Dielectric Solvent: Considerations for Choosing the Right Solvent

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Dielectric solvents contain a dielectric material the prevents electrical current from traveling through the solvent stream back to the solvent container and the worker who holds it. If a solvent doesn’t contain dielectric material, the solvent stream could serve as an electrical conductor that allows the worker to be severely shocked and makes the spray bottle explode. If the liquid in the bottle ignites, the graveness of the situation could be exponentially worse.

Choosing a Dielectric Solvent
If your company or organization requires a dielectric solvent, carefully consider the product you need before you make a purchase. In addition to considering the safety profile of the cleaner, it’s also imperative to assess how the solvent would impact your electrical equipment in terms of sustainability and cleanliness. With these factors in mind, we present four crucial considerations that you should make in order to choose a dielectric solvent that meets your cleaning needs.

  1. Dielectric Strength

Not all dielectric solvents have the same dielectric strength. Some are formulated to offer more impedance to electricity than others. Consequently, it’s essential to identify a solvent whose dielectric material offers enough impedance to handle any level of voltage that may be present. For example, industrial switchgear operates at a much higher voltage than a small engine fan. If you need to clean energized equipment, considering the strength of the dielectric is imperative.

  1. Solvent Flammability

The dielectric material in dielectric solvent prevents electrical current from using the solvent stream as a conductor. However, it does not guarantee that energized equipment will not experience a fire during the cleaning process. Such a fire would be unlikely to result from applying dielectric solvent. However, if the solvent has a low flashpoint, it could combust and contribute to equipment damage. The solvent should have a high flashpoint or no flashpoint.

  1. Method of Dispersal

Should you use dielectric solvent in liquid form that can be placed in spray bottles or aerosol form? If you are cleaning large equipment surfaces, the former option may be the most efficient one. However, if you clean precision parts that are situated close together, aerosol, with its advantage of dispersing solvent particles evenly across even small surfaces, may be the ideal choice from the standpoints of solvent preservation and avoiding “over-wetting”electronic parts.

  1. Cleaner Residue

Most dielectric solvents have a high evaporation rate that prevents solvent from gathering in small creases between electrical contacts, where it could impede the flow of electricity due to the dielectric material. However, a similar phenomenon can occur when the solvent is not residue-free. Apart from potentially causing electricity conduction problems, solvent that leaves residue can cause dirt and grime to quickly adhere to parts until the residue is removed.

Contact Ecolink Today
If you need a new dielectric solvent for cleaning electrical equipment, we can supply you with a cleaner that has the right dielectric strength, a high flashpoint or no flashpoint, and leaves no residue. We can also supply the cleaner in the form that works best for dispersing the solvent. For assistance choosing an eco friendly, best in class dielectric solvent, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or fill out the contact form on our website. We look forward to hearing from you!

 

Selecting an Aerosol Contact Cleaner for Energized Equipment

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Most equipment that is degreased is powered off before the degreasing process begins, but there are also situations in which equipment must be degreased while it is still energized; that is, while the circuitry in the equipment still carries an electrical charge. Cleaning energized equipment involves a higher level of danger than cleaning non-energized equipment. That is why it is important to select an aerosol contact cleaner that has the following crucial specs.

Dielectric Formulation
Dielectric fluids “prevent or rapidly quench electric discharges” (Wikipedia). This makes them ideal for cleaning contacts in energized equipment. High-voltage arc flashes can cause serious injury and even death. Using a dielectric cleaner helps protect both you and your equipment.

Non-Flammable Formulation
An aerosol contact cleaner that is used to clean energized equipment should ideally have a non-flammable formulation, as this will prevent the cleaner from becoming an accellerant under all conditions. A non-flammable formulation also gives you more storage options for the cleaner.

Exceptionally High Flash Point
If it is impossible to find an aerosol contact cleaner that meets your cleaning needs and has a non-flammable formulation, choosing a product with a high flashpoint is the next best option. We can advise you on choosing an efficacious cleaner that has an exceptionally high flashpoint.

Non-Residue Formulation
An aerosol contact cleaner that leaves residue essentially sabotages the cleaning operation. This is because the left behind residue actually attracts dirt and grime to the parts. Using a residual cleaner most often means that you will need to perform cleaning with greater frequency.

Fast Drying Formulation
Because most electrical contacts are made from alloys that can oxidize in the presence of moisture, it’s important to choose a cleaner that quickly evaporates shortly after application. If moisture remains and evaporates slowly, contacts could rust and necessitate expensive repairs.

Available in Bulk Supply
Choosing the best aerosol contact cleaner means nothing if supplying it does not fit within your budget for cleaning solutions. That is why it’s important to select a cleaner from a supplier that helps make it affordable by supplying the solution in bulk, which cuts down on cost per unit.

