ABSTRACT
From the manufacture of individual aircra¨ components to the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of major assemblies, cleaning is an important practice in the aerospace industry. During manufacturing, removal of contamination is o¨en a critical step prior to subsequent metalworking processes. During component inspection, surfaces must be clean of contamination that can mask or shield potential defects. Prior to painting, cleaning is required to remove impurities that can a£ect coating adhesion and functionality. In selective plating operations, masking agents must be cleaned prior to downstream fabricating processes. Other processes with critical cleaning steps include segment bonding, component disassembly, and welding. Ultimately, cleaning processes safeguard an aircra¨ from defective parts that in¬ate maintenance costs and most importantly threaten public safety.
