MIL-PRF 680C Type II: How Does it Compare to Other Types of MIL-PRF 680C?

/in /by

MIL-PRF 680C Type II degreasing solutions deliver excellent cleaning power. This is why they are commonly used for military-grade degreasing operations and industrial-grade degreasing procedures that require the removal of large amounts of grease in a short period of time. In total, there are five traditional types MIL-PRF 680C. Below, we look at how these solutions compare to MIL-PRF 680C Type II using five criteria: flashpoint, aromatic content, odor, and KB value.

Flashpoint
The higher its flashpoint, the less likely a degreaser is to ignite when it is used for the intended application. Types, I, II, III, IV, and V of MIL-PRF 680C have the following flashpoints, respectively: 100-140°F, 141-198°F, 200-241°F, 141-198°F, and 141-198°F. Degreasing operations that require a cleaner with a mid-range flashpoint are often performed with MIL-PRF 680C Type II. MIL-PRF 680C Type V is implemented when the highest flashpoint is required.

Aromatic Content
Aromatic content refers to components in degreasers that are known to have aromatic qualities before they are formulated with other ingredients. In some cases, the inclusion of aromatic content is purposeful; it is intended to give a degreaser a clean scent. In other cases, natural elements such as VOCs create aromatic content. Types, I, II, III, IV, and V of MIL-PRF 680C all contain roughly 1% of aromatic content by volume, locking them in a tie for this criterion.

Odor
Odor is naturally tied to aromatic content, but it is not the same thing. Rather, odor is best described as the persistence of smells that aromatic content releases. In some situations, odor is undesirable but not harmful. In other situations, especially those in which odor results from high VOC content, odor can harmful indeed. Types, I, II, III, and V of MIL-PRF 680C have an odor rating of “low and non-residual”. Type V has an odor rating of “citrus and non-residual.”

Kb Value
Wikipedia defines Kb value as “an international, standardized measure of solvent power for a hydrocarbon solvent [that] is governed by an ASTM standardized test, ASTM D1133. Types, I, II, III, and V of MIL-PRF 680C have a Kb value of 27-45, whereas Type V has a Kb value that may not be rated, depending on the solution. Solutions that have Kb values in the mid 20s are considered “mild”, while those that have a value in the 40s or above are considered aggressive.

Need a MIL-PRF 680C Type II Replacement? – BUY IT NOW
If so, Ecolink has just the product for your heavy-duty, manually applied degreasing procedures: New II Environmentally Preferred Parts Cleaner. This product meets the cleaning requirements of MIL-PRF 680C Type II, but it contains no odor, no water, is fully evaporative, is non-corrosive, has a high flashpoint of 145°F, and contains no hazardous ingredients according to the EPA.

These qualities make New II Environmentally Preferred Parts Cleaner an excellent option for various types of degreasing applications. For help determining whether New II Environmentally Preferred Parts Cleaner is a good option for your degreasing needs, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or refer to the contact page on our website. We look forward to assisting you!

Evaluating Vapor Degreaser Manufacturers: Key Considerations

/in /by

If you do a Google search for the term “vapor degreaser”, you will soon find hundreds of search listings for the product, with most of them coming from different vapor degreaser manufacturers. How do you know which product would work best for your company, or which manufacturer to choose? In this entry, we take an in-depth look at the latter concern: choosing the right manufacturer. The pointers below will help you evaluate vapor degreaser manufacturers.

In House Vs. Outsourced Production Process
Ideally, you should choose a manufacturer that handles the production process in house instead of outsourcing it to a third party. The reason why is plain to see: Vapor degreaser manufacturers that handle their own production process exhibit a greater degree of quality control over the process, and are often more qualified to answer questions about the vapor degreasers they sell.

Formulation of Vapor Degreasing Solutions
In terms of formulation, we are talking about whether the chemical constituency of a vapor degreaser makes it toxic or eco friendly. Furthermore, we are also inquiring about whether it produces hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) that could harm workers in addition to the environment. Vapor degreaser manufacturers that offer HAP-free solutions are preferred.

Compliance With EPA Regulations
Since 1990, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned the use of hundreds of toxic chemicals in commercial and industrial work environments, and many more are scheduled to be banned or severely regulated in the future. If a manufacturer sells solutions whose ingredients are scheduled to be banned or regulated, look elsewhere for your vapor degreaser.

