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Vapour degreasing – A guide for production engineers
Vapour degreasing – A guide for production engineers
This guide for production engineers explains why vapour degreasing is the most effective and economical process for cleaning of manufactured components. The start of a new year is always a good time to review your existing cleaning process and ask yourself ‘am I using a safe modern solvent for vapour degreasing?’.
Vapour degreasing is the simplest but most effective degreasing and cleaning process which, until recently, has been subject to little change since it was first invented in the early part of the last century. This is a very mature chemical technology which legislation is now effecting changes so fundamental that the more accurate name for the process “Condensation Cleaning” should be used to reflect the improvements in equipment design, chemistry, reduced emissions, economies in usage of solvents and the subsequent environmental acceptability compared to the open topped tanks so ubiquitous in factories and workshops worldwide. The alternatives in equipment design offer differences in technology, which guarantee the continuing use of this process in the future, need to be considered and understood.
The cleaning tank in the corner of most engineering shops hides a very well researched process using sophisticated chemistry. Its popularity is in its simplicity. The tank sump is heated, fitted with cold coils around the internal surfaces at the top to retain the vapour. Fill to a few centimetres with a non-flammable solvent able to dissolve contaminants, boil to form a vapour 3 to 4 times heavier than air to fill the tank. Hot solvent vapour condenses on the cooler target parts at workplace temperature. The hot liquid solvent dissolves oil and grease and other contaminants. Used solvent returned to the sump revaporises continuing the cycle until parts have achieved the same temperature as the vapour when, with no further condensation, the process is complete. Simple but perfect. Highly productive and economical, parts removed from the cleaning process are clean, warm, and dry in 5 to 10 minutes.
Historically chlorinated hydrocarbons have been the solvents of choice for the “Condensation Cleaning” process. Compatible with most materials of manufacture, stable in constant use, producing a non-flammable saturated vapour heavier than air at a temperature greater than ambient. In Europe, the United States and in other advanced industrialised economies increasingly stringent legislation to control emissions of VOCs, especially solvents, has led to new formulations for paints and other coatings where water replaces most of the solvent. In the early days the quality of water-based paints was not as good as traditional solvent-based coatings, but innovation has driven the development of new polymers with results as good as, if not better than, the solvent-based originals.
As with coatings, cleaning systems have had to change. With increasingly demanding standards of cleaning required for precision engineering, electronics, optics etc solvents are often first choice, for reasons outlined above, but these have been targeted by regulators and alternatives are encouraged by the relevant authorities and law makers often without serious consideration of unintended consequences. For example, water-based cleaning is encouraged as the obvious alternative, but this has many disadvantages compared to condensation cleaning as although the machines are simple and relatively cheap the processes require multiple heated tanks for immersion or spray processing or long programmed cycles in batch machines for cleaning, rinsing, and drying. Water based processes are slow, energy intensive and occupy more floor space than solvent-based condensation cleaning equivalents where only one tank with a small footprint is needed, delivering shorter process times and, most importantly for the environment, using minimal energy.
The ideal cleaning process would be “Condensation Cleaning” using water but due to the physical characteristics of the water vapour/steam and the inability to carry onto the surface of the targeted parts surfactants to remove the oil, grease and soils and the difficulty and expense of rinsing and especially drying this can only ever be a dream.
Historically chlorinated hydrocarbons have been the solvents of choice for the “Condensation Cleaning” process. Compatible with most materials of manufacture, stable in constant use, producing a non-flammable saturated vapour three to four heavier than air at a temperature greater than ambient. The traditional solvents such as trichloroethylene exhibits all these characteristics however concerns about its carcinogenic properties and the danger to operators by exposure, led to a continuing search for a safer alternative. 1,1,1 trichloroethane based solvent formulations became popular in the mid part of the last century as a safer replacement. An excellent solvent, safer for users, it proved to be depleting the protective ozone layer around the Earth and was subsequently banned. With the development of the REACH legislation in Europe, trichloroethylene was again allowed with restrictions and stringent controls for use in authorised machines which control emissions to very low figures close to zero.
High performance vapour degreasing and cleaning
EnviroTech Europe have been supplying vapour degreasing solvent formulations for 40 years constantly responding to increasingly stringent regulatory requirements for environmental and safety laws and the need for improved cleaning standards. ProSolv® 5408e is a new sustainable solvent blend with near zero OPD (Ozone Depletion Potential) and GWP (Global Warming Potential) for high performance degreasing and cleaning which ticks all the boxes with the perfect profile for a vapour degreasing solvent. Soft on the environment and safer for users with high performance, improved cleaning, and lower costs. Lower boiling point, economical with energy with low solvent losses, faster production, reduced costs, easy handling. Exceptionally low surface tension to penetrate micron sized holes and close contact surfaces. Sustainable and secure for future use as your ‘forever solvent’.
Sealed Tanks
As with all legislation for chemical use regulation and restrictions drive development of associated processes and equipment. Sealed tanks are now standard with many different designs available. The most common are discussed below.
The single tank hermetically sealed machines favoured by some manufacturers uses a process tank to contain the solvent and a separate storage tank/vapour generator. Baskets loaded with parts to be cleaned are introduced from the top or through access points on the side of the tank. Lids or doors hermetically seal the tank. Solvent is pumped into the process tank where agitation, ultrasonics or pumped liquid is circulated through the parts. Used Solvent is removed to the vapour generator, condensing coils controlling the vapour are linked to coils located in the vapour zone which, when the cycle is complete, collapse the vapour. The process tank is emptied. Controlled air introduced to process tank is then recycled through carbon absorption units to remove traces of solvent until the concentration is within regulatory standards when the lid is released for the basket of parts, clean and dry, to be removed and replaced with a further basket. Variations of process within the hermetically sealed tank are possible using sprays of cold or hot condensed solvent, immersion with or without ultrasonics and revolving baskets to cover most of the problems experienced when processing machined and fabricated parts. Continuous external distillation of the contents of the vapour generator is also an option depending on contamination.
