ThreeBond Technical News
Issued July 1, 201994

Industrial Cleaning Agents, Brake and Parts Cleaner
Introduction

Cleaning can be defined in a number of ways we remove stains with a liquid or gas, whether
rinsing, washing or cleansing. By “liquid” we mean something like water or a solvent, and by “gas”
we mean things like compressed air or nitrogen gas. There are many types of stains to remove,from sebum and sweat in ordinary environments to paint and oil deposits, and even contaminationfrom metal powders. In order to remove these efficiently, it is vital to select and use the rightcombination of cleaners and cleaning methods for what is being removed.
At ThreeBond, we offer a broad lineup of cleaning agents for part used in industrial application,and have released a wide variety of products since our founding. One of our main products is brakeand parts cleaner used to clean are around automobile brake parts.
In this article, we will discuss the basic concept of cleaning, our industrial cleaning agents and ourbrake and parts cleaner.

Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................1
1. Stain Classification and Cleaning
Performance...........................................2
2. Cleaning Methods...................................2
3. Components of Cleaning Agents............2
3-1. Solvents...........................................2
3-2. Acid and Alkali Agents.....................2
3-3. Surfactants......................................3
3-4. Cleaning Aids...................................3

4. Industrial Cleaning Agents......................3
4-1. Nonaqueous Cleaning Agents.........3
4-2. Semi-Aqueous Cleaning Agents......4
4-3. Aqueous Cleaning Agents...............4
4-4. Our Industrial Cleaning Agents........5
5. Brake and Parts Cleaner.........................5
5-1. ThreeBond 6651F.............................7
5-2. Recharge System.............................7
Closing........................................................81

1.

Stain Classification and Cleaning
Performance

In order to efficiently remove the various kinds of stains
around us, it is important to select cleaning methods andagents suitable for the type of stain to be removed, as wellas to appropriately select and set the cleaning equipment
and usage conditions. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully
observe the type and condition of the stain to determine theworking environment in which cleaning is to be performed.
Stain types can be broken up into hydrophilic, hydrophobic
and mixed (Table 1).
For example, organic solvent-based cleaning agents are lesseffective on hydrophilic stains, while water-based cleaning
agents are less effective on hydrophobic ones. In addition,
mixed stains are a combination of the two, so they cannot becleaned with a solvent-based or water-based cleaning agent
alone. Furthermore, when selecting a cleaning agent, youmust first thoroughly check laws and regulations such as theIndustrial Safety and Health Act and the Fire Service Act (inthe case of Japan) as well as possible effects on the humanbody and the cost.

2.

Cleaning Methods

Cleaning methods can be broadly broken down into chemicaland physical (Table 2).
Chemical cleaning removes stains through chemicalmechanisms such as dissolution or decomposition. The

cleaning agent is designed as needed for the intended purposeby combining multiple components, such as solvents, acids,
alkali agents and surfactants.
Physical cleaning, on the other hand, removes stains
through polishing with materials like cloth, or by spraying
liquid at high pressure. By combining chemical and physicalcleaning, it is possible to improve performance, such as when
applying a cleaning agent then wiping with a microfiber
cloth or some other high cleaning performance cloth.

3.

Components of Cleaning Agents

Cleaning agents primarily consist of the following
components.

3-1. Solvents
These are liquids used to dissolve a substance. Water isgenerally used for hydrophilic stains, while organic solvents
such as hydrocarbon, alcohol, chlorine, bromine and fluorine
are mainly used for fats, oils and other hydrophobic stains.
3-2. Acid and Alkali Agents
These are mainly used in water-based cleaning agents toadjust acidity and alkalinity. They work to change the stain
to something that is easier to break down then dissolve anddisperse in water. Hydrochloric acid and citric acid areoften-used acids, while sodium hydroxide and carbonate areused as alkali agents.

Table 1 Stain Classification
Stain classification
Hydrophilic
Hydrophobic
MixedDefinition

ExampleDissolves in water

Easily breaks down in water
Does not dissolve in water

Does not easily break down in water
A combination of hydrophilic andhydrophobic

Soil, mud, proteins and scale
Oils and fats such as mineral oils, paints and soot
Stains on outside walls (mixture of oils, fats, soil, soot, etc.)

Table 2 Cleaning Methods
Type

Cleaning mechanism
Dissolution

ChemicalPhysical2

Characteristics
Dissolves and removes stains

Separation/dispersal

Separates dirt from the object being cleaned and disperses
the stain in the liquid

Decomposition

Decomposes the stain and turns it into a different substance

PolishingRemoves stains by rubbing with a cloth, etc.