Suitability for the Degreasing Application
Some vapor degreasers are designed to be used for certain types of vapor degreasing applications, especially in terms of the vapor degreasing equipment that is used to degrease. For the sake of cost, you should ideally choose a degreaser that is intended for the equipment you already have instead of replacing the equipment to comply with a new type of degreasing agent.

Record at the Better Business Bureau
A manufacturer’s record at the Better Business Bureau (BBB) doesn’t provide much information about its products, but it can indicate how the company treats customers. When investigating the BBB records of vapor degreaser manufacturers, look past the letter grade and see if their records contain unresolved customer complaints. Manufacturers that have unresolved complaints should be avoided. After all, the next unresolved complaint could be yours.

Need a Vapor Degreaser Manufacturer?
If so, it is imperative to choose one that maintains excellent control over the production process, offers degreasers that feature a non-toxic formulation, sells solutions that comply with EPA regulations, provides degreasers that can be used with your vapor degreasing equipment, and provides a high level or customer service that results in a stellar BBB record. Ecolink possesses these important characteristics, making us a premier supplier of vapor degreasers.

For more information about our line of non-toxic vapor degreasers, give us a call today at (800) 563-1305 to schedule a free consultation, or fill out our contact form. We look forward to providing you with a powerful, eco friendly vapor degreaser that meets your needs!

 

Wetting Index – Why Does It Matter?

/in /by

In the cleaning solution industry, the term “wetting” refers to a liquid’s ability to remain in contact with a solid surface after it is applied — a bond between the substances that results from intermolecular interactions; specifically, a “force balance between adhesive and cohesive forces.” To measure the “wettability” of cleaning solutions, chemists use what is known as the “wetting index”, which gauges a solution’s ability to penetrate between closely spaced parts.

Why the Wetting Index Matters
When companies need a solution that can clean a system of closely spaced components — such as those that you would find in a standard combustion engine — in a short period of time, with minimal effort required of the end user, it’s especially important to consider the wettability of a solution before using it. Because it rates the wettability of cleaning solutions, the wetting index makes it easier to choose a product whose wettability is suitable for the application in question.

In the absence of assessing the wettability of cleaning solutions, companies often engage in a process of trial and error until they find a solution that delivers the right cleaning action. In the meantime, the applications for which they use improper cleaning solutions can lead to improper maintenance of mechanical parts, and, by extension, the failure of the parts while in service.

Ultimately, using the wetting index to identify viable cleaning solutions can help companies save money on cleaning products, mitigate equipment repair costs, and maintain productivity.

Putting the Wetting Index to Use
Because the wetting index is a scientific construct that non-scientists rarely put to use, it helps to explain the efficacy of the index by providing a hypothetical example of its application. Say that an aerospace company needs a cleaning solution for quickly degreasing the engines of aerospace equipment when it is not in use. In this situation, the wetting index could be used to ascertain that a vapor degreasing solvent would work better than an aqueous degreaser.

Because the cleaning action of an aqueous solvent depends primarily on the solution’s ingredients and the force with which the product is applied, the solvent may not be suitable for cleaning tight spaces between engine parts. Conversely, the cleaning action of a solvent that is applied in vapor form depends on the product’s wettability and not the force with which you apply it, although, as with aqueous solvents, the solvent’s ingredients will play a major role, as well.

Need Help Choosing a Cleaner?
If so, information provided in the wetting index could be a key to selecting the right product on the first try. At Ecolink, we don’t expect you to possess the knowledge of an experienced chemist when it comes to assessing wettability; that is what we are here for. Simply contact us and explain your cleaning needs, and we will identify the right solution. If we don’t carry a pre-formulated product that meets your needs, we can create a custom product that does.

Call us today at (800) 563-1305, or fill out our contact form.

Air-Dry Solvents: What Are They, and How Are They Used?

/in /by

Some classes of solvents dry at roughly the same rate, but air-dry solvents offer a multitude of different dry times, with the ideal drying period ranging from a few seconds to a few weeks, depending on the needs of the end user. The optimal dry time for air-dry solvents depends on the applications for which they are used. To show how these types of solvents benefit end users, it helps to discuss them in terms of drying time: fast drying and slow drying.

Fast Drying Air-Dry Solvents
Air-dry solvents that have a quick rate of evaporation are perfect for certain cleaning operations, particularly those that require a quick response, such as cleaning the engines of jets that must soon return to the runway, and cleaning surfaces that are commonly used in work areas. Air-dry solvents that have a fast evaporation rate are also an excellent option for cleaning sensitive electronics, as the solution quickly evaporates instead of soaking the parts in excess solvent.

