Vapour cleaning of metallic and electrical materials
Advanced Research Technologies of the United States has patented a “drop in” solvent mixture for use in vapour cleaning degreasing systems. Dibromomethane is used as the main component instead of high ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons such as Freon and 1,1,1 trichloroethane. Dibromomethane is mixed with other solvents – including the low boiling point solvents such as nitromethane, 1,2 butylene oxide and 1,3, dioxolane as stabilizers – which prevent the mixture from becoming acidic on the release of bromine into the atmosphere.


In the process, stabilized mixtures of dibromomethane will be added to a conventional vapour degreaser, allowed to reach 99ºC after about 30 minutes. At that temperature, dibromomethane boils and a vapour layer of the solvent is created. An object can be placed into that vapour layer, and the dibromomethane will condense onto that object. Any oil, grease, rosin, flux or similar organic material which was on the objects will then be dissolved by the condensed solvent and will drip back down into the boiling solvent and thereby be removed.


The vapours from the solvent will not contain any of the removed contaminants and therefore be ready to clean more objects of any hydrocarbon-soluble contaminant. When the solvent becomes too contaminated with oil, grease or flux, the boiling point of the dibromomethane will increase. When the boiling point reaches 107ºC, fresh dibromomethane must be replaced in the solvent.


Source: www.freepatentsonline.com
Biodegradable metaland mould cleaner
NEXGEN biodegradable metal and mould cleaner, from Slide Products Inc., the United States, is a biodegradable alternative to trichloroethylene and methylene chloride. It can clean oil, adhesive, ink, tar, silicone and lithium grease. It is formulated from citrus and vegetable products, leaves no oily residue and rinses away with water. NEXGEN cleaner is not a hazardous air pollutant and is non-corrosive. The product has no global warming compounds.


Contact: Slide Products Inc., 430 S. Wheeling Road, Wheeling, IL 60090, United States of America. Tel: +1 (847) 541 7220; Fax: +1 (800) 756 7986


E-mail: info@slideproducts.com


Source: www.news.thomasnet.com
Ozone-friendly cleaners and coatings
Arminius Telecom Inc., Canada, has brought out ozone-friendly cleaners and coating for different purposes.
l Arminius 2000 is a pulp/paper restorer spray coating for brittle and/or bare copper conductors, and pulp- or paper-insulated in-cable sheath openings. It bestows abrasion resistance and may be applied on live conductors.
 
  • Arminius 941S, a cable grease cleaner, provides an effective and quick way to remove cable grease from conductor bundles. It is a non-toxic and non-inflammable solvent that does not adversely affect conductor or cable materials. It may be used in aerosol form or in bulk.
     
  • Arminius 4050 is a printed circuit board (PCB) coating to reclaim PCBs. It offers easy and economical protection of PCB surfaces. The coating is practically non-inflammable, and may also be applied as moisture barrier for relays, switches, connectors, etc. It is meant for use in an environment unprotected against corrosion.
     
  • Arminius 7011 is a spray against wasps and hornets, with a reach of about 7 m. It may be used indoors or outdoors.
     

Contact: Arminius Telecom Inc., P.O. Box 42005, Conestoga Mall Postal Station, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 6K5, Canada. Tel: +1 (519) 886 1996; Fax: +1 (519) 886 9881


E-mail: arminius@sentex.ca


Source: www.strategis.ic.gc.ca 

Economical flux remover
Flux-Off® from ITW Chemtronics in the United States, which uses Chemtronics’ VERIZANETM cleaning chemistry, is a very economical line of ozone-safe, fast-drying cleaning solutions. Engineered to replace HCFC-141b, these low-odour, no-flash, no-residue, non-inflammable aerosols offer the most cleaning value for money. They clean rosin fluxes (R, RMA, RA) and no-clean flux from printed circuit boards, component leads, surface mount devices/pads, screens and stencils. The product comes in 12 oz aerosol packs.


Contact: ITW Chemtronics, 8125 Cobb Centre Drive, Kennesaw, Georgia, GA 30152, United States of America. Tel: +1 (800) 645 5244; Fax: +1 (770) 424 4267


E-mail: askchemtronics@chemtronics.com


Source: www.chemtronics.com
CFC-free cleaners
NTE Electronics, the United States, offers a wide range of CFC/HCFC-free cleaners for different purposes. They include the following.
 
  • RX500 is a contact cleaner with lubricant that cleans and provides protection against corrosion for electronic/electrical components. It quickly removes grease, oils, solder oils, fluxes, oxidation, dirt and other contaminants. RX500-12 is similar a fast-acting variant.
     
  • RX1100 is a non-abrasive, non-inflammable general-purpose cleaner for use on printed circuit boards, computers, office machines, disks, film, magnetic tape heads, etc. It is a high-pressure, compressed gas that removes dust, lint, oxide particles and other dry contaminants.
     
  • RX1500 isopropyl alcohol is another general-purpose cleaner that evaporates fast and is safe on plastics. It is non-corrosive and leaves zero residue. It comes either in a 16 oz plastic bottle or 100 pre-saturated wipes.
     
  • RX1900 is a general-purpose defluxer, which is a blend of solvents and alcohols. It cleans most no-clean fluxes, evaporates fast and is safe on plastics. It is non-corrosive and leaves zero residue.
     
  • RX2600 label and adhesive remover is a natural solvent that penetrates rapidly, and is safe on most plastics. It effectively removes gummy residue, labels, stickers, ink marks and several other contaminants. RX2600 comes in pen or 4.5 oz can.
     
  • RX3200 is a general-purpose wash for electronic and electrical components and equipment. It has a superior penetrating action, without leaving any residue. It quickly removes oxidation, dirt, grease, oils and other contaminants. RX3200 is safe for use on most plastics, paints and elastomers.
     

Source: www.nteinc.com

Electronics cleaning solvent for mining maintenance
Waco Industries, South Africa, supplies a range of cleaning products, from CRC Industries, used to instantly remove grease, oil, dirt, flux and other contaminants at mines. NF Contact Cleaner from CRC is used as a precision cleaning solvent for electronic and electrical parts – such as relays, switches and contacts – and for flux removal from printed circuit boards. Because NF Contact cleaner is a non-inflammable cleaner and has no flash point (non-combustible), it is suitable for use in cleaning electronic and electrical parts of mining machinery and equipment. The product has a high-purity formula, which evaporates fast without leaving any residue.


CRC products do not contain any CFCs, methyl chloroform or trichloroethylene and are free of solvents known to cause ozone depletion. Each product from CRC has its own 16-point material safety data sheet available. CRC manufactures over 200 products are in the following categories: lubricants and penetrants, cleaners, corrosion inhibitors, cutting fluids, appearance products, and food-grade products.


Source: www.miningweekly.co.za
PFPE and HFPE solvents
GALDEN® SV and H-GALDEN® ZV solvent fluids, from Solvay S.A. o0f Belgium, are low molecular weight perfluoropolyether (PFPE) and hydrofluoropolyether (HFPE) that can be used in many electronic and semiconductor cleaning applications. Their key features include:
 
  • They exhibit a wide range of boiling points from 55°C to 130°C;
     
  • They do not contain chlorofluorocarbons or any chlorine, bromine and iodine compound, and have zero ozone depletion potential.
     
  • They do not require particular safeguards or use-restrictions and are fully compatible with all metals, and a wide variety of rubbers and commercially available elastomers and plastics.
     

The solvents are formulated to be compatible and fully miscible with PFPE oils and greases. They are fully miscible with perfluorocarbon fluids and with chlorotrifluoroethylene oils above 45°C.


Source: www.solvaysolexis.com