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Ohio EPA
Fact Sheet
Number 10
December 1992
Aerospace Guidance and Metrology Center
(Cleaning inertial
guidance and navigation system components)
The Aerospace Guidance and Metrology Center (AGMC) in Heath,
Ohio, is responsible for the repair of inertial systems and components
used in the majority of the aircraft and missile systems in the
U.S. Air Force. The sophisticated assemblies that form the nucleus
of inertial guidance and navigation systems are extremely susceptible
to microscopic contamination. System failure can be caused by
a particle less than one micron (one millionth of a meter) in
diameter. As a result great care must be taken to assure
consistently clean components leave the facility. In the past,
the extensive precision cleaning, of these components was performed
with ozone layer depleting compounds including 1,1,1-trichloroethane.
After extensive testing and development by AGMC personnel, aqueous
processes were determined
suitable for the precision cleaning of the vast majority of the
Center's parts and assemblies, which consist of various metals,
epoxies and plastics. The aqueous process parameters, include
water temperature, detergent solution, wash time, rinse time,
water quality and the proper orientation and loading of parts
in the cleaning equipment, can all be manipulated to properly
clean most parts and assemblies without damage. One exception
has been those parts which, because of their fragile nature,
cannot withstand the surface tension of water. There are very
few parts that fit this category.
The establishment of an aqueous precision cleaning center concept
resulted in the reduction of TCA use and in better control over
the consistency of cleaning. Four precision cleaning centers
have been put into operation and twelve more are to be completed
by August, 1993. The overall goal at AGMC is to eliminate the
use of all ozone layer-depleting solvents by the end of 1994.
The reduction in the use of TCA alone will be over 50,000 pounds
per year.
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention,
please call the Office of Pollution Prevention at 614/644-3469. A
printed copy of the Office of Pollution Prevention publications
distribution list, "Pollution Prevention Information Available
from Ohio EPA", may also be ordered by calling 614/644-3469.
http://www.epa.state.oh.us/opp/fact10.txt
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