PRE-TREATMENT , SURFACE PREPARATION , DEGREASING & CLEANING
How do you choose between solvent or aqueous cleaning ?
Myths about solvent and aqueous cleaning continue to abound . Graham Fraser , MD of cleaning solutions provider , Fraser Technologies , has heard most before and is now clearing up some of the most commonly asked questions .
There still remains lots of misconceptions around the use of solvent cleaners , with many businesses using aqueous or waterbased cleaning solutions because they think they ’ re safer – but this isn ’ t always the case ! Instead , it ’ s important to consider the chemistry that is most appropriate for their needs . Whether you currently use solvent cleaning systems or aqueous solutions , you might learn something new .
These are the most frequently asked questions we receive about solvent cleaning systems versus aqueous or water-based cleaning , to bust the myths and better inform you on these popular cleaning solutions .
Are solvents bad for the environment ?
Modern cleaning solvents use extremely eco-friendly chemistries , which offer a superior cleaning performance . They provide a genuine alternative to the hazardous solvents , which have now been banned or restricted , and have low in use costs .
The Chemours™ Opteon™ range , which Fraser Technologies distributes , are safe , environmentally friendly , best in class solvents and are approved for use in a wide range of standard cleaning systems .
These solvents now also boast low global warming potential ( GWP ), which is used to represent the equivalent of C02 being released into the atmosphere , where 1kg of C02 = a GWP of 1 . Opteon™ SF80 – which is a new generation solvent - has a GWP of < 2.5 compared to a traditional HFC-based solvent with a GWP figure of around 148 .
What are the health impacts of using solvents ?
There are hazardous chlorinated and brominated solvents , such as Trichloroethylene ( Trike ), Perchloroethylene
( PERC ), Methylene Chloride ( MECL ) and n-propyl bromide or 1-bromopropane ( nPB ), which pose numerous health risks . However , what many people don ’ t realise is that there are many safe , non-flammable solvents , which maintain compositional stability during use and have low odour and toxicity levels . And crucially , they also offer superior cleaning performance with the best solvency power in their class .
New generation cleaning agents are worthy of consideration as a replacement , including the Chemours™ Opteon™ range . For example , SF80™ from ChemoursTM is a drop-in nPB alternative . SF80™ is also unique because it is not affected by any F-gas regulations , which allows businesses to make a one-step replacement , saving time and ultimately costs .
Do solvents clean better than aqueous options ?
This is completely dependent on what needs to be cleaned , and to what level , but solvents offer extremely high precision cleaning , along with speed and efficiency , which shorten lead times and reduce costs .
Solvent cleaning systems are ideal for water-sensitive or difficult to dry components .
SF80™ , for example , can be applied to industrial cleaning applications like vapour degreasing , oil and grease removal , precision cleaning , high solvency defluxing , and silicone removal .
Aqueous cleaning solutions may be better for some components . With water as the primary solvent , it is possible to add surfactants and detergents , emulsifiers , inhibitors and other agents to tailor the solution to your needs . Altering the pH can remove different substances – for example scale , rust , metal oxides are best removed with an acidic aqueous solution . However , an alkaline solution is better able to remove salts , organic soils , metal chips , and grease and can work effectively within a range of temperatures .
We look at each job individually , and then advise on the cleaning fluids , cleaning systems and equipment that will provide optimum results for your business .
For more information on solvent or water based cleaning , please get in touch with Fraser Technologies on 01506 443058 to speak with one of our experts , or visit our website at www . frasertech . co . uk .
38 OCTOBER 2021 twitter : @ surfaceworldmag