The alternative technology is much simpler and uses well tried techniques not requiring the long recovery times of the hermetically vacuum sealed processes. The multilevel system uses a standard vapour degreasing tank design with a sealed loading section above the process tank. Components to be cleaned loaded in work baskets or jigs are fed to the load section by hand or conveyor, an internal platform raises and lowers the baskets in controlled cycles.
Loading complete – the load enclosure is sealed to completely isolate the process. Then seal on the process tank is opened and the basket automatically lowered into the cleaning section which can be simple condensation cleaning or immersion cleaning with or without ultrasonics or power sprays. Revolving baskets can also be added to improve cleaning in blind or through holes or oil ways in castings and fabrications.
On completion the basket rises to the area where the condensation coils are located, and parts allowed to drain and dry, basket raises into the load section when the process tank is sealed. A fan circulates air within the load area which can be recycled through carbon absorption systems if no external exhaust is preferred.
As baskets entering the loading space contain parts drained and dried only very small amounts of solvent are carried in the exhausted air which is monitored to ensure compliance with appropriate legislation. When this is complete the seal opens fully for removal of cleaned components. The loading section can be fitted with top or side seals allowing baskets to flow through on conveyor systems or be removed by hand or hoist. No solvent enters the work area. Both processes will produce parts cleaned to the highest standards but the choice of which offers the best solution needs a little more consideration.
The hermetically sealed vacuum process is complicated with the need to move liquids in the machine. It is relatively slow as the carbon adsorption process has to remove high levels of solvent from the recirculated airstream from the process tank. This is inefficient as adsorption rates for carbon fall rapidly with increasing saturation. Final levels of solvent in the tank when the lid or loading door opens will be dragged into the workshop and the area where the operator is working. Long process cycles reduce throughput.
The simpler multilevel systems where movement of liquids is not required are more efficient and offer much faster process times. Cost of manufacture is also reduced as no liquid movement or vacuum is involved. The extracted loading section ensures no leakage of solvent into the work area giving complete safety for operators and factory staff. Envirotech Europe also offers workplace air monitoring to ensure VOC’s from the solvent are within exposure limits and your machine is operating to specification.
Conclusions
Both designs of process machines discussed above fully comply with the emission regulations of the EU and U.S authorities. Which to choose will depend on many factors which should be discussed with equipment and solvent suppliers who have the experience to advise on which offers the best process for the application. Equipment and solvent must work together, so it is advisable to ensure that the suppliers co-operate to offer a package with high levels of responsible care and product stewardship to ensure the best and safest installation. EnviroTech personnel and distributors are trained to work with equipment suppliers to advise on the use of ProSolv® 5408e vapour degreasing solvent for the most satisfactory outcome.
The “Condensation cleaning” process still gives the highest levels of economical cleaning with minimum energy usage, low footprint on the factory floor, safety for the operator, and high production rates with low solvent usage and environmental impact. With the new generation of sealed cleaning machines its future as the process of choice is assured.
Photograph of Solvac equipment courtesy of C&C Hydrosonics.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Please visit our website https://www.envirotech-europe.com/prosolv5408e for information about other uses and applications for ProSolv 5408e.
Visit www.envirotech-europe.com/applications-and-case-studies for information about uses and applications for all EnviroTech Europe products.
For more advice, please telephone us on +44 (0) 20 8281 6370 or use our website contact form.
All products are supplied and supported by EnviroTech Europe Ltd. Manufactured in the United Kingdom and available on short delivery times through our dedicated team of distributors worldwide.
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Video: ProSolv 5408e – Vapour degreasing cycle using hermetically sealed equipment
Vapour degreasing cycle using hermetically sealed equipment.
ProSolv 5408e is a high- performance solvent cleaner used for sustainable and future proof vapour degreasing. Soft on the environment and safe for users, it offers improved cleaning at lower costs. Low boiling point, economical with energy with low solvent losses, faster production.
Innovation driven by legislation
Vapour degreasing, with or with-out ultrasonics, is the oldest, simplest and most effective solvent degreasing and metal cleaning process used today. It has, until recently, been subject to little change since it was first invented in the early part of the last century. In the UK, Europe, United States and other advanced industrialized economies increasingly stringent legislation to control emissions of VOCs, Solvents with a high Global Warming Potential (GWP), or a high Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), and those compounds associated with human health concerns has led to Envirotech Europe manufacturing new formulations for precision cleaning solvents with low or near zero potential.
Halogenated hydrocarbons are the solvents of choice for vapour degreasing and cleaning. The process is essentially simple. A tank with a sump to contain the solvent, heaters at the base and condensation coils around the top section to control the height of the vapour is all that is needed. When heated in the sump halogenated solvents produce, in most cases, a saturated vapour between 3 and 4 times heavier than air at a temperature greater than the ambient temperature of the parts to be cleaned. This allows the solvent vapour to condense on the surface of the parts. The condensate dissolves the contaminants such as oil, greases, flux, and soils returning the used solvent into the sump of the machine for recycling into vapour which continuously condenses onto the parts until they have achieved vapour temperature when, with no further condensation, the process is complete. Parts removed from the cleaning machines are very clean, warm and dry.
