Oils requiring cleaning are broadly categorized into saponifiable and non-saponifiable oils. Saponifiable oils are primarily animal and vegetable oils, which decompose under alkali to produce water-soluble fatty acid salts; this process is commonly called saponification. This type of oil is typical of household kitchens.
In engineering machinery manufacturing, vegetable oil is often used to improve efficiency during drilling and tapping. This type of oil also needs to be considered in the development of low-temperature degreasing agents. Non-saponifiable oils mainly refer to mineral oils (organic hydrocarbons). These oils are insoluble in water, do not undergo saponification with alkali, and adhere firmly to workpieces. This type of oil requires removal through displacement and entrainment methods.
For both types of oils, this degreasing agent, with its very low oil-water interfacial tension, quickly tears apart the dense oil film. The surfactant penetrates between the oil and the metal part, causing emulsification and entrainment, thus completely removing the oil from the metal surface.
