Performance Improvement of Cleaning Formulations for the Exterior Surface of High‐Speed Trains

Abstract

AbstractWith the development of high‐speed railways, there is an increasing demand for high‐efficiency and environmentally friendly high‐speed rail exterior surface cleaning agents. Based on emulsification experiment, contact angle experiment, solvent solubility experiment, and decontamination effect, this article provides the initial formulation for basic high‐speed rail surface cleaner and a variety of improved formulations for special environments. The initial formulation uses cetostearyl alcohol ethoxylate C16‐18‐EO10 (O‐10) and 2‐propyl‐1‐heptano ethoxylate i‐C10‐EO5 (XP‐50) as surfactants, dipropylene glycol butyl ether as solvent, citric acid as chelating agent, benzotriazole (BTA), sodium benzoate (SB), and triethanolamine (TEOA) as corrosion inhibitors. Then it is confirmed that adding 3% sodium percarbonate to the initial formula can effectively clean stubborn dirt. Increasing the BTA mass fraction to 3%, TEOA to 12%, add linoleic acid 2%, aluminum corrosion inhibitor (CIA) 3%, and Antirust 316 3%, can significantly improve the high‐temperature corrosion‐resistant detergent. Controlling BTA concentration not exceed than 0.5%, and adding an appropriate amount of hydrotrope (such as sodium xylenesulfonate), can ensure that the detergent will not delaminate within 6 h at 60°C, which effectively prolong its high temperature stability. The performance test results show that both initial formula and the improved formula meet the basic requirements, but the improved formula shows better performance in terms of cleaning ability, high‐temperature corrosion resistance or high‐temperature stability.