The most common halogenated solvents, in use for commercial purposes, are non-flammable so present no risk in this process. Perchloroethylene, used mainly for dry cleaning, methylene chloride previously used widely in paint strippers, 1,1,1- trichloroethane and trichloroethylene used for vapour degreasing were the original materials used based on chlorine chemistry. However continuing concern about the environmental impact and danger to operators by exposure to chlorine-based solvents, especially trichloroethylene, has led to a continuing search for safer alternatives, such as ProSolv 5408e , a trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene based solvent mixture that is non-flammable.
The ProSolv 5408e vapour degreasing process gives the highest levels of economical cleaning with minimum energy usage, low footprint on the factory floor, safety for the operator, and high production rates with low solvent usage or environmental impact. With the new generation of sealed cleaning machines its future as the process of choice is assured.
A more detailed version of this article can be viewed here:
https://www.vapour-degreasing.com/solvent-degreasing-and-metal-cleaning/
Animation of Solvac hermetically sealed equipment by kind permission of CC Hydrosonics Ltd. https://www.cchydrosonics.com/
FURTHER INFORMATION
For more advice, please telephone us on +44 (0) 20 8281 6370 or use our website contact form. All products are supplied and supported by EnviroTech Europe Ltd. Manufactured in the United Kingdom and available on short delivery times through our dedicated team of distributors worldwide.
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The best in vapour degreasing, corrosion protection, metal cleaning and surface treatment
EnviroTech Europe are specialists in metal, plastic and other substrate cleaning, pretreatment and protection.
We offer a range of approved products tailored to your industry, which are cost effective, energy efficient, safe for operators and the environment.
Our products are used in the following industries:
- Electronics and Electrical
- Environmental
- General Cleaning
- Industrial and Manufacturing
- Marine and Maritime
- Mechanical Engineering
- Medical Device Manufacturing
- Military
- Motorsport
- Power Generation
- Railways and Automotive
PRODUCTS:
EnSolv CC-A Vapour Degreasing Solvents For Precision Metal Cleaning:
A family of environmentally friendly precision vapour degreasing and cleaning solvents for the aerospace, precision engineering, medical, optical and electronic industries.
ProSolv 5408e Environmentally Sustainable High Performance Vapour Degreasing Solvent:
Zero ODP (ozone depletion) and GWP (global warming potential) – Sustainable and secure for the future.
SuperCORR A Advanced lubricant and corrosion protection compound:
Specialist barrier film corrosion protection products, based on synthetic materials to provide safe, effective, environmentally friendly solutions to lubrication and corrosion problems.
Aquus CL-One General Purpose Industrial Cleaning Agent:
A non-toxic, water based surfactant system which exhibits a combination of characteristics not found in any comparable commercially available system.
Clarea Industrial Degreasing Solvents:
Non chlorinated, industrial wipe, brush, dip and immersion cleaning solvents for removing dirt, oil, grease and other contaminants without causing harm or leaving residue.
VOC Exposure Monitoring:
We have portable test equipment that logs the Volatile Organic Compound (VOC’s) content in the air from various strategic positions around your degreasing equipment, including the operator position
FURTHER INFORMATION
For more advice, please telephone us on +44 (0) 20 8281 6370 or use our website contact form. All products are supplied and supported by EnviroTech Europe Ltd. Manufactured in the United Kingdom and available on short delivery times through our dedicated team of distributors worldwide.
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Latest News
Condensation Cleaning
CONTENT ON THIS PAGE IS RETAINED FOR INFORMATION ONLY
DUE TO n-Propyl bromide now being included in Annex 14 of REACH
EnviroTech Europe Ltd (ETE) continue to publish it as historical information and to record changes occurring in legislation which have affected decisions on formulations and equipment used in vapour degreasing - the most effective, quickest, flexible and cheapest cleaning system used in industry.
EnSolv® invented and patented by EnviroTech has been a market leader all over the world for vapour degreasing. It is based on n-bromopropane (nPB) which now cannot be used as a vapour degreaser within the UK or EU without authorisation.
Archived information about EnSolv® can be found using the Discontinued Products & Resources navigation menu on this page.
Using experience accumulated over 40 years supplying and supporting users of the vapour degreasing process ETE specialists have developed “drop in” alternatives:
ProSolv®, ProSolv5408e® and EnSolv CC-A® give the same or improved level of performance and economy as the original EnSolv® products.
Please contact our advisers who are available to discuss your needs and propose the best replacement product.
Or please click here to return to our vapour degreasing products homepage for information about our current products.
The future for solvent vapour degreasing equipment – Innovation driven by legislation.
Vapour degreasing is the simplest but most effective degreasing and cleaning process for industrial use. It has, until recently, been subject to little change since it was first invented in the early part of the last century. The name for the process is a misnomer as the cleaning is achieved by solvent vapour condensing on the cooler target parts the hot liquid solvent dissolving oil and removing dirt.
Vapour degreasing is a mature chemical technology on which legislation is now effecting changes so fundamental that the more accurate name for the process “Condensation Cleaning” should be used to reflect the way in which it works. The open topped tanks so ubiquitous in factories and workshops worldwide are no longer acceptable and the alternatives in equipment design and their fundamental differences in technology which guarantee the continuing use of vapour degreasing in the future need to be considered and understood.
In Europe the United States and in other advanced industrialised economies increasingly stringent legislation to control emissions of VOCs and especially solvents has led to new formulations for paints and other coatings where water replaces most of the solvent. In the early days the quality of the coatings was not as good as solvent based coatings but innovation has driven the development of new polymers with results as good as, if not better than, the solvent based originals.
As with coatings, cleaning systems have had to change. With increased regulation users of solvent have been targeted and alternatives are encouraged by the relevant authorities and law makers often without serious consideration of unintended consequences.
