Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are found in all but the simplest electronic devices. Because PCBs featuring embedded or non-embedded components are protected by equipment housing, they seldom experience physical stress that could cause damage, such as warping and cracking.
However, because equipment that contains PCBs frequently contains a ventilation system, PCBs are subject to accumulations of dust, oil particles, or other particulate matter that can pass through the ventilation slots, forming a stable layer of accumulation on the boards.
There are two options for addressing the situation: Eliminate accumulating particulate matter from the environment where PCBs are present, or use PCB cleaning solvents to remove accumulations. Many companies and organizations find the second option more feasible than the first.
Choosing PCB Cleaning Solvents
Because equipment housing — as well as parts inside the housing, in some cases — must be removed to access PCBs, cleaning them can be a pain. However, if they carry accumulations, the electrical conductivity of the boards can suffer. With this in mind, we look at three key performance indicators of PCB cleaning solvents that should be considered before purchase.
- Dielectric Formulation
If you need to clean PCBs while the equipment containing them remains energized, using a solvent with a dielectric formulation is a must. The dielectric in the solvent serves as a buffer that prevents electricity from traveling through the solvent and delivering a strong shock. The more live voltage is involved, the more crucial it becomes to use a dielectric solvent for safety reasons.
- Solvent Residue
Solvent residue can spell doom for the functionality of PCBs, especially if the residue contains a dielectric that impedes transmission of electricity. Even when a dielectric isn’t present, the presence of residue poses a common problem: Particulate matter is attracted to the residue. Consequently, using a solvent that leaves a residue can require PCBs to be cleaned more frequently than if a non-residue solvent were used.
- Compatibility With Materials
Unless PCBs are removed from their devices for individual cleaning, the user needs a PCB cleaning solvent that won’t harm materials that surround the boards, particularly plastic and metal computer components.
PCB cleaning solvents are often used aerosol form to ensure solvent is dispersed uniformly across the cleaning surface. The aerosol will also contact nearby components, and should be selected based on compatibility with the components’ materials.
Need PCB Cleaning Solvents?
If so, Ecolink is a great place to get you need. We offer eco friendly stock solvents that are suited for cleaning PCBs, as well as create custom solvents that are designed for specific users.
Choose the method of solvent dispersal you need (e.g., aerosol, hand wipe, pump spray, etc.) and order your solvent in a small volume, a large volume, or something in-between. Before you order, you also have the option of receiving a free test sample, with no obligation to buy.
To get started on selecting an environmentally preferred PCB cleaner, call us today at 800-563-1305, or send us an email through our contact form. We look forward to assisting you!
Using Natural Solvents: Frequently Asked Questions
/in Eco Friendly/by Industrial DegreasersOver the past 20 years, industrial solvent users have become increasingly interested in switching to solvents that have a natural formulation, sending the market for these solvents on a stratospheric climb that continues today, as more companies and organizations stop using solvents from yesteryear in favor of greener options.
If you’re thinking about getting in on the action and switching to a line of solvents whose efficacy is supported by natural ingredients, but you have some pressing questions about natural solvents before you make the switch, the answers below can be helpful.
Organic solvents are made from ingredients taken from living matter. Natural ingredients are not derived from living matter but taken from a natural source. For example, citric fruit acid is an organic ingredient, while water is natural ingredient.
It varies by solvent. In most cases, creating a natural industrial solvent entails the goal of creating a safer solvent. Common examples of natural ingredients that are harmful to human health include betula alba, juniperus oxycedrus, and pinus sylvestrisr.
If you swap a solvent with toxic ingredients for a solvent that has natural, non-toxic ingredients, it may decrease your chemical waste disposal bill. The more toxic the spent solvent in your waste trap, the more it generally costs to have professionally removed.
In most cases, applying natural solvents should optimally be done while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). In the case of “safe” solvents, the lowest level of PPE can often be worn. The goal is usually to avoid ingredients that cause acute, non-critical health issues (e.g., dizziness, upset stomach, and watery eyes).
If you work with a solvent supplier that creates custom formulations for specific users, the option of receiving a custom natural solvent should be on the table. Ecolink offers naturally formulated, custom solvents that are environmentally safe or environmentally preferred.
Not necessarily. In fact, some standard solvents have a higher price tag than natural solutions. Some naturally formulated solvents contain a short list of ingredients that are inexpensive and easy to formulate. Using this type of solvent on an extended basis can significantly reduce solvent expense.