Need Aerosol Contact Cleaner?
If your company or organization needs a new aerosol contact cleaner, Ecolink is the place to find it. For more information about this product or others, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or refer to the contact page on our website. We offer a wide range of cleaners for electrical equipment, and we can even create a custom product just for you if our readymade products don’t meet your cleaning requirements. We look forward to helping you meet your contact cleaning needs!

Aerosol Degreaser Versus Liquid Degreaser: How Do They Compare?

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Degreasing is one of the most common cleaning operations that requires a specially formulated product that’s designed to cut grease and leave the material that is cleaned grease-free. Some companies choose to purchase degreaser in aerosol form, while other prefer to buy it in liquid form, and use it in spray bottles and/or hand wipe sheets. How do these different forms of degreaser compare to each other? Below, we answer the question using six important criteria.

  1. Cost Per Order

As long as they are ordered in the same capacity (one-off order, same volume, bulk order, etc.) aerosol degreaser and liquid degreaser require roughly the same monetary investment. However, due to its packaging, it isn’t uncommon for aerosol to cost a bit more than liquid.

  1. Leftover Cleaner

Cleaner that is leftover from the degreasing operation has two financial impacts: the more cleaner that is leftover, the less cleaner you get for your money, and the more you spend on professional waste removal services. Aerosol is highly effective at preserving the cleaner.

  1. Ease of Use

Aerosol cleaning solutions can be used right out of the box. So can liquid degreaser, but the user typically prepares it for use in a specific form (hand wipe, spray bottle, cleaning sponge, etc.) In terms of time spent on deployment, aerosol offers the fewest amount of barriers to use.

  1. Ease of Storage

Because it can be broken down into small, individual containers, right out of the box aerosol degreaser is typically easier to store in various spaces than liquid degreaser that comes in a large container. If your cleaner storage space is limited, using aerosol may be the best option.

  1. Rate of Dispersal

Aerosol degreaser has an even rate of dispersal, whereas the dispersal of liquid degreaser depends on how it is deployed (wipe form, spray bottle form, pourable form, etc.). If you need a degreaser that has an unalterable rate of dispersal, using an aerosol degreaser is the way to go.

  1. Range of Use

Aerosol degreaser typically has the widest range of use, as it can be applied to both expansive surfaces and small parts that are tightly surrounded by other parts. This is why some users order liquid degreaser and place it in spray bottles when they need to degrease precision parts.

Contact Ecolink Today
Aerosol degreaser and liquid degreaser each have their place in degreasing operations. However, there are often situations in which one form of degreaser is more efficacious than the other. If you are unsure of whether you need aerosol degreaser, liquid degreaser, or both, the industrial cleaner specialists at Ecolink can help you make the right decision for your needs. Regardless of the form of degreaser you need, we will help you acquire it cost effectively.

For more information about our aerosol degreaser and liquid degreaser products, call us today at 800) 563-1305, or use the contact page on our website. We look forward to supplying you with best in class aerosol degreaser and/or liquid degreaser for your crucial cleaning operations.

Aerosol Flux Remover: When Should it be Used for Annealing Metal?

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Annealing is a metallurgical process in which metal is heat treated to provide three primary effects: supplying the metal with increased ductility, softening the metal for machining processes, and homogenizing the metal’s microstructure to remove internal stresses that could cause the metal to crack or break during service. For some annealing practices, using aerosol flux remover is essential for the annealing process, while for others it is not as necessary.

When to Use Aerosol Flux Remover
Aerosol flux remover is used to remove flux residue from metal that has been put through the annealing process, but not every type of annealing process requires the application of aerosol flux remover. However, there are least two types of annealing procedures in which flux remover play an essential role in preserving the dimensional stability and appearance of the product.

  1. Open Air Annealing Procedures

Open air annealing procedures are typically performed for two reasons: open air annealing is often less time consuming that using a furnace for heat treating, and some metal assemblies are too large to fit inside an industrial heat treating furnace. In these situation, flux is applied to the part of the assembly is that annealed and to adjacent areas to prevent heat-based oxidation.

  1. Non-Atmosphere-Controlled Furnaces

Unlike atmosphere-controlled furnaces that remove gases from the heating chamber to prevent sensitive metals from oxidizing (chromium alloys, for example), non-atmosphere-controlled furnaces don’t retain a pure heat treating atmosphere, which means that oxygen and other oxidizing agents are present in the heating chamber. When you use this type of furnace, it’s generally recommended to apply flux in order to prevent oxidation and its undesirable qualities.

When to Not Use Aerosol Flux Remover
There are also at least three annealing procedures for which flux — and thus flux remover — are typically not required: performing annealing in a vacuum furnace, performing the procedure in an atmosphere-controlled furnace, and performing annealing with a bell annealer. Below is an explanation of why these furnaces bypass the fluxing process due to their elite technology.