Stirring

Removes stains through convection while stirring

High pressurizing

Sprays a high pressure liquid to remove the stain

3-3. Surfactants
Surfactants are chemical compounds that are structuredof both water-compatible hydrophilic groups and oilcompatible hydrophobic groups. Depending on chemical
structure, surfactants may possess wetting, emulsifying,dispersion stabilizing or solubilizing action, so various kindsof surfactants are combined to design the optimum agent forthe stained to be cleaned. Through these actions, surfactants
remove stains in a process of adsorption, permeation,
exfoliation/micelle formation, and emulsification/dispersion(Fig. 1).
3-4. Cleaning Aids
Cleaning aids (also known as builders) are additives used inconjunction with surfactants. For example, EDTA and otherchelating agents capture metal ions that hinder the function of
surfactants, while silicates and similar compounds maintainthe alkaline state of a cleaning agent and carboxymethyl
cellulose and other cellulose derivatives are added in orderto improve dispersion stability and prevent recontamination.

4.

Industrial Cleaning AgentsThe components discussed in section 3 are combined todesign a variety of cleaning agents. Cleaning agents used
in industrial applications are classified according to theircomponents into nonaqueous, semi-aqueous and aqueous(Table 3).

4-1. Nonaqueous Cleaning Agents
Nonaqueous cleaning agents remove stains mainly throughthe dissolving ability of the organic solvents discussed in
section 3-1. Based on the type of organic solvent used as1) Adsorption
Surfactant

Hydrophobicstain2) Permeation

the main component, they are categorized into hydrocarbon,
alcohol, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.
Hydrocarbon cleaning agents are powerful degreasers withhigh oil solubility, making them effective for hydrophobic
stains, but ineffective for hydrophilic stains. Majorhydrocarbon solvents include paraffinic, isoparaffinic,
naphthenic and aromatic. These can be combined to adjust
cleaning and drying performance. Certain types of solvents
fall under regulations such as the Ordinance on Prevention ofOrganic Solvent Poisoning or the Ordinance on Preventionof Hazards Due to Specified Chemical Substances (in thecase of Japan), so they may require installation of a local
ventilation system or reports/notification to the appropriateorganizations.
Alcohol cleaning agents are highly permeable andsuitable for cleaning fine parts. They dry quickly, whichmakes their workability excellent. However, while theircleaning performance for hydrophobic stains is inferior tohydrocarbon detergents, they are effective for hydrophilicstains. Mixtures of hydrocarbon and alcohol cleaning agentsare often used to handle both hydrophobic and hydrophilicstains.
Chlorine and bromine cleaning agents do not have a flash
point and are highly effective for hydrophobic stains,particularly those that are difficult to remove with typicalcleaning agents. However, they are also highly carcinogenic
and environmentally hazardous, so they are less often
employed in recent years.
Fluorous cleaning agents are non-flammable solvents withexcellent drying performance and permeability. They also
do not have a flash point. In recent years, they have attracted
a great deal of attention because they are less harmful to3) Exfoliation andmicelle formation

4) Emulsification anddispersion

MicelleHydrophilicgroup

Hydrophobic
stain
Hyd

Stain

roph
stain obic

Hydrophobic
group

Stain

Stain

Stain

Fig. 1 Stain Removal with Surfactants
Table 3 Types of Industrial Cleaning AgentsType

Cleaning mechanism

Components

Appropriate stain type

Nonaqueous

Dissolution

Solvent

Hydrophobic

Semi-aqueous

Dissolution,
separation/dispersal

Water, surfactant, cleaning aid,
solvent

Hydrophobic, mixed

Aqueous

Separation/dispersal,
decomposition/reaction

Water, surfactant, cleaning aid,alkali agent, acid

Hydrophilic, mixed3

the human body but enable effective and safe cleaning. Like
ThreeBond 6651F, which will be discussed later, it is also
possible to design cleaning agents with low ozone depletionand global warming potential.

4-2. Semi-Aqueous Cleaning Agents
Semi-aqueous cleaning agents are mainly made up of waterand are composed of alcoholic solvents that dissolve inwater, surfactants and cleaning aids. They dissolve and wash
away hydrophilic stains with water/alcoholic solvents, whilehandling fats, oils and other hydrophobic stains with solvent
solubility and surfactant dispersion stabilization action.
They effect plastic and rubber parts very little, making themsuitable for removing stains on resins that would crack anddiscolor if nonaqueous cleaning agents were used.
Alcohol mixes and other cleaning agents designed to
be classified as non-hazardous in regulations such as
Japan’s Fire Service Act can be stored without concern ofstipulations such as specified quantities.
However, because their main component is water, they dry
more slowly than nonaqueous cleaning agents, and may
require air blowers or wiping.

