The cleanability of stainless steel as determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

The cleanability of stainless steel using a starch soil was investigated us ing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Two clean ing regimes were examined: high pressure spray system removed absorbed mate rial much more effectively than mechanical action. Surface defects on the s tainless steel acted as sites: for soil retention. When starch was combined with the Staphylococcus aureus bacterium the two components were removed a t different rates from the surface caused by difference in size between the starch molecules and bacterium cells. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.