  1. Atmosphere-Controlled Continuous Furnaces

These types of furnaces use special technologies to maintain a pure hydrogen/nitrogen atmosphere that does not react with most types of metals (alloys of stainless steel are a good example”. The furnaces use curtain boxes, hood and stack separation, and directional airflow to keep oxygen and other potentially oxidizing elements from causing metal to appear drossy.

  1. Vacuum Furnaces

Unlike atmosphere-controlled continuous furnaces and bell annealers that maintain a pure hydrogen/nitrogen atmosphere, vacuum furnace apply a vacuum to the heat chamber that removes all gases, essentially eliminating the chance of oxidation. This is why the furnaces are the gold standard for processing metals that will be used in strenuous applications, such as performance parts in aerospace equipment and longstanding, metal structural supports.

  1. Bell Annealers

Bell Annealers are often designed in a vertical fashion that makes them perfect for annealing long spools of wire and other types of metal assemblies that can be dropped into the furnace in a top-down manner. Like atmosphere-controlled continuous furnaces, bell annealers sequester metal in an environment that is free of gases that become corrosive at high temperatures. For example, a lustrous chromium alloy will oxidize when its is heated in the presence of oxygen.

Looking for Aerosol Flux Remover?
If so, Ecolink has the products you need to perform the annealing process and achieve best results. For example, our aerosol flux remover FluoSolv® AP is perfect for defluxing workpieces and assemblies that have have been annealed using open air operations and/or non-atmosphere-controlled furnaces. If you determine that the FluoSolv® AP isn’t a precise fit for your annealing needs, we can create a custom solution that addresses your requirements.

For assistance choosing an aerosol flux remover, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or refer to the contact page on our website. We look forward to supplying you with carefully formulated flux remover that can be used for the annealing process based on the type of metal involved. When flux remover is needed, it will help preserve the appearance of metal from oxidizing elements.

Five Benefits of Using an Aerosol Contact Cleaner Instead of Other Forms

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Contact cleaner is formulated to clean the electrical contacts in equipment and devices that complete the electrical circuits they contain. In most cases, companies and organizations choose to apply contact cleaner in one of three forms: aerosol, liquid, or wipes. However, it should also be noted that some entities decide to use all three forms instead of just one. Even so, there are at least five distinct benefits of using contact cleaner that comes in aerosol form.

  1. Easy to Apply in Small Amounts

Unlike contact cleaner that is wiped on or applied using a conventional spray bottle, aerosol contact cleaner can be applied in infinitesimal amounts. This feature is useful for cleaning individual contacts that need more attention due to their location in the equipment or device.

  1. Helps Reduce Waste Disposal Cost

Unlike heavily saturated wipes that drip solvent when compressed and liquid solvent that is applied by pouring or spraying with a conventional spray bottle, properly applied aerosol solutions produce little of any excess solvent that is collected in the solvent waste trap. The less the waste trap must be emptied, the more you save on professional waste disposal costs.

  1. More Flexible Storage Options

Unlike large supplies of wipes and sizable pails of liquid cleaner, standard size aerosol cans can be taken from the box and stored in a variety of configurations. Simply put, aerosol containers can go where other forms of contact cleaner can’t, such as on narrow shelves in the work environment, tight spaces in storage closets, and small utility cabinets, just to name a few.

  1. Eliminates Possibility of Spillage

Whereas compressed wipes can drip excess cleaning solution and pails of cleaner can be spilled in their entirety, it is virtually impossible to spill an aerosol contact cleaner. To do so, you would literally have to rip the container apart — and you wouldn’t like the resulting explosion if you did!

  1. Easy to Disperse Evenly

High-quality aerosol contact cleaner such as the kind Ecolink supplies emits a definitive particle size, produces a specific spray pattern, and dispenses a volume of cleaner per second that makes it easy to distribute aerosol contact cleaner evenly upon areas that must be cleaned. Even dispersal of the solution helps ensures that each electrical contact is cleaned to the same degree.

Need an Aerosol Contact Cleaner?
If your company or organization performs business-critical contact cleaning, performing them with an aerosol contact cleaner can yield the benefits above, among others. At Ecolink, we do more than supply cleaners in aerosol form. We provide aerosol cleaners whose non-toxic formulation makes them safer to use for workers and the environment. In addition to supplying ready-made aerosols, we also create custom aerosol blends that meet unique cleaning needs.

For more information about our aerosol contact cleaners and contact cleaners in other forms, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or simply use our contact page. We look forward to supplying you with powerful, safe to use cleaning solvents for all of your electrical contact cleaning needs!