Yuji supplies Novec equivalents and next generation solvents for precision cleaning. Featuring high material compatibility, excellent cleaning performance, and low environmental impact for electronic precision parts manufacturers.

What is Precision Cleaning?

In order to reach a certain level of cleanliness, precision cleaning removes contaminants including dust, filth, fibers, grease, oil, and other minute impurities utilizing equipment of various cleaning processes. Precision of cleaning typically depends on a number of variables, such as the design and make-up of the materials that need to be cleaned, the kind and quantity of contaminants present, the level of cleanliness that the business demands. In order to achieve this, different precision cleaning methods can be employed;

• Spray Equipment: This method involves using aerosols, specialty spray equipment and devices, or commercial power washers to achieve cleanliness across a material’s surface.
• Ultrasonic Cleaning: Utilizing sound waves this method agitates the chemical solution and removes impurities from the equipment parts.
• Aqueous Cleaning: Materials are immersed in water-based cleaning solutions for this method. Since water is mostly used in the cleaning process, it is also regarded as an environmentally friendly cleaning option.
• Solvent Cleaning: The utilization of chemicals to get rid of contaminants across a material’s surface. Chemical solvents can be utilized in any of the aforementioned cleaning methods as well.

What is a Cleaning Solvent?

Solvent cleaning agents are used to get rid of impurities such solder flux, grease, and other types of oil. These contaminants are eliminated from parts, electronic parts, products, tools, machinery, equipment, vessels, floors, walls, and other production-related work spaces for a variety of reasons, including safety, operability, and to prevent contamination in their product development. Often, the cleaning solvents utilized in these activities are not only used for cleaning but also for other purposes

Several industries utilize solvents for cleaning or material processing:

Electronics	Utilized in the assembly of electrical and electronic parts such as printed circuit boards to remove solder flux, grease, oil, residual dust that may reside following
Aerospace	Solvents may be used to clean aviation parts and components such as system controls, turbine blades, engine parts, and even landing gear such as brake assemblies and wheels.
Optics	Solvents may be used to clean optical devices such as microscopes, telescopes, light detection devices, and fiber optic glass.
Forensics	Solvents may be used in the forensics industry in mixed solutions for fingerprint development on porous surfaces at crime scenes or in laboratories.
Metal Fabrication & Finishing	Solvents may be used in the metal fabrication industry to remove contaminants from materials such as steel, brass, aluminum, and copper.
Medical Device	Solvents may be used in the medical equipment manufacturing process to clean medical instruments, monitoring and information systems that are attached to the body, and also implants.
Automotive	Solvents may be used in the automotive parts manufacturing process to remove greases and oils. It may also be used further down the production line as a thinner or cleaner for lacquer and certain coatings.

Examples of Cleaning Solvents

To clean a surface, a solvent must first dissolve the soil, break it up into smaller particles, and then moves those smaller particles into the solution and away from the surface. Many solvents have the benefit of fast cleaning, allowing dirt to dissolve and run off of the substrate with minimal preparation, processing, or drying time.

Because to their cleaning prowess solvent-based cleaners continue to be widely used in industrial settings because they can get rid of thick, baked-on oils, grime, containments, solder flux, and greases. Strong cleaning agents include acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, toluene, nPB, and trichloroethylene (TCE), to name a few. Hydrofluoroether cleaning solvents are widely used by many industries due to its environmentally-friendly properties. HFE solvents feature an ozone depleting potential of zero, short atmospheric lifetime, and low greenhouse effect index. Due to these excellent properties, HFE has been used as a direct replacement for trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PERC), 1,1,1-trichloroethane, HCFC-141b, Freon, and other hazardous or discontinued vapor degreasing, ultrasonic and manual cleaning solvents.

What is Hydrofluoroether (HFE) Solvent?

Hydrofluoroethers (HFE) represent a category of organic solvents. They were initially created as non-ozone-depleting compounds to take the place of CFCs, HFCs, HCFCs, and PFCs. HFEs, utilized for specialized purposes electronics and electronic device manufacturing processes, are frequently seen as safer and more environmentally friendly alternatives to perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

They usually have no color, no smell, no taste, no toxicity, little viscosity, and are liquid at room temperature. HFEs have boiling points that range from 50 °C to about 100 °C. HFEs were initially created by 3M, but now other producers are starting to make them. Due to HFE’s low greenhouse effect index, it is used as a powerful degreaser that can work on many electronics, contacts, live circuits, motors, and other precision components. With an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of zero and low global warming potential (GWP), HFE solvents are great alternative to harmful or toxic cleaning solvents. Safety is important when dealing with solvent cleaners that are flammable or toxic which create safety hazards for workers using these chemicals in their day to day operations.

Why Choose An HFE-Based Solvent Cleaner?

HFE and other fluorinated solvents are used for extremely vital items, such as medical equipment and instruments, where a strict degree of sanitation is required before assembly or shipping. Fluorinated solutions penetrate and dissolve the contamination without harming the surface of the thing being cleaned, whether the object is composed of metal, plastic, polyurethanes, or another material thanks to their low surface tension feature.

Fluorinated solvents also offer the following advantages:

– A faster rate of evaporation than aqueous solutions

– Less energy is needed to clean;

– Next generation fluorinated solvents have low global warming potential (low GWP) and ozone depletion potential (low ODP).

Why Are Other Solvents Being Phased Out? CFC, HCFC, HFC

Chlorofluorocarbons were previously the preferred cleaning solvent for many industries before they were classified as harmful to the environment due to their high ozone depletion potential (ODP). Ozone-depleting solvents are forbidden by the Montreal Protocol, forcing these businesses to find, test, and use new substitutes. Popular alternatives due to their environmentally sustainable chemical properties are fluorinated solvents or aqueous solvents, which are determined and managed by the EPA’s SNAP program- the authority governing the use of ozone-depleting substances to thwart damage to our climate. Many of the largest game players in the

3M™ Announces Phaseout of PFAS 

By the end of 2025, 3M plans on discontinuing the manufacturing of their per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across its entire product portfolio. This comes about due to growing concerns and lack of research regarding the affects of these substances in our environment. For industrial cleaning processes such as solvent degreasing of precision parts or thermal management of electronics, 3M’s Novec cleaning solvents will no longer be utilized.

3M™ Novec™ Products That Are Affected By The Phaseout:

• 3M™ Novec™ 7100 Engineered Fluid
• 3M™ Novec™ 7200 Engineered Fluid
• 3M™ Novec™ 7300 Engineered Fluid
• 3M™ Novec™ 7500 Engineered Fluid
• 3M™ Novec™ 71DA Engineered Fluid
• 3M™ Novec™ 72DA Engineered Fluid
• 3M™ Novec™ 71DE Engineered Fluid
• 3M™ Novec™ 72DE Engineered Fluid
• 3M™ Novec™ 73DE Engineered Fluid
• 3M™ Novec™ 71IPA Engineered Fluid

Yuji Supplies Novec Replacement Solvents

Cleaning precision parts across many industries is a necessary process, and companies rely on Novec precision cleaning solvents for many industrial cleaning processes such as vapor degreasing or ultrasonic cleaning. In order to find a suitable replacement, businesses will likely have to opt-in to Novec replacements or next generation solvents. Yuji’s solvent catalogue comprises of drop-in replacements for precision cleaning and next generation solvents powered by hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) chemistry.

Related Topics:

• HFO & Solvent Cleaning Agents  • Fluorine Chemistry  •Hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) as HFC Alternatives