Record cleaning formula using Triton X-100

There are two huge threads on this.  Probably you should read them first.

Yes.  I am aware of this.  I have read through numerous threads on other sites and Audiogon; to include the thread entitled "The "Very Best Record Cleaning Formulation."  This is, where running the calculation I am finding no consistency with proportions of IPA or Triton X-100.  IPA proportions are running between 5% to 25%.  How much IPA is too much?  A friend uses straight 70% IPA.  I think his records sound tinny.  Using too much Triton will leave residue, creating the need for, unnecessary, multiple rinses, until water beads.

For these reasons, I was hoping a fellow member would share their experience and proven results.

I’d been using 20% IPA and about .01 to .05% TX100 for decades before the Wizz’s post. As you know he recommended other detergents and ethanol, not IPA.

@toddnlg,

The 20% IPA and 0.02-0.05% TX100 in distilled water listed by @lewm is a good detergent receipt, but it requires a rinse - it's not a no-rinse formula. 

A key property of nonionic surfactants is critical micelle concentration (CMC).  Surfactants when they are first added to water collect at the surface lowering the surface tension. There is a concentration when the surface tension will not decrease any further, and this point is known as CMC.  At concentrations >CMC, micelles are formed, and this is what provides surfactant detergency.  The CMC for TX100 is 189-ppm (~0.02%).  

If you want detergency from the TX100 versus just wetting, you want to add at least 2xCMC = ~0.04% or at 2.5xCMC =~0.05%.  1-US-gal = 3785-ml.  Quantity of TX100 to add for 0.05% = (0.05%/100) x 3785-ml = 1.9-ml, round up to 2-ml.  

For the IPA 70% or 91% is fine, and for 20% here is the equation for volume of IPA to add:  [(0.2-IPA)/(0.7 or 0.91 IPA) x 3785-ml.  Example for using 70% IPA is: (0.2)/0.7) x 3785-ml = rounding down ~1000-ml.  To add this amount to a 1-gal container of distilled water, pour off about 1100-ml, then add the IPA.

FYI, you will come across many that use the nonionic surfactant Tergitol 15-S-9 which is easily purchased Tergitol 15-S-3 and 15-S-9 Surfactant | TALAS.  The benefit of 15-S-9 is that the CMC is only 52-ppm (0.0052%).  Tergitol 15-S-9 is the replacement for TX100, and the lower CMC allows use of much less surfactant, making it easier to rinse.  Also, 15-S-9 mixes into water much faster and that can be seen in the different viscosities - TX100 is 240 cPs, while 15-S-9 is 60 cPs.  

If you wish to dive into this in future detail this book is available for free - Precision Aqueous Cleaning of Vinyl Records-3rd Edition - The Vinyl Press

@toddnlg,

The 20% IPA and 0.02-0.05% TX100 in distilled water listed by @lewm is a good detergent receipt, but it requires a rinse - it's not a no-rinse formula. 

One note of caution - the above blend with 20% IPA is intended for small quantity cleaning processes at room temperature such as manual cleaning or vacuum-RCM which is how @lewm uses it.  The NFPA would classify 20% as flammable and use in a heated ultrasonic tank in large volumes (liters) is risky.  There's always some consternation about this, because there is always someone who will say they did and never had a problem.  You do not know the full circumstances of how they were using it - the UT tank and the environment - how well ventilated.  The vapors coming off the tank will have an IPA concentration higher than the liquid in the tank. 

I always say, never confuse luck with design, so, I am doing due diligence.  But everyone sets their own threshold of how much they what they are willing to gamble, so be it.

I totally agree with Antinn based on personal experience. When I finally adopted the practice of rinsing with distilled water after washing with the above concoction, I definitely heard an improvement compared to prior years when I did not rinse but did everything else the same. So I wash with the solution, then dry with vacuum, then rinse liberally with distilled water, then dry again with vacuum, using VPI HW17.  That's the ticket.

@lewm ​@antinn  Thank you!. This is what I was hoping for.  To confirm proportions with those who are trustworthy and knowledgeable.  The explanation of CMC and their respective ppm is enlightening to, why Terigol is preferred to Triton. Wish I understood this, before I purchased the triton. Will make the switch.