For example water based cleaning is the obvious alternative but this has many disadvantages compared to condensation cleaning as although the machines are simple and relatively cheap the processes require multiple tanks for immersion or spray processing or long programmed cycles in batch machines for cleaning, rinsing and drying. Water based processes are slow, energy intensive and occupy more floor space than condensation cleaning equivalent where only one tank with small footprint is needed delivering shorter process times and most importantly using minimal energy.
The ideal cleaning process would be “Condensation Cleaning” with water but due to the physical characteristics of the water vapour/steam and the inability to carry onto the surface of the targeted parts surfactants to remove the oil, grease and soils and the difficulty of rinsing and especially drying this can only ever be a dream.
A little history of the chemistry helps to explain the changes since the introduction of the vapour degreasing process. Suitable chemicals must be very good solvents for oil, grease, and other industrial soils non-flammable, safe for users and the environment and very stable when heated continuously for long periods.
Halogenated hydrocarbons are the solvents of choice for “Condensation Cleaning”. The process is essentially simple. A tank with a sump to contain the solvent, heaters at the base and condensation coils around the top section to control the height of the vapour is all that is required. When heated in the sump halogenated solvents produce, a saturated vapour between 3 and 4 times heavier than air at a temperature greater than the ambient conditions. This allows the solvent vapour to condense on the surface of the parts to be cleaned. The condensate dissolves the contaminants such as oil, greases and soils returning the used solvent into the sump of the machine for recycling into vapour which continuously condenses onto the parts until they have achieved the same temperature as the solvent vapour when, with no further condensation, the process is complete. Parts removed from the cleaning machines are very clean, warm and dry.
The most common halogenated solvents, in use for commercial purposes, are non-flammable so present no risk in this process. Perchloroethylene, used mainly for dry cleaning, methylene chloride used more widely in paint strippers and trichloroethylene used for vapour degreasing were the original materials used based on chlorine chemistry. However continuing concern about the environmental impact and danger to operators by exposure to chlorine based solvents, especially trichloroethylene, has led to a continuing search for safer alternatives.
1,1,1 trichloroethane (Genklene from ICI and Chlorothene from Dow Chemicals) both of which were based on another chlorinated solvent were to become ubiquitous in the mid part of the last century as a much safer, non- carcinogenic replacement for trichloroethylene. This was an excellent solvent safe for users but which, with increased awareness of the environmental impact of solvents, proved to be depleting the protective ozone layer around the Earth and was subsequently, banned. With the development of the REACH legislation in Europe, which now classifies trichloroethylene as a human carcinogen, usage is allowed but with restrictions and stringent controls for use authorised in machines which control factory emissions to very low figures close to zero.
Meanwhile cleaning solvents based on 1-bromopropane such as EnSolv were developed in the United States as a drop in replacement for trtichloroethane. EnSolv has an identical profile, stable, non-flammable, with the same physical characteristics such as boiling point and specific gravity and it is an excellent cleaning solvent but without the potential for ozone depletion.
During this time new halogenated solvent blends using trans1.2 dichloroethylene, a highly flammable solvent with similar chemistry to trichloroethylene were also developed for condensation cleaning. The trans 1.2 dichloroethylene is blended with a variety of different fluorocarbon solvents which are not suitable as cleaning solvents, as they have very low solvency, but are used in these blends as a fire retardants. An extremely expensive answer to a simple problem, already solved by the development of machines able to safely use the more economical solvents.
As with all legislation for the use of chemicals regulation and restrictions drive development of associated processes and equipment. The most important developments in machines to use solvents for condensation cleaning use two different approaches and raise difficult questions as to which is the best most economical and simplest in use.
Figure 1 – Solvac Automatic hermetically sealed vapour/liquid cleaning system conveyor fed.
The single tank hermetically sealed machines favoured by some equipment manufacturers uses a process tank to contain the solvent and a separate storage tank/vapour generator. Baskets, containing soiled parts, are loaded from the top or through access points on the side of the tank. Lids or doors close over the opening and the process tank is hermetically sealed. Baskets are immersed in solvent, where agitation, ultrasonics or pumped liquid is circulated through the parts.
When the immersion process is completde solvent is removed to the storage tank and vapour fed to the process tank from a vapour generator for rinsing and drying. On completion of the cycle coil,s located within the process tank collapse the vapour. The process tank is evacuated by vacuum and recycled through carbon absorption units to remove traces of solvent from the air until the concentration is below limits set by regulators when the lid opens automatically for the basket of parts, clean and dry, to be safely removed and replaced with a further basket.
Variations of process within the hermetically sealed tank are possible using sprays of cold or hot condensed solvent, immersion with or without ultrasonics and revolving baskets to deal with the problems experienced when processing machined and fabricated parts. Continuous external distillation of the contents of the vapour generator is also an option depending on contamination.
The alternative technology is much simpler and cheaper using well tried techniques not requiring the long recovery times of the hermetically sealed processes. The multilevel system uses a standard vapour degreasing tank design with a sealed loading section above the process tank.
Figure 2 Solvac 1000 – Hermetically sealed multilevel vapour degreasing system for manual load batch processing.
Components, to be cleaned, in baskets or on jigs, are fed to the automated hoist in the load section manually, by hoist or conveyor. The loading door is sealed pneumatically to completely isolate the process. The process tank sealing lid opens and the basket lowered into the process chamber. Depending on the soils simple condensation cleaning can be used or with the lower section being filled with clean solvent for immersion cleaning with or without ultrasonics or power sprays. Revolving baskets are a further option to improve cleaning in blind or through holes or oil ways in castings and fabrications.
With the process completed the basket rises to the freeboard area where the condensation coils are located and parts allowed to drain and dry. The tank seal opens to allow the basket into the load section while the lid closes to seal the process tank. A fan is then activated which produces a negative vacuum in the load area. The loading door partially opens to allow a flow of air through the loading section which is exhausted to atmosphere or can be recycled through carbon absorption systems.
