Can Ultrasonic Waves Dissolve Metal?

I show you how ultrasonic cleaning works and check if it can dissolve metal foil.

[mattp]

Under the right conditions, the cavitation bubbles can collapse with enough energy that visible light is emitted, a phenomenon known as sonoluminescence. My son worked on such a project as he was pursuing his physics PhD. A photo from one of his experiments used to be on the Wikipedia page on sonoluminescence, but I don’t think it’s still there. Regardless, it is very cool to see!

[ethan_webb]

I don't understand how this man never runs out of video ideas, what a crazy work ethic

[royksk]

While I was working in kitchen design/sales about 40 years ago, we displayed a futuristic stainless steel sink which cleaned the dishes by ultrasound. One of the odd selling features was that if you were tired after a long day on your feet, it was suggested that you could sit on the kitchen worktop with your feet in the sink full of water, switch on and get your feet all tingly and fresh feeling. We didn’t sell any of the sinks! 🤪

[Xanderviceory]

We use an Ultrasonic Cleaner to clean Vinyl records at Wonderland Records. It's really neat that we use sound to clean physical sound mediums.

[MiguelHernandez-ndpr]

As a child, and still as an adult, I have had a love for science. This helps my children to have the same love for learning. You make great videos! Thanks

[DnBFinch]

This actually causes a lot of drag with standard propellers. There are some fancy new props which prevent cavitation and they are 30% more fuel efficient (which is an absolutely crazy number). They still are super expensive but could revolutionize the boating industry.

[jimhenry]

I'm a polymer and formulation chemist.
You demo just gave me huge ideas for solving a number of issues!!!!

Many thanks for this brilliant treatise!!!!

[thisguy]

If I had you as a science /chemistry/ physics teacher when I was in school, I would likely have turned out to be a completely different person. That said, I wouldn’t trade anything and everything in existence for my family. SO, thank you for wrinkling my brain with every single one of these videos, I’m glad I subbed when I did! Good fortune and endless prosperity to you and your family!

[varkboys]

Just got recertified for soldering (IPC J-Standard) and in the J-STD-001 guidebook there is actually a rule that you cannot use ultrasonic cleaning on a CBA (Conputer board assembly) that has solder and/or components on it. This video is a fine demonstration as to why this is a rule.

[MoldyStir-Fry]

Another fun fact, cavitation has been a major problem specifically in diesel truck engines where the cylinder sleeves get eaten away over time and eventually leak or even explode!

[deucedeuce]

Cavitation, like with those shrimp/crabs that shoot bubbles. I think there are Pistol Shrimp, Mantis Shrimp and another one I can't remember. (and probably others).

[zan]

The condensation of this much information into a 5.5 minute video is an art form.

[vaakdemandante]

I wish there was some more information about safety of those devices. I don't know about those small units but industrial ones have a designated safety zone where no one should be present when the device operates.

This is due to the fact that the 40+ kHz vibrations don't only affect the water in the device. They propagate into the air and then affect things outside the device as well. Like retina in your eyes, that is immersed in a fluid, so this 40+ kHz energy is doing damage to your eyes, even if though it has been greatly reduced and cannot be felt directly.

I don't know it for sure but I would bet that the buzzing we hear is some harmonic of this ultrasound that falls within our hearing range, and that would imply that the ultrasound is in the air too. I wonder and love to hear if anybody noticed if/how one's pets react when an ultrasound cleaner is turned on somewhere nearby.

[Madlion]

Amazing video to show how much our intuition often underestimates simple phenomena that can cause great damage if left unrecognized or benefits if understood and applied correctly.

[aksfactory]

Cavitation can also happen in cars' cooling system when you modify the engine to have a higher rev limiter so the water pump spins faster than what it was rated for, thus leading to cavitation

[willpulera]

This dude does the dopest science experiments.

[velvetthundr]

Cavitation is a serious problem with ship propellers. Which is why they need regular maintenance.

[blanko_o]

Can it clean your teeth or is it dangerous?

[duggydo]

I will show your video to the guys working on our pumps. It's one of the best explanations I've seen.

[Nonya]

I run out of interesting things to learn and look into or projects to dink around with but this guy always manages to find and create top tier videos thanks again AL!