The need for no rinse was not intended.  I do believe rinsing is necessary. My concern was using too much cleaner to, where I would need to rinse repeatedly to remove the excess triton.  The use of ethanol is, probably, fine, as recommended.  It, just, sounds damaging.

I went with Triton X 100, initially, as it seemed to be a positive alternative approved by wizzard,s post. I see why Terigol-S-9 is preferred. Tergitol 15-S-7 was the recommended surfactant.  Not having a commercial account, I was unable to purchase it.  I attempted calling several suppliers. Each supplier required a commercial account. Figured it was worth a phone call to try.  With understanding CMC, I think Tergitol 15-S-9 and, even, Triton I will be fine. Just, need more of it.  Then, to dilute it seems the recommended process is to add the surfactant to IPA first. Then, add the IPA solution to H2O for quicker dispersion. 

@toddnlg,

If you first add alcohol to water and then add the surfactant, the surfactant will not go into solution quickly, it will go through the solution like a stone. If you add 15-S-9 to DIW, it begins dissolving on contact, one of the benefits of 15-S-9. Then adding the alcohol has no effect. However, TX100 as I said above is thicker, does not dissolve as easy, and mixing with alcohol is common.

Otherwise, please appreciate how alcohol affects the surface tension of water - read this post -Record Cleaning And Alcohol-free Fluid | Page 2 | Steve Hoffman Music Forums. Technically, once past 15%, IPA decreases the surface tension faster than ethanol. The Wizz’s preference for ethanol vs IPA had to do with ethanol being a primary-alcohol vs IPA being a secondary-alcohol. There are chemical differences, that technically says ethanol will be a better solvent than IPA, but for cleaning, your splitting hair, because neither of them are very good solvents compared to far more aggressive solvents.

As far as 15-S-7 vs 15-S-9, the CMC for 15-S-7 is 38-ppm with surface tension at 28; while 15-S-9 is 52-ppm with surface tension of 30. But with just 25% of IPA, the surface tension is the same as 15-S-7. The only difference is that for 15-S-9 for 2xCMC you use 104-pppm (104-mg/L) versus 15-S-7 that at 2xCMC is 76-ppm (75-mg/L). BUT, technically, the Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance (HLB) for 15-S-7 is 12.2 while 15-S-9 is 13.3. HLB is technically defined as a measure of the degree to which it is hydrophilic (water loving) or lipophilic (oil loving) and is predictive of its properties.
a. < 10: Lipid-soluble (water-insoluble)
b. 10: Water-soluble (lipid/oil-insoluble)
c. 1 to 3: Anti-foaming agent
d. 3 to 6: Water in oil emulsifier
e. 7 to 9: Wetting and spreading agent
f. 13 to 16: Detergent

Technically, 15-S-9 is classified as a better detergent. The cleaning benefit of having a water-alcohol + surfactant is something called soil-swell and roll-up. Solvents dissolve and surfactant break-up and surround soil. Difficult to remove grease & oil films benefit since the water-alcohol solution can swell the soil which then gives the surfactant (in detergent concentrations) a chance to work at the edges and break the soil free from the surface.

So, after all is said and done, how much different do you think in the real world of cleaning something as mundane as a record, do think the IPA + 15-S-9 which is easily and cheaply obtained is going to be, if any difference at all, so you end-up splitting hairs debating a variance that in the real world inconsequential.

This is not a science project, I am much more in camp of keep it simple, make sure its easily accessible at low cost to the user, and easy to use with appropriate safety. But this is nothing more than my professional opinion and take it for what it’s worth.

Good Luck,

EDIT - Let me add that chemistry is only a part of the cleaning process.  In manual cleaning that includes vacuum-RCM, the brush, your technique and the agitation of the fluid is half if not more of the cleaning process.  

b. 10: Water-soluble (lipid/oil-insoluble)

Just to clarify, it should read as follows:

b.  > or equal to 10: Water-soluble (lipid/oil-insoluble)

Sorry for any confusion.  Data comes from Hydrophilic-lipophilic balance - Wikipedia