What are the main ingredients of degreaser?

Degreasers are chemical agents used to remove grease, dirt and other organic contaminants. They are widely used in industrial cleaning, metal processing, electronic manufacturing, food processing and other fields. The composition of degreasers varies depending on their use and target materials, but they usually include the following main ingredients:

 1. Surfactants

Surfactants are one of the key ingredients in degreasers. Their main function is to reduce the surface tension of liquids, making it easier for grease and dirt to separate from the surface of objects. Surfactant molecules usually have hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups, which can form a bridge between water and grease, thereby emulsifying or dispersing grease in water. Common surfactants include:

- Anionic surfactants: such as sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), etc., have good emulsification and detergency.

- Non-ionic surfactants: such as polyoxyethylene ethers (such as Tween series, Span series), have good hard water resistance and low foaming properties, and are suitable for a variety of cleaning occasions.

- Cationic surfactants: such as quaternary ammonium salts, which are mainly used for sterilization and antistatic properties, but have weak detergency.

- Amphoteric surfactants: such as betaines, which have good mildness and resistance to hard water and are suitable for cleaning sensitive materials.

 2. Solvent

Solvents are components of degreasers that dissolve grease and organic contaminants. The choice of solvent depends on the purpose and safety requirements of the degreaser. Common solvents include:

- Organic solvents: such as acetone, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, xylene, etc., can effectively dissolve grease and resin, but are flammable and have certain hazards to the environment and human body.

- Water-soluble solvents: such as glycol ethers (e.g. ethylene glycol monobutyl ether), which are miscible with water and suitable for water-based degreasing agents.

- Chlorinated solvents: such as trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene, have strong dissolving ability, but are gradually being eliminated or restricted in use due to their harm to the environment.

 3. Alkaline substances

Alkaline substances play the role of saponifying oils in degreasing agents and are particularly suitable for removing animal and plant oils. Common alkaline substances include:

- Sodium hydroxide (NaOH): It is a strong alkaline and can quickly saponify oils and fats, but it is corrosive to metal materials.

- Sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃): weak alkaline, relatively mild, suitable for cleaning a variety of materials.

- Sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃): has good buffering and anti-corrosion properties and is often used for metal cleaning.

- Phosphates: such as sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), which have water softening and dispersibility and can improve cleaning effect.

4. Acidic substances

Acidic substances are mainly used to remove oxides and rust on metal surfaces. Common acidic ingredients include:

- Hydrochloric acid (HCl): A strong acid that can quickly dissolve metal oxides, but is corrosive to metal substrates.

- Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄): Strong acid, suitable for removing stubborn dirt, but should be used with caution.

- Citric acid: Weakly acidic, relatively mild, suitable for cleaning sensitive materials.

- Phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄): It has corrosion inhibition properties and is commonly used for cleaning and passivation of metal surfaces.

 5. Chelating agents

Chelating agents are used to soften water and prevent calcium and magnesium ions in the water from reacting with the components in the cleaning agent to form insoluble precipitates. Common chelating agents include:

- EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid): has strong chelating ability and can form stable complexes with a variety of metal ions.

- Sodium citrate: It has good chelating properties and environmental protection, and is suitable for a variety of cleaning occasions.

- Sodium Gluconate: It has mild chelating properties and is suitable for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

 6. Additives

Additives are used to enhance the performance of degreasers or improve their use experience. Common additives include:

- Defoaming agent: used to control foam during the cleaning process to avoid affecting the cleaning effect or equipment operation.

- Thickeners: such as cellulose and polyacrylamide, used to adjust the viscosity of the degreaser to make it easier to use.

- Preservatives: used to prevent microbial contamination of degreasers during storage and use.

- Fragrance: used to cover up the chemical smell of degreaser and improve user experience.

 7. Water

Water is the main component of water-based degreasers, usually accounting for more than 50% of the total amount of degreasers. The quality of water has an important influence on the performance of degreasers. Deionized water or softened water is usually required to avoid impurities in the water affecting the cleaning effect.

 Summarize

The main ingredients of degreasers include surfactants, solvents, alkaline substances, acidic substances, chelating agents and additives. These ingredients work synergistically to effectively remove grease, dirt and organic pollutants from the surface of objects. Depending on the specific application scenario and target material, the formula of the degreaser will be adjusted to achieve better cleaning effect and safety. When using a degreaser, you should pay attention to the impact of its ingredients on the material and the environment, and follow the relevant safety operating specifications.