Fast drying solvents also have some benefits that apply somewhat indirectly to their use. One of these benefits is that less excess solvent is collected in the waste disposal system, which can reduce waste disposal costs, and add financial flexibility to the operating budget. Another benefit is that a fast dry rate can result in better turnaround times for various types of work orders, which ultimately translates into increased productivity that bolsters the end user’s bottom line.

Slow Drying Air-Dry Solvents
Air-dry solvents that have a slow rate of evaporation are also perfect for certain cleaning operations, especially ones that require extensive solvent application to break up tough accumulations. For example, tools that have a thick accumulation of tough substances such as carbon and tar may require a slow drying solvent in order to completely remove the accumulations. Instead of continuously applying solvent that has a fast dry rate, the end user can apply one round of solvent that has a slow dry time, and let the solution do its work.

An additional benefits of slow drying solvents include: minimizing the use of solvent, which helps reduce cleaning solution costs; and less waste chemical production, which can reduce waste disposal costs. Overall, slow drying air-dry solvents are best used for comprehensive cleaning projects that don’t require a quick turnaround time. Nevertheless, they do offer an effective way to break up tough accumulations that would be practically impossible to remove by hand.

Contact Ecolink Today
If your company or organization needs an air-dry solvent, but you are unsure about how long the drying process should last, Ecolink is here to help. We offer air-dry solvents that have a variety of different drying rates and can be used for numerous types of cleaning operations.

For assistance choosing the best air-dry solvent for your needs, give us a call today at (800) 563-1305, or refer to the contact page on our website. We look forward to supplying you with the best eco friendly cleaning solvents for all of your cleaning operations!

Chemical Manufacturing: Batch Processing Vs. Continuous Processing

/in /by

Chemical manufacturing is a subsector of the manufacturing industry. In most situations, it is performed using one of two methods: continuous processing, in which raw materials are continually fed into the manufacturing vessel, as the finished chemical is removed to create room; and batch processing, in which raw materials are placed in the vessel for longer periods of time, particularly to perform quality control checks or refine the batch through cleaning methods.

Is One Process Better Than the Other?
From the standpoint of producing the desired chemicals, batch manufacturing and continuous manufacturing are equal. Depending on the desired qualities of the product and the needs of the end user, one process can be just as efficacious as the other. However, especially for the chemical manufacturer, the processes do possess some meaningful differences.

For example, continuous processing is ideal for completing large work orders, as the chemical is constantly produced until the order is filled. Imagine heat treating steel in a continuous furnace that perpetually moves workpieces through the heating chamber on a conveyor belt. In terms of function, this is similar to what continuous chemical manufacturing is like. Now, imagine sequestering the same workpieces in the chamber of a vacuum furnace until they attain the desired metallurgical qualities. This is similar to what batch chemical manufacturing is like.

In addition to being ideal for completing large orders, continuous chemical manufacturing may involve more emissions than its counterpart, batch processing. The emissions may not increase to a level where emission caps from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) come into play, but they can impact the health of workers who inhabit the environment where chemicals are produced. If the chemicals in question are hazardous, a special ventilation system and high-level personal protective equipment (PPE) are often used to mitigate the effects.

What Determines Which Process is Used?
Batch processing is the industry standard for efficiently producing small batches of chemicals that meet unique end user requirements. In many cases, the manufacturer produces a sample solution, forwards it to the customer, and awaits feedback regarding what must be done to perfectly customize the product for the application. Consequently, small batch chemical manufacturing is commonly associated with the production of custom chemical products.

Continuous processing, on the other hand, is the industry standard for producing large volumes of chemicals, which are typically designed to meet the needs of a broad range of end users. For example, in terms of efficiency and cost, it may make more sense to use continuous processing to create a dielectric solvent that is widely used by companies in the aerospace industry. In continuous processing, supply and demand are key considerations. The manufacturer often refers to production data from the previous year, as well as industry trends, to gauge production.

Contact Ecolink for Chemical Manufacturing
Through investments in high-tech manufacturing equipment and top talent, Ecolink has the capability to batch produce custom chemicals that meet the needs of your company or organization. We also offer widely used solvents that are applicable to a variety of industries. If you need a new chemical solution, we will suggest the best option for your needs, and deliver it with a quick turnaround time. Call us today at (800) 563-1305, or refer to our contact page.