Functional test of an ultrasonic bath
For the functional test of an ultrasonic bath, the foil test is recommended - at initial commissioning, then at regular intervals (e.g. ¼-yearly). The frequency of the test is the responsibility of the user. The foil test is a simple procedure for displaying the intensity and distribution of cavitation in an ultrasonic bath. For this purpose, an aluminium foil stretched on a foil test frame is inserted. This is perforated or destroyed by cavitation to a certain degree depending on the sonication time.
For the reproducibility of the test results, it is important that the test conditions are always the same:
- Filling the oscillating tank up to the filling level marking
- Temperature of the sonication fluid
- degassing time
- Positioning the frame
- Film type (brand, thickness)
- sonication duration
- Type and concentration of the ultrasound preparation
Liquid for the foil test:
In order to obtain sufficiently strong cavitation, the interfacial tension of the water used must also be reduced for the foil test with the help of preparations containing surfactants.
We recommend the following ultrasound preparations:
TICKOPUR R 33, TICKOPUR R 30, TICKOPUR TR 7,
TICKOMED 1, STAMMOPUR R, STAMMOPUR DR 8
If none of these preparations is available, a neutral or mildly alkaline preparation that does not destroy aluminium should be used. The preparation must be approved by the manufacturer for use in the ultrasonic bath.
Test result and documentation:
If the test conditions are always the same, the test result is to be assessed according to the perforated area of the films. The perforated areas of the films should always have approximately the same extension and distribution - they are never congruent.
Regular foil tests are the only way to ensure constant process monitoring, e.g. for the reprocessing of medical devices.
In addition, the slides can be archived in a suitable way (scan, photo, etc.). Comparison of the slides is thus possible at any time.