As baskets entering the loading space contain parts drained and dried only very small amounts of solvent are carried in the exhausted air which is monitored to ensure compliance with appropriate legislation. When this is completed the door opens fully for removal of cleaned components. The loading section can be fitted with top or side sealed doors allowing baskets to flow through on conveyor systems or be loaded from hoists. No solvent enters the work area.
Both processes will produce parts cleaned to the highest standards but the choice of which offers the best solution needs a little more consideration.
The hermetically sealed vacuum process is complicated with the need to move liquids in the machine. It is relatively slow as the carbon adsorption process needs to remove high levels of solvent from the recirculated airstream from the process tank. This is inefficient as adsorption rates for carbon fall rapidly with increasing saturation. Final levels of solvent in the tank when the lid or loading door opens will be emmited into the workspace and the area in which the operator is working. Long process cycles reduce throughput.
The simpler multilevel systems where movement of liquids is not required are more efficient and offer much faster process times. Cost of manufacture is also lower as no liquid movement or vacuum is involved. The extracted loading section ensures no leakage of solvent into the work area which gives complete safety for operators and factory staff. The disadvantage of the multilevel machine is the height of the equipment compared to the hermetically sealed machine. This will often need the equipment be installed in a pit for easy access.
Both designs of process machines fully comply with the emission regulations of the EU and U.S authorities. Which to choose will depend on many factors which should be discussed with both the equipment and solvent suppliers who have the experience to advise on which offers the best process for the application. Equipment and solvent work together as a process and it is essential to ensure that the suppliers work closely together to offer a package with high levels of responsible care and product stewardship to ensure the best results and safest installation.
The “Condensation cleaning” process still gives the highest levels of economical cleaning with minimum energy usage, low footprint on the factory floor, safety for the operator, and high production rates with low solvent usage or environmental impact. With the new generation of sealed cleaning machines its future as the process of choice for industrial cleaning is assured.
EnSolv cleaning solvents are supplied throughout Europe.
We can provide you with a Material Safety Data Sheets, independent laboratory reports, product samples and technical assistance.
For more information or advice please telephone us on +44 (0) 20 8281 6370 or use our contact form.
All products are supplied and supported by EnviroTech Europe Ltd. Manufactured in the United Kingdom and available on short delivery times through our dedicated team of distributors worldwide.
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Reduce Corrosion Fretting
Why use of SuperCORR A for maintenance of electrical connections on Gas Turbines improves performance by reducing corrosion fretting.
LP Gas Turbines are used throughout the world by extraction industries and manufacturing plants in remote and hostile locations for essential power production. Dusty and wet environments in deserts, mines, grinding mills, pulp and paper mills and on land or sea drilling rigs for gas and oil production. Turbines powering aircraft services while stationary connect and disconnect many times a day in extreme conditions. These applications and locations test connector sealing continuously allowing dust or water to penetrate. This with the flexing of the connecting cables allows sufficient movement between the metal surfaces of the connecting pins to produce fretting corrosion which reduces, interrupts or produces failures in supply.
Regular maintenance of electrical connectors is essential to be certain of uninterrupted supply.
SuperCORR A is an aerosol lubricant containing corrosion preventive compounds, and, as is the case with all lubricants, they can be worn off over time. A manufacturer of connectors tested SuperCORR A to see what the “life” of the lubricant was in a “rub test”. The typical test is 20,000 cycles, i.e. unplug, plug in is one cycle. The test results demonstrated that after 20,000 cycles there were no failures. It was decided to take it one more step and run the same tests for 200,000 cycles. The results again showed no indications of galling or scoring on the connectors at all. The connector looked and tested as good as new. This test
was run under clean conditions in a laboratory but demonstrates the effectiveness of the protective lubricant in SuperCORR A.
As it meets Mil-DLT-87177B specifications it is used by the U.S. Air Force to protect the intricate workings of the F-16 and F-15 fighter jets and by the U.S. Navy on the P 3 Orion electronic surveillance aircraft. Savings for the U.S. government is estimated at $50 million per year. Commercial Aviation aircraft manufacturers recommend it for avionics and electrical switches and connectors and close mechanical application, especially where flights are in salt fog or high humidity.
Containing extremely long-lasting, proprietary anti-corrosive inhibitors SuperCORR A provides a superior lubrication coefficient and protects components against moisture, wear, general and fretting corrosion, surface static electricity, corona, and other electro migration problems. The super thin non-flammable lubricant film is only 7 microns (0.0007 inch) thick and is formulated without sulphates, chlorides or halogens to meet the RoHS directive. It is unexcelled in preventing deterioration and contamination on all surfaces of electronic equipment.
Very fast drying environmentally acceptable solvents are used as carriers and propellants which will not affect most plastics, substrates, metals or other materials used in connector manufacture. The aerosols are supplied with probes which allow access to pins and connector tubes where the low surface tension repels water, dirt dust and metal particles from blind holes and surfaces to produce thoroughly clean holes and surfaces before a second application applies the lubricant film. Reconnection to the supply with cleaned sections of the connector ensures reliable operation even in the most testing of environments. This easy maintenance from one can of SuperCORR A allows this essential task to be carried out in any conditions quickly, easily and securely.
We can provide you with a Material Safety Data Sheets, independent laboratory reports, product samples and technical assistance.
For more information or advice please telephone us on +44 (0) 20 8281 6370 or use our contact form.
All products are supplied and supported by EnviroTech Europe Ltd. Manufactured in the United Kingdom and available on short delivery times through our dedicated team of distributors worldwide.
