In the late 1990’s, I received a report from Materials Evaluation Laboratory. The report is copyrighted. The pump company had cleaned UHP WJ on panels supplied by a major oil company. Materials Evaluation Laboratory analyzed the substrate with microscopy and metallurgy compared to abrasive blasting. This was at the time that UHP WJ was scarce and people were wondering what was happening at the surface. Would the surface be stressed?
Their conclusions:
1. Pressurized water effectively removed rust and other corrosion products from metal surfaces. This was done
with minimal disturbance of microstructural features.
2. Methods using abrasive particles were necessary for the removal of adherent mill scale. Those techniques cause
severe distortion of the metal surface.
3. The pressurized water method was considered the best preparatory cleaning for non-destructive inspection.
It offered a more “authentic” representation of the surface than the other methods evaluated.
This material is copyrighted. Please acknowledge the source. The Advisory Council can use it for educational purposes. It is not considered an endorsement nor recommendation.
Materials Evaluation Lab effect on surface 1991
Materials Evaluation Lab effect on surface 1991 Page 1 sanatized
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Interesting reading re: the non-destructive inspection part of your conclusion. Thanks for the analysis.
I didn’t see your comment- but thank you. Look at the WJTA papers from 2011 for Hamid Teimouran- Decoating with Waterjetting. I might not have his name quite right. It’s short and I can send it to you.