Process C-8, perspiration and fingerprint removal.

TM 38-260

CAUTION

KEEP SOLVENT AWAY FROM OPEN FLAME OR SOURCE OF SPARKS. DO NOT BREATHE

VAPORS. PROVIDE ADEQUATE VENTILATION, WEAR RUBBER GLOVES, WORK APRONS, AND

SAFETY GOGGLES. WHEN NOT IN USE, COVERS SHOULD BE CLOSED ON SOLVENT TANKS. A

CARBON DIOXIDE FIRE EXTINGUISHER, PERSONNEL TRAINED ON THEIR USE, AND FIRE

BLANKETS SHOULD BE AVAILABLE IN THE VICINITY OF THE SOLVENT CLEANING.

The three general ways of accomplishing solvent cleaning are as follows:

(1) Solvent cleaning immersion. This process is applicable to components, accessories, and tooling which are

small enough to be immersed in tanks of petroleum solvent. The items are initially cleaned by complete immersion in a

tank of solvent. To aid in the cleaning process, agitate, brush, or scrub parts whenever possible. The initial cleaning

shall be followed by immersing the items in a second tank of clean solvent (agitate if possible). The second tank is used

as a rinse to remove contaminated film remaining after immersion in the first tank.

(2) Cleaning by brushing or wiping. This process is applicable to larger items and basic machines of such size

that immersion would not be practicable. The solvent shall be applied to bare metal areas of equipment by brush or

saturated cloth. The cleaning should be a combination of soaking and scrubbing or wiping as necessary. Repeat the

application of clean solvent until all contaminants are removed. Rinse with a clean cloth soaked in clean solvent.

Exercise care to clean only the areas which will not be damaged by solvent. Drain or wipe off excess solvent with a

clean cloth.

(3) Solvent spray cleaning. This process may be used for the removal of oil, grease, sludge, chips, dust, or light

preservation compounds on items of simple construction, free of cavities and indentations. The force of the spray

mechanically removes insoluble contaminants. Spray cleaning is most effective on metal parts or simple assemblies that

can be reached by the sprayed solvents. Solvent spray cleaning should not be used on assemblies with surfaces that will

be damaged by, or trap solvent. The spray pumping system should have sufficient pressure and should have the spray

nozzles placed so that all surfaces of the parts to be cleaned are reached by a high-pressure stream of solvent. Drain or

wipe off excess solvent with a clean cloth.

f. Process C-8, perspiration and fingerprint removal. After cleaning and drying, and before application of

preservatives, all critical functions or close tolerance surfaces shall be treated for the removal of fingerprints and

perspiration residue using process C-8. The solvent used for this process should conform to MIL-C-15074. In addition to

removing fingerprints and perspiration residue, this solvent is also effective for removing some acids and other inorganic

contaminants. Perspiration and fingerprint removal will always follow, never precede, other cleaning processes. Clean

gloves should be worn at all times when handling parts being cleaned by this process. The following procedures are

recommended for cleaning perspiration and fingerprints from IPE.

(1) Any item which has been contaminated during interim storage following any of the cleaning processes

described in this section, must be recleaned by using the solvent cleaning

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