watch cleaning solutions reaction with alumnimum?

[JeffYork]

I searched for this topic both here and through Google.  Has anyone had any experience with this and if there are any adverse reactions between aluminum and the standard cleaning solutions, specifically the Zenith brand?  Thanks.

[HectorLooi]

Ammoniated cleaning solutions react with aluminium, producing a lot of tiny bubbles of hydrogen.

If left in the solution for too long, the surface will end up with pitting.

[Neverenoughwatches]

1 minute ago, HectorLooi said:

Ammoniated cleaning solutions react with aluminium, producing a lot of tiny bubbles of hydrogen.

If left in the solution for too long, the surface will end up with pitting.

I'm sure you said you were worried about this with your Indian Pearl cleaning basket Hector.

[JohnR725]

20 minutes ago, HectorLooi said:

Ammoniated cleaning solutions react with aluminium, producing a lot of tiny bubbles of hydrogen.

If left in the solution for too long, the surface will end up with pitting.

cleaning products with ammonia in watch repair do a beautiful job of making things bright and shiny. But ammonia has interesting properties with all membranes as far as I can tell maybe not steal perhaps. But brass leave it to longer elevate the temperature and the watch cleaning product and you'll frost the plates. the usually everyone recommends room temperature do not elevate the temperature the cleaning product at all. The big question is typically how long four minutes seems to work nice for brass or standard watches no idea for aluminum.

maybe try a piece of aluminum foil see how long it will last before it disintegrates. You could probably get by with a couple of minutes maybe even the same as you would a normal watch.

them attaching a technical communications which unfortunately does not specify anything related the cleaning. But it does cover a few things on putting the screws in probably concerned about the soft metal and them stripping.

ETA 6497-2 ALUMINIUM.pdf

[JeffYork]

Thanks.  I found some cleaning jar wavebreaker material in aluminum which was cheaper than stainless steel.  It would be sitting in the solution for extended periods.  I am going to try a few small jars of cleaning and rinsing solutions with strips of aluminum foil in them in a safe location.

[JeffYork]

I just found 2 things about this topic:  1) from personal testing with aluminum foil in small jars of both the cleaner and the rinse, I found no reaction; 2) I reached out to Zenith Solutions corporate contact information and they confirmed that their products do not react with aluminum.