4-3. Aqueous Cleaning Agents
Aqueous cleaning agents are mainly composed of water andsurfactants. Unlike semi-aqueous cleaning agents, they don’t
contain alcohol solvents, which is a major bonus as they are
categorized as non-hazardous in Japan’s Fire Service Act andalso do not have a flash point. Their particular effectivenessvaries depending on their acidic/alkaline liquidity, so they
are categorized as acidic, neutral and alkaline.
Acidic cleaning agents are composed of inorganic acids suchas hydrochloric or phosphoric, organic acids such as citric ormalic and surfactants, etc. They clean using acid’s ability to
decompose, and are applied to remove scale (slightly soluble
salt and water deposits) and rust. Caution must be exercised,however, because stronger acids run the risk of accelerating
metal corrosion and resin degradation.
Neutral cleaning agents are mainly surfactants that do not
influence liquidity. They are neutralized by combining
weakly alkaline and acid compounds. They do not clean
as powerfully as other agents, but also do not affect thebase material being cleaned and have very little effect on
the human body. They are used to remove light stains incleaning agents for floors or tableware.
Alkali cleaning agents are composed of strong alkaline salts
such as sodium hydroxide, silicate or carbonate, surfactants
and cleaning aids. They clean through saponification ordeacidification. They boast excellent cleaning performancefor fats and oils and are widely used in industrial aqueous
cleaning agents. However, as with aiding cleaning agents,
they may accelerate corrosion on metal surfaces anddeterioration of resin, so these possibilities must be looked
into before use on the object to be cleaned. Furthermore,
additional caution must be exercised because mixing acidic
and alkaline cleaning agents may produce toxic gases.

Table 4 Products by Stain Type
Stain classification

Hydrophilic

Hydrophobic

Mixed

Stain examples

Cleaning agent type

Product

Soil, mud

Aqueous

TB2771D

Protein

Aqueous

TB6658

Scale

Aqueous

TB6609Mineral oils and other oils
and fats

Nonaqueous

TB2706

PaintsNonaqueous

TB2706J

Soot, etc.

Aqueous

TB2777E

Stains on outside walls(oils, fats, soil, soot, etc.)

Semi-aqueous

TB6651D

Main applications
Floor cleaning
NeutralKitchen cleaning

Cutting fluid removal
Scale removal
Oil and fat removal
Parts cleaningHydrophobic stain removal
Slow drying

Floor cleaning

Strong alkaline
Mixed stain removal

Cleaning the area aroundautomobile brakes* ThreeBond is abbreviated to TB.
* The above is not an exhaustive list. A wide variety of cleaning products are available. Please contact our sales engineers for further
information.

44-4. Our Industrial Cleaning Agents
Here, we’ll summarize our products according to the stains
they are effective for (Table 4). The cleaning agents listed are
not a comprehensive list, so contact our sales representatives
for further information.

5.

way to clean brake devices, and so we established a new
field of products within industrial cleaning agents, aerosol
brake and parts cleaners.
The toxicity of chlorinated solvents and the impact of CFCs
on the global environment because topics of interest in thelate 1980s. So, in the 1990s, we developed aerosol productsthat used LPG or CO2 instead of these toxic gases, withhydrocarbon solvent as the stock solution.

Brake and Parts Cleaner

Brake and parts cleaners are indispensable in vehicle
maintenance. These cleaning agents remove grease, ironpowder and other stains around automobile brake parts. The
shapes of these parts are quite complex, and it is vital that thecleaning agent reach even the smallest part. Furthermore,dust, iron powder and other solids are mixed in with grease,so chemical cleaning alone is insufficient. Initially, a large
amount of labor is required to clean, including removing
brake parts or using multiple cleaning agents and scrubbing
with a wire brush.

The kinds of stains on brake parts continues to changewith advances in engine oil, brake fluid, LLC, etc., which
necessitates change in the design of the agents used to clean
these parts. We continue to make improvements in responseto these changes, and now have a lineup of products tailored
to a variety of situations that are not regulated by Japaneseordinances on organic solvents and chemical substancehazards (Table 5).
By thoroughly understanding the work environment, laws
and regulations as well as the advantages and disadvantagesof each brake and parts cleaner, you can improve theefficiency automobile maintenance.

