ABSTRACT
In the strictest sense, all high-intensity applications of ultrasonic energy are based upon mechanical effects. Soldering equipment is used in many industrial installations, machining service shops are available, and ultrasonic atomization equipment is used both in home and hospital humidifiers and has been considered for use in atomizing fuels for various applications as well as for preparing various powder products. The market for ultrasonic cleaners has benefited from the development of ceramic transducer materials and power electronics. The effectiveness of ultrasonic energy in cleaning materials may be attributed to phenomena that accompany cavitation. In some cases, ultrasonic cleaning may be attributed to the promotion of chemical reaction. When the contamination is a part of the material to be cleaned, cavitation erosion alone is insufficient to perform the cleaning operation at a practical rate. The effectiveness of an ultrasonic cleaner depends upon the cleaning liquid and the ability to provide sufficient energy at the contaminated surface to promote the desired cleansing.