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Managing “false alarms” and “no fault found” events in Military avionic systems.
Paper presented at the recent 2017 Aviation Electronics Europe Expo in Munich by Dr. Mustafa Ilarslan, PhD.
In a paper presented at the recent 2017 Aviation Electronics Europe Expo in Munich, Germany, Dr. Mustafa Ilarslan, PhD, discussed – “The management of “False Alarms” and “No Fault Found” events in Military avionic systems”.
In his paper Dr. Ilarslan explains that “False alarms (FAs) impose a devastating impact on military systems. An entire aircraft can be grounded because of a single avionics for which there are insufficient spares available. If a FA causes a particular Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) to be called out incorrectly, there is a better than even probability that a second copy of the same LRU will also experience FA and much sooner than expected, the fleet will be deprived of all spares for that LRU. To then find that the LRUs replaced had No Fault Found (NFF) at the repair depot adds “salt to the wound.” while adding huge sums for lost time in servicing, aircraft downtime and unnecessarily high stocks of replacement parts.
SuperCORR A was designed specifically to prevent these problems in avionic as well as electrical and electronic components and systems failures caused by corrosion, including no fault found failures and problems caused by Cadmium corrosion. SuperCORR A is a proprietary Ultra-Thin Film, Water Displacing Lubricant and Corrosion Preventative Compound, manufactured under license in the UK by EnviroTech Europe Ltd.
SuperCORR A is being used on both military and civilian aircraft to prevent fretting corrosion on electronic and electrical connectors, including F-16, P-3 Orion, Boeing 737’s, C-130, F-15, DHC-6 Twin Otter, Bell helicopters, Bombardier BD-700 series and Bombardier Challenger 300/350, Learjet 45, Legacy 650, and Hawker to name but a few.
SuperCORR A is also being used at BAE Systems, Honeywell and Raytheon Systems to prevent corrosion from causing avionic, electronics, and electrical systems and components failures and for lubrication and protection of moving parts with a thin dry film.
SuperCORR A meets the requirements of MIL-L-87177A and Mil-DTL-87177B.
More detailed information can be found in the paper “Electrical connector corrosion prevention Improves reliability and reduces costs” by David Horne which is available here:
NOTE that while quoting Dr. Ilarslam’s paper, with his permission, he is not endorsing or recommending the use of any specific product, including SuperCORR A.
We can provide you with a Material Safety Data Sheets, independent laboratory reports, product samples and technical assistance.
For more information or advice please telephone us on +44 (0) 20 8281 6370 or use our contact form.
All products are supplied and supported by EnviroTech Europe Ltd. Manufactured in the United Kingdom and available on short delivery times through our dedicated team of distributors worldwide.
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Vapour Degreasing Solvents For Precision Metal Cleaning
CONTENT ON THIS PAGE IS RETAINED FOR INFORMATION ONLY
DUE TO n-Propyl bromide now being included in Annex 14 of REACH
EnviroTech Europe Ltd (ETE) continue to publish it as historical information and to record changes occurring in legislation which have affected decisions on formulations and equipment used in vapour degreasing - the most effective, quickest, flexible and cheapest cleaning system used in industry.
EnSolv® invented and patented by EnviroTech has been a market leader all over the world for vapour degreasing. It is based on n-bromopropane (nPB) which now cannot be used as a vapour degreaser within the UK or EU without authorisation.
Archived information about EnSolv® can be found using the Discontinued Products & Resources navigation menu on this page.
Using experience accumulated over 40 years supplying and supporting users of the vapour degreasing process ETE specialists have developed “drop in” alternatives:
ProSolv®, ProSolv5408e® and EnSolv CC-A® give the same or improved level of performance and economy as the original EnSolv® products.
Please contact our advisers who are available to discuss your needs and propose the best replacement product.
Or please click here to return to our vapour degreasing products homepage for information about our current products.
Environmentally friendly precision vapour degreasing and cleaning solvents for the aerospace, precision engineering, medical, optical and electronic industries.
EnSolv vapour degreasing solvents are the most effective alternative to trichloroethylene and other chlorinated and fluorocarbon based solvents. Fast, economical cleaning and degreasing in one tank using minimal floor area.
EnSolv degreasing solvents are specifically formulated to address the difficult precision cleaning problems experienced in high-tech industries where exceptional levels of cleanliness are needed.
EnSolv is a trusted family of environmentally friendly precision vapour degreasing and cleaning solvents for the aerospace, precision engineering, medical, optical and electronic industries. Custom blends serve applications where standard formulations require modifications.
These degreasing solvents are specifically formulated to address the difficult cleaning problems experienced in industries where exceptional levels of precision cleaning are needed.
The EnSolv range of solvents are economical in use, with very high solvency power for excellent fast precision cleaning in any vapour degreasing equipment with greatly improved productivity and lower maintenance costs. Mid range operating temperature reduces energy usage with a faster cleaning cycle and easier more comfortable handling for operators.
EnSolv is safe for the environment with low global warming and ozone depletion the lower temperature of operation reduces energy usage and reduces CO2 emission. EnSolv® is not classified as a carcinogen enhancing safe usage for operators
EnSolv is approved by US EPA Snap and is included in US Tri- Service corrosion manuals. Usage is Approved by Boeing and the major OEMs worldwide as a replacement for trichloroethylene.
Manufactured in the UK with excellent customer service, technical support and training from qualified distributors throughout Europe.
We can provide you with a Material Safety Data Sheets, independent laboratory reports, product samples and technical assistance.
For more information or advice please telephone us on +44 (0) 20 8281 6370 or use our contact form.
All products are supplied and supported by EnviroTech Europe Ltd. Manufactured in the United Kingdom and available on short delivery times through our dedicated team of distributors worldwide.