Therefore, in the late 70s, we focused on aerosol technologythat was just gaining traction to develop TB6600 (brake
device cleaning agent), which combined the physicalcleaning performance of CFC gas injection pressure withthe chemical cleaning performance of chlorinated solvents.
This made it possible to clean parts without removal or
special cleaning tools, greatly improving brake maintenanceworkability. This product made aerosol products a common

TB6602P is a general-purpose cleaner that demonstrates
excellent cleaning performance and workability whenhandling hydrophobic stains. It uses isohexane as themain solvent for grease removal. Although low-purity

Table 5 Representative Brake and Parts Cleaner Characteristics
TB6602P

TB6602L

TB6651D

TB6651F

Cleaning agent type

Nonaqueous

Nonaqueous

Semi-aqueous

Nonaqueous

Main components

Hydrocarbon solvent

Hydrocarbon solvent

Water
Aqueous solvent
Hydrocarbon solvent

Fluorous solvent

Form

Aerosol

Aerosol

18-liter can

Aerosol

Gas

LPG, CO2

LPG, CO2

−

CO2

Odor

Solvent

Solvent

Alcohol

Mild solvent

Cleaning performance(overall)Excellent

Good

PossibleGood

Engine Oil

Excellent

Good

PossibleGood

Gear oilExcellent

Excellent

Good

Excellent

Brake Fluid

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Excellent

Drying performance

Excellent

Good

Possible

Excellent

Drying time

20 to 40 sec

120 to 160 sec

400 to 500 sec

20 to 40 sec

Fire Service Act
classification

Class I petroleum

Class II petroleum

Non-hazardous

Non-hazardous

Specified quantity

200L

1000L

None

None

Flash point

−20°C

22°C

26°C

None

5

isohexane is more cost effective, permeability and cleaning
performance are reduced, so we adopted the optimum
purity to ensure performance. The cleaner is made up ofadditional solvents, including aqueous solvents, making it
able to handle hydrophilic brake fluid. In consideration of
workability, we made moderate adjustments to keep it fromdrying to quickly, an issue when using isohexane on its own.
This cleaner is categorized as a class I petroleum underJapan’s Fire Service Act.

Furthermore, the maximum amount that may be storedaccording the Fire Service Act is quite low. TB6651D
overcomes both issues of safety and storage volumes. As
previously discussed, semi-aqueous and aqueous cleaning
agents often contain surfactants to increase their cleaning
performance. These lubricate brake devices, so TB6651D
does not contain them, and is instead designed as a semiaqueous agent that cleans with only water, alcohol solvent
and hydrocarbon solvent (patented).

TB6602L is a class II petroleum cleaning agent for whena sufficient amount of class I agent cannot be stored due toquantities specified in regulations like the Fire Service Act,or for when class I agents like TB6602P dry too quickly
to suit the intended purpose. Generally, class II petroleum
solvents are less dry and don’t clean as powerfully as class
I petroleums, and many have unique odors. We mix various
solvents at the optimal ratio to create products with powerfulcleaning performance that belies their class II petroleum
status.

From the viewpoint quantity specified in the Fire Service
Act, ignition danger, impact on the human body and othersafety concerns, more and more people have turned to
products like TB6602L and TB6651D. However, TB6602P
boast greater performance than either of these products
in terms of both cleaning and drying, so it is important toconsider both ensuring working time and physical cleaning
together. Additionally, there is considerable risk of ignition
as well as impact on the human body, so there is highdemand from workers to develop products that clean anddry quickly while still being incredibly safe. To meet thesedemands, we released TB6651F (incombustible brake parts
cleaner) in 2017.

Because TB6602P and TB6602L are mainly composed oforganic solvent, there are concerns that they present moreof a threat to the human body than aqueous cleaning agents.

Table 6 Brake and Parts Cleaner Overview
TB6602P
Cleaning action

Advantages

Disadvantages

TB6651D

TB6651F

Dissolution
Dissolution
Separation/dispersal
Separation/dispersal• Excellent workability • Better workability• Handles a variety ofstain types• Wastewater treatment than semi-aqueous
agentsnot required• Flash point poses• Wastewater treatment little risk
• Little rust
not required• Storage quantity• Facilitates cleaning in•
Little rust
not specified by
gaps
Japanese law• Less danger ofignition than class I
petroleum agents

Dissolution
Separation/dispersal• Excellent workability• Little danger to thehuman body
• No flash point• Classified as nonhazardous in theJapanese Fire Service
Act• Storage quantity
not specified by
Japanese law• Handles a limited• Handles a limited• Wastewater treatment • Expensive
number of stain types number of stain types required• May corrode some
• Dangerous to the• Dangerous to the• Dangerous to thematerials
human bodyhuman bodyhuman body• Highly dangerous to• Dangerous to the• Dangerous to thethe environment
environment
environment• May corrode some
• May corrode some
• May corrode somematerials
materials
materials• Class I petroleum, so
storage quantity islimited• Highly dangerous
flash point
Dissolution

