Pretreatment Audit Checklist: The 40 Points That Decide Adhesion
Pre-treatment & Cleaning Technician - Management

Pretreatment Audit Checklist: The 40 Points That Decide Adhesion

Pretreatment Audit Checklist: The 40 Points That Decide Adhesion — 前处理 40 项审计清单:决定结合力的全部检查点(可打印).

This is a working reference, not theory: every table and checklist here is designed to be printed and used at the line. It complements the failure case studies published in the Technician Hub with the standard documents those cases eventually produced.

Free alkalinity
Titrate every shift for soak cleaners
Ultrasonic frequency
28-40 kHz for hardware degreasing
Rinse conductivity
<50 µS/cm final rinse target
Pretreatment Audit Checklist: The 40 Points That Decide Adhesion
Pretreatment Audit Checklist: The 40 Points That Decide Adhesion

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

MistakeWhy It HappensPractical Fix
1. Topping up cleaner without titrationBuild-up of oils and soil defeats chemistryTitrate free alkalinity each shift; dump on schedule
2. Rinsing in still water too longLoaded rinse drags soil into next stageOverflow or counter-flow; check conductivity

Best Practices

  • Titration log at the tank, not in the office
  • Basket loading diagram posted above the tank
  • Weekly conductivity check on every rinse

Tank Care Sequence

  1. Shift titration - Free alkalinity vs control band (Never top up without titrating)
  2. Load baskets per diagram - Parts do not shadow (Overloading kills cavitation)
  3. Check final rinse conductivity - <50 µS/cm (High reading = change/overflow first)

Log at the tank | Escalate 2 out-of-band readings in a row

Bath Control Reference Data

Typical control points for alkaline soak and ultrasonic lines.

ParameterReferenceWhy It Matters
Soak cleaner concentrationTitrate free alkalinity 1-2 pointsBelow range = poor wetting; above = carryover
Ultrasonic bath temperature50-65 °CBest cavitation for zinc alloy parts
Final rinse conductivity<50 µS/cmHigher values drag salts into plating
Tank dump schedulePer titration trend, not calendar onlyBuilt-up soil defeats chemistry

Ten-minute titrations ended blister season

Scenario. Summer blisters were blamed on weather while cleaner strength drifted.

Action. Per-shift titration with a posted control band and escalation rule.

Result. Blisters fell to near zero without adding a single tank.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I titrate the cleaner?

Every shift for soak cleaners. Topping up without titration is how tanks drift out of control.

What conductivity means the rinse must change?

Above 50 µS/cm on the final rinse, start overflow or change water. Higher values drag salts into plating.

Can I extend tank life beyond the dump schedule?

Only with titration trend data showing chemistry still holds. Soil build-up defeats the chemistry before visible failure.

Implementation Roadmap

StepFrequency
Titration kit at tank and log liveDay 1
Rinse conductivity limits setWeek 1
40-point audit first runWeek 2
Audit review and fix cycleMonthly

What Would You Like to Solve?

If you would like this checklist or template adapted to your own line and part mix, contact QLQ — we supply the full equipment and chemistry package along with the working documents that make it run.

Barrel Loading Reference Card by Part Type: Weights, Volumes and Mix Ratios
Designing a Rinse Water Management Plan: Conductivity Limits, Counter-Flow and Overflow Schedules