Environmentally Friendly Cleaners for Removing Tar from Metal Surfaces

摘要

As part of its mission, the Sustainable Painting Operations for the Total Army (SPOTA) working group evaluated solvents that will not impact the environment while cleaning armament equipment, in particular ground vehicles. ERDC-CERL researchers, in support of the SPOTA program, were tasked with conducting a preliminary study and develop a methodology to evaluate environmentally friendly cleaners that would be effective in cleaning road tar on military vehicles. The study involved an extensive literature review of commercial environmentally friendly tar removers (both products and methodologies). Twenty six commercial tar removal products were identified as possible solvents for removing the tar stains from ground vehicles. In addition, laboratory coupon evaluations were conducted using three select commercial products. This report presents the results of the search for commercial tar removal solvent systems, and a laboratory evaluation of select solvent systems for removing tar from steel coupons.