Comparison of UV/ozone cleaning of platinum/iridium kilogram mass standards with nettoyage-lavage cleaning

Abstract

A cleaning method using ultraviolet activated ozone has been developed at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). A comparison to test the effectiveness of this cleaning method with nettoyage-lavage cleaning on platinum–iridium artefacts and kilogram mass standards was undertaken at the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM). Three cleaning trials were performed to compare the effectiveness of the two methods at removing natural, medium and heavy levels of surface contamination.