An ultrasonic cleaner, the object to be cleaned is placed in a chamber containing a suitable solution (in an aqueous or organic solvent, depending on the application). In aqueous cleaning agents, surfactants (eg, laundry detergent) are often added to allow the dissolution of non-polar compounds such as oils and fats. An ultrasonic transducer built into the chamber, or lowered into the fluid, produces ultrasonic waves in the fluid by resizing in concert with an electrical signal that oscillates at the ultrasonic frequency. This creates compression waves in the tank liquid that "tears" the liquid, leaving many millions of microscopic "voids" or "partial vacuum bubbles" (cavitation). These bubbles collapse with enormous energy; They achieve temperatures and pressures of the order of 5,000 K and 20,000 pounds per square inch, they are so small that they only clean and remove surface dirt and contaminants. The higher the frequency, the smaller the knots between the points of cavitation, which allows cleaning of more complex details. The transducers are usually piezoelectric (eg, made with lead zirconate titanate (PZT), barium titanate, etc.), but are sometimes magnetostrictive. Often harsh chemicals used as cleaners in many industries are not needed, or used in much lower concentrations, with ultrasonic agitation. Ultrasounds are used for industrial cleaning, and are also used in many medical and dental techniques and industrial processes.
Ultrasonic cleaning is a process that uses ultrasonics (usually 20-400 kHz) and an appropriate cleaning solvent (sometimes tap water) to clean items. Ultrasound can be used with only water, but the use of a solvent suitable for the element to be cleaned and the type of dirt present increases the effect. The cleaning usually lasts between three and six minutes, but can also exceed 20 minutes, depending on the object to be cleaned. Ultrasonic cleaners are used to clean many different types of objects, including jewelry, lenses and other optical parts, watches, dental and surgical instruments, tools, coins, fountain pens, golf clubs, fishing reels, blinds, firearms, Musical instruments, industrial parts and electronic equipment. They are used in many jewelery shops, watchmaking establishments and electronic repair shops.