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Industrial Degreasing Solvents – Safe For The Environment
Eco Friendly Industrial Degreasing Solvents, Safe For Users And The Environment.
Cleaning agents are used in many industries to remove dirt, oil, grease, or other contaminants from machined and fabricated metal, plastic and composite surfaces.
The solvents must be highly refined and leave no residues on drying. They have to be very effective in removal of oils and soils without causing harm to the parts or components being cleaned and leave minimal residues. Solvents are used for cleaning using spray washers or immersion tanks with or without ultrasonics or agitation in manufacturing or automotive industries for removal of process oils from manufacturing processes .
Pre-used parts or assemblies from the transportation, aerospace or manufacturing equipment sectors are often very heavily contaminated when removed from service but must be free of these oils, soils, grease, dirt and contaminants before handling to disassemble prior to refurbishing and rebuilding.
A growing concern regarding environmental and health hazards of the most commonly used chlorinated solvents as industrial degreasing agents has led to the formulation by EnviroTech Surface Technologies of the Clarea® range of safer cleaning solvents.
Clarea solvents can be used for spray or immersion cleaning for very heavy soiling or are used as wipe cleaners for large surface areas prior to painting or powder coating.
Why should you choose Clarea industrial cleaning solvents.
The solvents applied during production or finishing processes have a direct effect on the health of workers and the environment.
Volatile organic compounds or VOCs are chemicals which vaporise at room temperatures. Traditional solvents used for cleaning have low boiling points and a high VOCs making them harmful to use and less eco-friendly Exposure to the VOC’s released by these cleaning agents must be controlled to prevent respiratory, allergic, and immune system complications for users. If your company uses industrial degreasing agents regularly, it is time to evaluate the dangers of this choice.
Clarea is a less volatile alternative than conventional cleaners. Highly refined aliphatic hydrocarbons with minimal residues and tight vaporisation ranges are capable of providing the same results and can be substituted to create a safer, sustainable, eco-friendly workplace.
The low odour, low flammability and low toxicity of Clarea® solvents provides performance and operator and environmental acceptability using less material at lower costs. Multipurpose use can reduce the inventory of cleaning fluids stocked.
Clareaa HC40 for brush and hand wiping, air dries. Flash point 40℃.
Clarea HC62 for dip cleaning with agitation or ultrasonics.
Low evaporation. Non-flammable.
Clarea® range of solvents is supplied through our distributors worldwide.
Other solvents in our cleaning specialities range are:
ProSolv 5408e: Precision solvent for electronics, medical and other critical cleaning applications.
Aquus CL-One: Water based neutral cleaners for use where solvents are not compatible with substrates.
We can provide you with a Material Safety Data Sheets, independent laboratory reports, product samples and technical assistance.
For more information or advice please telephone us on +44 (0) 20 8281 6370 or use our contact form.
All products are supplied and supported by EnviroTech Europe Ltd. Manufactured in the United Kingdom and available on short delivery times through our dedicated team of distributors worldwide.
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Preventing hydrogen sulphide corrosion in electrical and electronic equipment
A Cost Effective and Proven Corrosion Preventative Solution.
By Larry Clark, EnviroTech Europe Ltd
Electrical and electronic equipment and components that are used in adverse work environments, e.g. the oil and gas industry, waste water treatment plants, and the pulp and paper industry, where corrosive gases such as hydrogen sulphide are found cause severe corrosion and the rapid deterioration of the electronic components and equipment including connectors and switches used in these and other work environments. One economical way to prevent or inhibit corrosion from destroying electronics and electrical components is to use SuperCORR A, Ultra Thin Film, Water Displacing, Lubricant and Corrosion Inhibiting Compound.
If you or your company aren’t worried about costs then by default you aren’t concerned about corrosion or it’s associated costs in lost productivity and lost revenue caused by plant and equipment down time then this a paper that you should just skip. But if you and your company are concerned about costs including the amount money and man hours to repair or replace components to keep an electrical system or electronics operating, an aircraft flying, or a machine running because of failures caused by corrosion then this paper is for you!
Corrosion, in its many forms, is costing both private and public sector hundreds of billions of Euros a year! While all metals corrode due to a number of different factors there is no simple or single solution to the overall corrosion problem. However there are some very cost effective and proven ways to prevent corrosion and failures caused by corrosion and thereby reducing or eliminating associated costs and increasing safety which should be foremost in the mind set of any Preventative Maintenance Programme manager.
One proven and cost effective solution to the corrosion problem is SuperCORR A, a water displacing, ultra thin film lubricant with corrosion preventative properties. SuperCORR A was designed specifically to lubricate and prevent corrosion in electrical fittings and connectors; electrical and avionic harness assemblies and connectors; electrical and electronic switches; close tolerance and dissimilar metal components; lighting connectors and sockets; and the list goes on and on.
SuperCORR A is a unique non-flammable “self healing” ultra thin film lubricant with a proprietary corrosion preventive compound that will not harden or crack. SuperCORR A is not a wax or oil based product and is formulated without sulphates, chlorides or halogens.
SuperCORR A inhibits corrosion caused by exposure to both fresh and salt water moisture as well as the corrosive vapours from Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S), Ammonia (NH3), and Chlorine (CL12) based gases found in waste water and sewer treatment plants, pulp and paper mills and plants, chemical and petroleum plants, maritime industry, aircraft/airline industry, military equipment including ships, aircraft, and rolling stock, auto industry, farming and agriculture industry, and the list goes on. Extending the working life of electrical components and systems and other critical items by preventing the deterioration and/or failure caused by corrosion can significantly reduce downtime and operating and maintenance costs as well as enhance safety.
