Steel, brass and ceramic sieves are used in labs to identify the chemical and physical properties of a wide range of solids. In order to study and determine the shape and size of the particles, fineness, flow characteristics, etc laboratories need sieves of different grades to obtain a homogeneous sample used for various tests. The sieves used in research labs are referred to as ‘analytical’ sieves since they have a mesh with extremely small dimensions of 200 mm or less.
Organic and inorganic materials like coal, sand, soil, feldspars, crushed ore, granite, clay, seeds and grain, etc undergo sieve analysis as it is a very simple method of deducing particle sizes. Sieves with larger mesh dimensions are easy to clean. All it needs is a gentle tapping on the sides of the frame of the sieve, cleaning it with a sieve brush followed by running a fine cloth over it. So, a few small and easy steps are sufficient to get these sieves all set for future tests.
On the other hand, fine and coarse particles tend to get trapped in the analytical sieves’ very fine mesh. This could lead to inaccuracy of future analyses unless they flushed out periodically. This entire regime of usage renders these analytical sieves extremely dirty because of the intrinsic properties of the test substances that are studied and researched for experimental purposes.
Analytical sieves require vigorous cleaning due to their extremely small crevices. Most commonly used are the 200mm diameter sieves. Their main use is for sieving chemicals, a samples of manufactured powders, soil and cement. The most efficient way to clean them is through ultrasonic cleaning. Contaminants of all sizes are effectively removed using ultrasonic cleaners. They produce ultrasonic waves that generate powerful vibrations through rapid cavitation to eliminate the particles lodged in the sieve.
Full-immersion cleaning is possible using these ergonomic units that are extremely easy to operate. Before, most of the ultrasonic cleaners manufactured could not accommodate a 200mm sieve for thorough cleaning . Fortunately, sophisticated and efficient ultrasonic cleaners manufactured today have have simplified the normally tedious task of cleaning analytical sieves. A 200 mm diameter, eight-inch sieve can substantially be placed in these cleaners whose tank and cover are made of stainless steel. Their average volume is nearly a gallon and a half or nearly six liters.
Among the high-end units currently available in the market is the ultrasonic sieve cleaner that comes with a built-in rotation holder. In the busy lab, this is a productivity boon. It can hold and clean four four sieves simultaneously. It has a capacity of nearly seven and a half gallons or twenty eight liters. The added function of rotation produces better results since it makes the entire cleaning extremely intensive. What’s more, the cleaning process is also faster with these units.. When compared with cleaners that lack rotation holders, this combined technology incorporated into one unit saves the lab a lot of time and money.