Removing Teamac Chlorvar Chlorinated Rubber Paint

High-quality silver and gold plated cutlery demands specialised cleaning processes that can effectively remove stubborn contaminants whilst preserving the delicate metal finishes that define these premium pieces. When valuable cutlery becomes contaminated with industrial materials such as Teamac Chlorvar Chlorinated Rubber Paint, conventional cleaning methods prove inadequate and risk damaging the precious metal surfaces. The challenge lies in selecting cleaning techniques and agents powerful enough to break down resilient paint residues yet gentle enough to maintain the integrity and lustre of silver and gold plating. Ultrasonic cleaning technology, combined with carefully selected NEP-free solvents and a systematic multi-stage approach, provides an effective solution for restoring contaminated cutlery to its original pristine condition without compromising the delicate metal finishes.

Materials and Equipment

• Components: Cutlery
• Material: Silver, silver plated, gold plated
• Contaminants: Teamac Chlorvar Chlorinated Rubber Paint
• Cleaning Agents: ALLSTRIP (Universal NEP-FREE solvent)
• Ultrasonic Cleaning Machines: K-Sonic 6 Benchtop ultrasonic cleaner and Versa Genius 120 rinse tank

ALLSTRIP is a universal NEP-free solvent specifically designed for ultrasonic processes. It rapidly eliminates glues, polishes, waxes, dyes, and monomer residues on ophthalmic and precision glasses and metals. The solvent is highly effective but leaves an oil-like residue that must be thoroughly rinsed away after the cleaning process.

Cleaning Process

The cleaning process involved two main stages: ultrasonic cleaning followed by rinsing. The K-Sonic 6 benchtop ultrasonic cleaner was used with ALLSTRIP at 100% concentration (neat) at room temperature (20°C). Initial testing was performed on a single spoon to verify the effectiveness of the process before proceeding with the full batch of cutlery.

Stage 1 - Ultrasonic Cleaning: Components were placed in a wash basket and submerged in neat ALLSTRIP solution in the K-Sonic 6 ultrasonic cleaner. The ultrasonic cleaning cycle ran for 5 minutes at 20°C, effectively breaking down and removing the chlorinated rubber paint contamination from all surfaces of the cutlery.

Stage 2 - Rinsing: Following ultrasonic cleaning, ALLSTRIP leaves a thick oil-like residue on the parts that must be completely removed. Components were transferred to the Versa Genius 120 rinse tank containing tap water at 20°C. The cutlery was rinsed for 1 minute to thoroughly remove all traces of the ALLSTRIP residue, leaving the silver surfaces clean and restored to their original condition.

Results

The cleaning trial successfully removed all traces of the Teamac Chlorvar Chlorinated Rubber Paint from the silver, silver plated, and gold plated cutlery. The two-stage process of ultrasonic cleaning with ALLSTRIP followed by thorough water rinsing proved highly effective. The initial test on a single spoon confirmed the process parameters before processing the entire batch, ensuring consistent results across all pieces. The cutlery was restored to its original appearance without any damage to the precious metal finishes.

Before and After