The question for you is: What is the cost of NOT using SuperCORR A in your Preventative Maintenance Programme?
SuperCORR A is available from EnviroTech Europe Ltd and our distributors worldwide.
We can provide you with a Material Safety Data Sheets, independent laboratory reports, product samples and technical assistance.
For more information or advice please telephone us on +44 (0) 20 8281 6370 or use our contact form.
All products are supplied and supported by EnviroTech Europe Ltd. Manufactured in the United Kingdom and available on short delivery times through our dedicated team of distributors worldwide.
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Trichloroethylene a known human carcinogen
CONTENT ON THIS PAGE IS RETAINED FOR INFORMATION ONLY
DUE TO n-Propyl bromide now being included in Annex 14 of REACH
EnviroTech Europe Ltd (ETE) continue to publish it as historical information and to record changes occurring in legislation which have affected decisions on formulations and equipment used in vapour degreasing - the most effective, quickest, flexible and cheapest cleaning system used in industry.
EnSolv® invented and patented by EnviroTech has been a market leader all over the world for vapour degreasing. It is based on n-bromopropane (nPB) which now cannot be used as a vapour degreaser within the UK or EU without authorisation.
Archived information about EnSolv® can be found using the Discontinued Products & Resources navigation menu on this page.
Using experience accumulated over 40 years supplying and supporting users of the vapour degreasing process ETE specialists have developed “drop in” alternatives:
ProSolv®, ProSolv5408e® and EnSolv CC-A® give the same or improved level of performance and economy as the original EnSolv® products.
Please contact our advisers who are available to discuss your needs and propose the best replacement product.
Or please click here to return to our vapour degreasing products homepage for information about our current products.
Trichloroethylene formally listed as a “Known Human Carcinogen”.
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After many years of being listed as a possible or probable human carcinogen, the widely used solvent trichloroethylene (TCE) has now been listed by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a “known human carcinogen.” Ref; NTP’s 14th Report on Carcinogens (November 3, 2016).
Trichloroethylene is widely used in manufacturing industries as a vapour degreasing solvent but its principal uses are as an intermediate raw material in hydrofluorocarbon chemical manufacture. In the light of a number of human studies showing a causal connection between TCE exposure and an increased risk of kidney cancer, NTP re-evaluated and ultimately reclassified TCE. In addition to cancer risk, other problems that have been attributed to TCE exposure include immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, reproductive toxicity and developmental toxicity, such as potential fetal cardiac defects.
As a known carcinogen exposure to TCE is highly regulated already in the European Union. From April 2016 its use has required authorisation for specified applications.
The ban on the use of TCE for vapour degreasing, a very widely used cleaning process, causes many problems in the engineering and manufacturing industries where oil and soils need to be removed between stages in the production processes and on finished products. The use of alternative water based cleaners are inconvenient and increase process times and costs.
A safer alternative, EnSolv is available as an established “drop in” replacement for TCE often using existing vapour degreasing equipment. For more information on conversion, help or advice from EnviroTech Europe Specialist team go to www.vapour-degreasing.com.
We can provide you with a Material Safety Data Sheets, independent laboratory reports, product samples and technical assistance.
For more information or advice please telephone us on +44 (0) 20 8281 6370 or use our contact form.
All products are supplied and supported by EnviroTech Europe Ltd. Manufactured in the United Kingdom and available on short delivery times through our dedicated team of distributors worldwide.
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Lubricant And Corrosion Inhibitors
How SuperCORR A protective lubricant prevents seizures of automatic handling systems in the harsh conditions of Industrial cleaning systems.
Specialist cleaning equipment manufacturer C&C Hydrosonics a division of U.S giant Crest Ultrasonics have solved a problem with seizures occurring the on x-y axis linear tracks on their automatic handling systems fitted to multi tank cleaning systems both aqueous and solvent based.
The automatic handling systems are programmed to process baskets or jigs through a cleaning cycle transferring between tanks, lowering and raising work from the liquids. The motorised carriages use nylon wheels running on case hardened mild steel tracks (stainless steel is not available) which corrode in the chemical atmospheres in the machine canopies.
The corrosion prevents smooth running with wheels seizing and binding on the tracks. The vibration can cause components to be shaken from jigs or in extreme cases the carriage will stall requiring intervention by service engineers to remove corrosion and re-lubricate tracks with oil. This is a temporary measure as the oil is quickly removed by the solvents and water based cleaning solutions with corrosion recurring in a short time.
SuperCORR A from EnviroTech Europe is an innovative dry lubricant formulation with protective properties which forms a self-healing film applied from an aerosol. The inorganic lubricant is unaffected by water and acts a barrier against rusting and corrosion. Extensive Trials by C&C Hydrosonics over a six month period with both solvent and water based systems demonstrated that SuperCORR A offered a simple solution to the problem with no seizures during the trial period. Previously maintenance every six weeks was needed, now an aerosol spray of SuperCORR A is used only during service visits as a routine lubrication and applied during production of the handling system.
Lee Casey Managing Director of C&C is delighted with the cost savings on reduced service and maintenance calls using SuperCORR A but is even more pleased that the inconvenience to customers has been eliminated. Use of SuperCORR A has now been extended worldwide on Crest automated handling systems.
SuperCORR A is available from EnviroTech Europe Ltd and distributors worldwide.
We can provide you with a Material Safety Data Sheets, independent laboratory reports, product samples and technical assistance.
For more information or advice please telephone us on +44 (0) 20 8281 6370 or use our contact form.
All products are supplied and supported by EnviroTech Europe Ltd. Manufactured in the United Kingdom and available on short delivery times through our dedicated team of distributors worldwide.
Share this page: