Aircraft Carbon and Exhaust Removal Cleaners for Maintenance Operations
This is part of Greenwood Aerospace’s Ultimate Guide to Zip Chem Corrosion Preventatives and Aviation Cleaners, a series to help maintainers, procurement officers, and federal buyers find compliant aviation cleaning and corrosion protection products on GSA Advantage.
Aircraft Carbon and Exhaust Removal
Aircraft maintenance teams face one of the toughest challenges in aviation surface care – removing carbon, oil, and exhaust buildup. These deposits accumulate around exhaust stacks, nacelles, belly panels, and flap areas, creating a layer of combustion residue that traps moisture and accelerates corrosion. Removing these deposits effectively and safely is key to aircraft readiness and surface integrity.
Zip Chem’s aviation products, including Calla 855, are designed for this purpose. Calla 855 is a concentrated, alkaline, water-based cleaner for safe, efficient, and economical removal of carbon and exhaust deposits from aircraft surfaces while addressing environmental concerns and long-term corrosion prevention.
What are Carbon and Exhaust Contaminants in Aviation Maintenance
Carbon and exhaust buildup come from engine combustion byproducts, unburned fuel particles, hydraulic oil vapor, and lubricants that stick to metal surfaces during operation.
These residues are not just cosmetic issues but functional hazards: they trap dirt, promote corrosion, and interfere with corrosion inhibitors and protective coatings.
One of the greatest advances in turbine engine development is engines that burn far cleaner than past generations, but that doesn’t mean perfectly clean, nor does it deal with the fact that there are hundreds (or thousands) of dirty engines like the venerable TF-33 still in daily use. Zip Chem products offer superior performance in exterior cleaning and corrosion-inhibiting surface preps.
Regular cleaning with alkaline cleaners keeps metal and painted surfaces uncontaminated, inspection-ready, and ready for follow-on treatments such as Cor-Ban corrosion-inhibiting compounds.
Zip Chem Calla 855: Heavy Duty Alkaline Cleaner for Carbon Removal
Calla 855 is a MIL-PRF-85570 Type II qualified alkaline cleaning compound for heavy-duty aviation cleaning. According to its technical datasheet (Rev. 29091C, Dec 2023), Calla 855 was developed for the safe, efficient, and economical removal of carbon and exhaust deposits from aircraft surfaces.
It’s non-solvent, non-flammable, and water-based, making it suitable for use on interior and exterior aircraft surfaces and ground equipment. Calla 855 does not pit, stain, or attack aluminum, magnesium, copper, steel, or other metals and will not damage acrylic paints, coatings, plastics, or wiring.
Even if it dries on the surface, it leaves no residue or stain. Calla 855’s concentrated, alkaline formula (pH 9.5–10.5) has superior penetration and emulsification, breaking down and lifting carbon and oil deposits for easy rinsing. It mixes with water, no special mixing equipment required, and stays a uniform solution without separating. Density 8.3–8.5 lbs/gal (994–1018 g/L) for consistent product strength and stability.
Calla 855 is available in multiple packaging options to meet your maintenance and procurement needs: 4-gallon cases (3.8 L each), 5-gallon pails (18.9 L), and 55-gallon drums (208 L). 5-gallon drums are good for maintenance hangars, and 55-gallon drums are suitable for bulk use in fleet and depot-level operations.
Check out this heavy-duty alkaline cleaner! Calla 855 (5-Gallon Pail)
Performance and Environmental Compliance
Calla 855 meets the MIL-PRF-85570 Type II specification for aircraft cleaning compounds and is fully compliant with Department of Defense and OEM maintenance standards. It is safe to use on painted and bare metal surfaces, with consistent results across all environmental conditions.
The biodegradable, water-based chemistry minimizes VOCs and eliminates hazardous solvents or chromates, safer for personnel, equipment, and wastewater systems.
The compound replaces multiple cleaning agents with one product, helping organizations control costs and reduce waste. Low toxicity, ease of mixing, and rapid rinse make it an environmentally responsible choice for field and hangar maintenance.
Application and Best Practices
Calla 855 is designed to be flexible and easy to use. For most applications, mix one part Calla 855 to four parts water and apply by spray, mop, or foam generator. Allow a few minutes to penetrate, then agitate with a soft brush or mop before rinsing with clean water. For heavily contaminated areas or stubborn carbon buildup, use full-strength or extend the dwell time before rinsing.
Calla 855 can be used on aircraft exteriors, interior panels, painted areas, structural metals, and even delicate parts like cables, ducts, and filters. As part of the surface preparation process, Calla 855 should be applied before applying corrosion inhibitors such as Zip Chem Cor-Ban 35 or Cor-Ban 27L. Proper cleaning ensures maximum adhesion and effectiveness of these corrosion-inhibiting compounds and sealants, extends aircraft service life, and reduces maintenance frequency.
Benefits of Calla 855 in Aviation Maintenance
Calla 855 gives maintainers and procurement officers many performance and operational benefits: superior cleaning power for carbon, grease, and oil with minimal effort; water-based formula minimizes hazardous waste and VOC emissions; chromate and solvent-free for material compatibility across multiple aircraft substrates; non-flammable and non-toxic for personnel safety; and simplifies logistics with bulk packaging options and high dilution ratios.
Calla 855 meets MIL-PRF-85570 Type II and other aerospace cleaning specs for commercial and military aircraft maintenance.
Calla 855 Characteristics
This data is summarized from the Zip Chem Calla 855 TDS.
- Packaging: 5-gal pail (available through GSA Advantage via Greenwood Aerospace)
Procurement and Greenwood Aerospace
Greenwood Aerospace supplies Zip Chem Calla 855 and all Zip Chem aviation products, including corrosion inhibitors and surface preps, on GSA Advantage.
Greenwood Aerospace supports government agencies and defense contractors with rapid order fulfillment, AOG service, and competitive pricing.
As a Native American-owned, HUBZone-certified small business, Greenwood also provides set-aside eligibility and contracting advantages while helping buyers meet their compliance and sustainability goals.
Safe, Effective, and Compliant Carbon Removal
Carbon and exhaust removal is key to preserving aircraft surfaces, reducing corrosion, and extending service life. Zip Chem Calla 855 is a proven, MIL-PRF-qualified solution that combines heavy-duty cleaning with environmental responsibility.
Water-based, non-toxic, and residue-free formula for superior cleaning performance without compromising aircraft materials or coatings. When used with Cor-Ban corrosion inhibitors, Calla 855 completes a full-spectrum cleaning-and-protection system trusted by military and commercial aviation maintenance teams. Order Calla 855 through Greenwood Aerospace on GSA Advantage for formulated performance you can trust, fast delivery, and responsive service.
Email: gsasales@greenwood.aero | Call us: 580-865-6000 or 833-GSA-EBUY (833-472-3289)
.svg)
.webp)
