleaning - Why You Should Care (2)

Ultrasonic Cleaning - Why You Should Care

Part Two:

In Part One, I introduced the concept of Ultrasonic Cleaning and how it is used in the current day. Now, we will explore where the technology is at, including its qualities and limitations.

 Pros:

  • Large scale multi-part cleaning allowed due to simple structure.
  • Simple to use, accessible to a large audience pool.
  • Non-vigorous cleaning, preventing wear and tear.
  • All contaminants are cleansed off quickly.
  • Usage of a single tank allows water to be conserved.
  • Can be combined with special cleaning solutions to make the process more effective.
Cons:
  • As of now, they may be unsafe to use due to high temperatures. This could easily be dealt with through a design which promotes safety in commercial use, such as a lock system during the cleaning process, or more automation (less human interaction).
  • Ultrasonic Cleaning, though has the ability to kill pathogens, will not sterilize an object. It uses physical means to destroy them; therefore, spores/viruses/etc. will still remain after the cleaning process. In the future, a cleaning solution combined with the Ultrasonic Waves could combat this problem.
  • Ultrasonic frequencies may damage fragile clothing items. Further research into this technology may result in some transducers that produce less abrupt disturbances resulting in gentler cleaning.
I believe this technology can provide our future with more resource efficiency, and slow down the ever-so-growing consumerism mentality.

In Part Three, I'll further go in depth of the mechanics of Ultrasonic Cleaning, including an overview of what it means to be ultrasonic, why specific materials are chosen, and cavitation.

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