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February 16, 2021How to clean bearings effectively and safely
Exposure to regular bearing and part cleaners can cause uneasiness in the short term and adversely affect health in the long run.
Bearing cleaning and re-greasing is a part of the regular ‘Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul’ activity in all industries. Typically, the dismounted bearings contain used grease debris, scales and other foreign residues which need to be cleaned thoroughly for inspection prior to lubricating with fresh grease and re-use. Improper cleaning can impact performance and diminish bearing life. Based on the type of bearing, manufacturers have provided clear instructions on the process of dismounting and cleaning for small to large bearings.
Machine and Manual Cleaning
While bearing manufacturers recommend an oil bath or rinse tank, It is common practice for maintenance teams in industries to set-up component cleaning machines that use water-based cleaners. This set-up is commonly observed in industries such as Railways where the quantum of bearings to be cleaned is huge and regular. Bearings cleaned through such parts washers with water-based emulsions are dried out thoroughly with hot air or through vacuum dry outs. BECHEM’s range of water-based cleaners (Beruclean 3843, Beruclean 113 EMF and Beruclean 111 EHF) for high pressure cleaning systems have provided excellent cleaning results in such set ups.
The alternate arrangement observed in heavy industries such as Steel and metal processing that operate with large, heavy duty bearings is to soak the used bearings in rinse tanks or by manually spraying and rinsing them with the cleaning agent. Subsequently the operator brushes off the residues from the bearing. Traditionally light oil, kerosene or degreaser based on Isopropyl alcohol are recommended as the cleaning agent. However, the industry practice has been to provide commonly available diesel, mineral turpentine oil (MTO) and kerosene as the cleaning agent to its Maintenance team.
Are cleaning agents safe?
While cleaning effect with diesel is good, the low flash point and continuous exposure of the personnel to the nauseating odour of diesel renders the working environment vulnerable. Apart from the known symptoms such as irritation to skin and eyes, continuous exposure to diesel without safety gear can affect central nervous system, immune and hormonal systems in adults.
Continuous exposure to kerosene is known to cause irritation to eyes and skin in humans. Studies have shown that chronic exposure to kerosene can result in drowsiness, irritability, restlessness and even convulsions. Flash point of kerosene varies between 23°C to 61°C.
Owing to their low flash points and associated safety concerns, authorities in many countries prohibit and dissuade industries from using diesel and kerosene as a cleaning.
Even more dangerous is the use of MTO as a cleaning agent, the health hazards and environmental impact associated with this traditional cleaning agent has been well established. Fortunately, with increased awareness, the use of MTO has waned within the industry. Disposal of used cleaning agent is also a factor that is controlled by Authorities and expensive to manage.
Beruclean Eco Vs. Diesel Vs. Kerosene
| Characteristic | Beruclean Eco | Diesel | Kerosene |
| Odour | Neutral, almost no smell | Strong nauseating | Strong odour |
| Flash point | 70°C | 32°C | 23°C to 61°C |
| Biodegradable | Yes | No. Increases disposable costs | No. Increases disposable costs |
| Evaporation rate | Low | High | High |
| Exposure hazard | None | High probability. Can cause skin and eye irritation. Can affect nervous system | Causes skin and eye irritation. Chronic exposure can lead to drowsiness, irritability and convulsions |
Beruclean Eco: High performance cleaner, biodegradable and safe
Beruclean Eco is a high-performance cleaner for de-greasing and cleaning of used industrial bearings and machinery components. Beruclean Eco is NSF H1 certified (food grade approved for incidental contact) and is biodegradable as well (OECD 301 F: 70% after 28 days). Compared to diesel which has a low flash point of 32°C, Beruclean Eco has a higher flash point of 70°C reducing the risk of accidental fire. The colourless cleaning liquid removes all types of oil and grease contaminations, waxes and typical residues within used bearing and parts. Beruclean Eco can be used for regular manual cleaning processes as well as in flood and immersion baths and ultrasonic cleaning machines.
As a bearing and parts cleaner with lower evaporation rate, Beruclean Eco is more stable than diesel thereby reducing the overall consumption rate. Irrespective of the size of bearing, Beruclean Eco has proven cleaning performance across industries including Steel, Automotive Components and Food & Pharma as well.
Why Beruclean Eco
- Ensures excellent cleaning effect. Effectively removes stubborn residues, contaminants and used grease from bearings and parts to be cleaned
- Provides temporary protection against rust
- Low evaporation rate reduces cleaner consumption compared to diesel, kerosene and MTO
- Reduces cleaning cost per component when used in immersion baths or cleaning machines (ultrasonic appliances and atomisers)
- Operator friendly as Beruclean Eco is odourless unlike other traditional cleaning agents, thus ensuring a pleasant and safe work environment
- Readily bio-degradable, reduces disposable cost
- Also suitable for food processing industries as Beruclean Eco is NSF H1 approved.
For more information on Beruclean Eco, cost benefits and its performance or for a trial sample connect with us. Click Here.
