Cleaning Method
High frequency vibration technique used to dislodge contaminants from dense substrates. The process of acoustic cavitation purging generates microscopic vacuum bubbles within the processing liquor that collapse near the fibre surface to pull out oils or size. This mechanism works regardless of the chemical concentration of the bath.
Bubble Generation
Energy for this process comes from transducers mounted on the tank walls. When acoustic cavitation purging is active, sound waves create alternating high and low pressure zones in the liquid. Small gas pockets expand during the low pressure phase and implode during the high pressure phase.
This implosion releases energy that drives liquor deep into the interstices of the yarn.
Mechanical Force
Shear stress created by the collapsing bubbles provides the physical force required for cleaning. Because acoustic cavitation purging acts at a microscopic scale, it removes particles that are too small for conventional mechanical washers to reach. The frequency of the sound waves determines the size of the bubbles and the intensity of the cleaning action.
Higher frequencies produce smaller bubbles that can penetrate finer fabric structures. Lower frequencies generate larger bubbles that provide an aggressive mechanical cleaning action on heavy weight industrial canvases or thick denier synthetic bundles.
Process Limit
Saturation of the liquor with dissolved gases can reduce the effectiveness of the bubbles. If acoustic cavitation purging is used in a bath that is too hot, the increased vapour pressure inside the bubbles cushions the implosion and lowers the cleaning force. The method is generally restricted to aqueous baths where the viscosity allows for efficient wave propagation.
