Using Different Technologies to Solve Unique Precision Cleaning Problems,

Abstract

For years those industries requiring precision cleaning in their production operations had access to chemical solvents which, because of their extraordinary properties and when used with the appropriate process and equipment, would suffice to precision clean virtually everything requiring precision cleaning. Principle among these were 1,1,2-trichloro 1,2,2-trifluoroethane (CFC-113) and methyl chloroform (MCF). When the Montreal Protocol process identified these chemicals as ozone depleting chemicals (ODCs) and targeted them for complete phaseout, the industries requiring precision cleaning were challenged to develop and implement alternatives for CFC-113 and MCF. Efforts began immediately and worldwide with a great deal of success. Through those efforts there are now an abundance of alternatives for virtually every precision cleaning requirement. This sounds very impressive, and it truly is. Initially it would appear that there should no longer be any difficulties replacing CFC-113 and MCF within the industries using those chemicals for precision cleaning. However, upon examination this is definitely not the case. While it is true there are abundant alternatives, none of them are universal. For example, there is no substitute chemical that is a perfect replacement for either CFC-113 or MCF in all their applications. In addition, there are a variety of parameters associated with the alternatives that vary considerably among those alternatives. These include such things as environmental impact, cost, worker safety, flammability, storage lifetime, different levels of reactivity with different materials, and so on. To further compound the problem, these parameters vary in importance depending upon such things as the geographic area involved, type and nature of process requirements, and political concerns.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 12, 1993
Accession Number
ADA308142

Entities

People

  • Don E. Hunt

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Chemistry
  • Electronic Circuits
  • Environment
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Environmental Protection
  • Environmental Restoration And Remediation
  • Inertial Navigation
  • Inertial Navigation Systems
  • Materials
  • Measurement
  • Navigation
  • Static Electricity
  • Test Equipment
  • Ultrasonic Cleaning
  • United States

Readers

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Educational Psychology
  • Environmental Engineering.