[dfarning]

I got out a crock pot to run some tests on how temperature would affect the cleaning rate. I came up with some surprising results.

I was thinking of cleaning as a chemical reaction where every 10C (about 18F) increase in temperature would double the reaction rate. Thus 4 hours at 110F would be about the same as 2 hours at 130F....

Instead, I found that with my cleaner and soil/grease combination there was a critical temp, about 145-150F. Above this temperature the cleaning/degreasing happened very quickly. In less than 30 minutes the cleaner would disolve through about 1/8 inch of gunk. Where the gunk was, there would now be a clean pile of sand/dirt that would rinse off with flowing water.

I wonder if it has something to do with the viscosity of the oils or greases involved or if it has more to do with the cleaner?

David