What cleaning should be carried out before newly lubricating a mechanical industrial chain?

It is advisable to clean chains periodically, particularly when relubricating them. Chains which operate in the open air, chains which are manually lubricated or lubricated using a drip system and chains which are exposed to dust should all be cleaned in particular. When changing the lubricant in casings and pressurised lubrication systems, the chain should be cleaned, together with the whole lubrication system.
Care should be taken when selecting the cleaning products used in order to avoid any damage to the chain. Acidic products in particular should not be used to so as to avoid weakening the chain. The chain should be cleaned using pressurised water and then re-lubricated using a suitable product (with water displacement properties).
As a general rule, the cleaning products should be carefully chosen based on the types of deposits found on the chain and the level of dirt:
– a very fluid oil: will not prevent re-lubrication with an oil of the same type but one that is more viscous;
– a solvent: can be used to remove coked deposits on chains that operate in hot environments. Air blowing can be used to remove any remaining solvent prior to re-lubrication;
– high-pressure steam and water jet with detergent: can be used to easily remove amalgams. The chain should then be rinsed quickly with water in order to remove any traces of detergent, and then blown with air before being quickly re-lubricated (to prevent any corrosion).
– brushing the chain will prevent clogging.