Cleaning performance

Excellent

Good

Possible

Good

Workability

Excellent

Good

Possible

Excellent

Fire Service Act

Class I petroleum

Class II petroleum

Non-hazardous*

Non-hazardous

Flash point

−20°C

22°C

26°C

None

* Excluded from application in the Fire Service Act

6

TB6602L

5-1. ThreeBond 6651F
TB6651F is a cleaning agent with a fluorous solvent base andnearly 0 global warming and ozone depletion potential. The
propellant gas is non-flammable and utilizes CO2 , whichenables highly pressurized spray for excellent physicalcleaning performance. TB6651F cleans hydrophobic stains
just as well or better than class II nonaqueous petroleum
cleaning agents and dries as quickly as class I petroleum
cleaning agents (Fig. 2).
In recent years, there have been a series of fires at automobile
work sites caused by static sparks, so countermeasures
are needed. TB6651F can be used safely because it does
not have a flash point, so even if sparks were to occur, it
would not ignite. Additionally, because it is classified as
non-hazardous in the Fire Service Act, there are no issues
concerning specified storage quantities (in Japan). GHS
classification is also not applied, and it has less impact
on both the human body and the environment than othercleaning agents, making this newest addition to our lineupof cleaning agent incredibly safe.

5-2. Recharge System
Dealing with cans is an issue when using aerosol brakeand parts cleaners. After use, they must be disposed of as
industrial waste, which is costly. These cans also present
an issue in terms of environmental issues. To reduce bothof these burdens, we have released a lineup of recharge
systems for our brake and parts cleaners (Fig. 3).
The recharge system is equipment especially for refilling
ThreeBond cans with new cleaning agent (patent pending).
This specialized equipment is driven only with air sent froma compressor, so additional equipment, like a specialized
power supply, is not required. It also is easy to use in small
work spaces because it is designed so that it can be carried
by a single person. The special can is capable of spray at
any angle within 360 degrees, improving work efficiency
by eliminating issues related to spray with only the aerosol
propellant gas. It can be refilled 30 to 60 times with a single
can, greatly reducing disposal costs over conventional
aerosol cans.

Before cleaning
TB1925 (molybdenum disulfide grease) was applied
to the stain model. TB1925 was applied to SUS430
for 1 second, then sprayed with each brake and parts
cleaner for five seconds, and the amount of stain
removed was observed.
Excellent: Grease was completely removed
Good:
Grease was mostly removed
Fair:
The model needed to be wiped down after
to remove the remaining grease.

Excellent
TB6602P

Good

Fair

Good

TB6651D

TB6602L

TB6651F

Recharge System Can and Equipment* The above figures show the combination of recharge system
can and equipment used for non-combustive brake parts
cleaner.
Different cans and equipment correspond to the various
types of brake and parts cleaner, so please contact our sales
representatives for further information.

Fig. 3 Recharge System Equipment and Can

Fig. 2 Representative Brake and Parts Cleaners

7

Closing

In this article, we presented an overview of cleaning agents, then discussed ThreeBond’s lineup of industrial cleaning agentsand brake and parts cleaners. When using cleaning agents, it’s important to understand the properties of that agent to use it inan optimal manner in order to maximize its effectiveness. We hope this article will help you get the most out of your cleaners.
At Threebond, we are working to create new cleaning technologies every day in order to quickly meet our customers’ needs.
In recent years, there has been demand for cleaning agents that are effective while also being safe for the workers using themand the environment. We will continue to focus on developing superior products in order to bring our customers products that
respond to the issues of our changing times.
<References>
1) Tsuji, Susumu. Cleaning and Cleaning Agents, Chijinshokan (1992)
2) Ohki, Kenji and Yagi, Kazuhisa. Basic Cleaning Knowledge, Sangyo Tosho (1993)
3) Hiratsuka, Yutaka. Section 2: Stain Removal / Cleaning Technology Guidelines, Cutting Edge Antifouling and Cleaning
Technology Based on Types, Characteristics and Adhesion Mechanisms of Stains (Collection), p160 - 169, Technical
Information Institute Co., Ltd. (2012)
4) Oya, Masaru. An Illustrated Introduction to Basics and Mechanisms of Cutting Edge Cleaning and Cleaning Agents,
Shuwa System (2011)

ThreeBond Co., Ltd. R&D Headquarters
Development Division 3, Automotive Aftermarket Development Section
Hiroaki Ito
Manabu Kirino

ThreeBond Co., Ltd.
8

4-3-3 Minamiosawa, Hachioji,
Tokyo 192-0398
Tel: +81-42-670-5333