Contact Ecolink Today
Ecolink is a supplier of environmentally safe and environmentally preferred solvents. Among our selection of industrial grade solutions, you’ll find many products that feature natural, non-toxic ingredients instead of harsh chemicals that are regulated or scheduled for regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In addition to selling stock solvents, we also create custom formulations for specific users.
To learn more about our products and services, please call us today at (800) 563-1305, or send us a message through our contact form. We look forward to answering your questions!
PCB Cleaning Solvents: 3 Key Performance Indicators
/in Flux Removal/by Industrial DegreasersPrinted circuit boards (PCBs) are found in all but the simplest electronic devices. Because PCBs featuring embedded or non-embedded components are protected by equipment housing, they seldom experience physical stress that could cause damage, such as warping and cracking.
However, because equipment that contains PCBs frequently contains a ventilation system, PCBs are subject to accumulations of dust, oil particles, or other particulate matter that can pass through the ventilation slots, forming a stable layer of accumulation on the boards.
There are two options for addressing the situation: Eliminate accumulating particulate matter from the environment where PCBs are present, or use PCB cleaning solvents to remove accumulations. Many companies and organizations find the second option more feasible than the first.
Choosing PCB Cleaning Solvents
Because equipment housing — as well as parts inside the housing, in some cases — must be removed to access PCBs, cleaning them can be a pain. However, if they carry accumulations, the electrical conductivity of the boards can suffer. With this in mind, we look at three key performance indicators of PCB cleaning solvents that should be considered before purchase.
If you need to clean PCBs while the equipment containing them remains energized, using a solvent with a dielectric formulation is a must. The dielectric in the solvent serves as a buffer that prevents electricity from traveling through the solvent and delivering a strong shock. The more live voltage is involved, the more crucial it becomes to use a dielectric solvent for safety reasons.
Solvent residue can spell doom for the functionality of PCBs, especially if the residue contains a dielectric that impedes transmission of electricity. Even when a dielectric isn’t present, the presence of residue poses a common problem: Particulate matter is attracted to the residue. Consequently, using a solvent that leaves a residue can require PCBs to be cleaned more frequently than if a non-residue solvent were used.
Unless PCBs are removed from their devices for individual cleaning, the user needs a PCB cleaning solvent that won’t harm materials that surround the boards, particularly plastic and metal computer components.
PCB cleaning solvents are often used aerosol form to ensure solvent is dispersed uniformly across the cleaning surface. The aerosol will also contact nearby components, and should be selected based on compatibility with the components’ materials.
Need PCB Cleaning Solvents?
If so, Ecolink is a great place to get you need. We offer eco friendly stock solvents that are suited for cleaning PCBs, as well as create custom solvents that are designed for specific users.
Choose the method of solvent dispersal you need (e.g., aerosol, hand wipe, pump spray, etc.) and order your solvent in a small volume, a large volume, or something in-between. Before you order, you also have the option of receiving a free test sample, with no obligation to buy.
To get started on selecting an environmentally preferred PCB cleaner, call us today at 800-563-1305, or send us an email through our contact form. We look forward to assisting you!
Chemical Regulations: Is TCE Being Banned?
/in TCE/by Industrial DegreasersAlso known as trichloroethylene, TCE is a halocarbon frequently used for industrial solvent needs. However, the chemical compound appears on track to be banned or severely regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). in the near future.
When it went into wide production in the 1920s, TCE was hailed as a highly effective anesthetic. However, roughly a century later, scientists have discovered that, from a health perspective, TCE is one of the last things you would want to use for anesthesia. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a conservative list of negative health effects from TCE exposure includes:
It’s enough to make any company immediately stop using TCE and favor banning it. However, like other toxic chemicals the EPA has banned, TCE is highly effective at what it’s used for: a solvent for dry cleaning, a movie film cleaner, and an industrial strength degreaser, just to name a few. Does this mean a TCE ban will be avoided? Probably not.
EPA to the Rescue
According to a December 2016 report from OSHA, “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Dec. 7 proposed to ban some uses of trichloroethylene (TCE) because of health risks when it is used as a degreaser and a spot removal agent in dry cleaning.”
The report goes on to say the EPA “identified serious risks to workers and consumers associated with TCE uses in a 2014 assessment that concluded that the chemical can various adverse health effects, including cancer, developmental and neurotoxicological effects, and liver toxicity.”
Coming from the EPA, these findings signal a strong possibility of a coming TCE ban that will add the embattled compound to the agency’s List of Lists. There will likely be a TCE phase out period that lets organizations use already purchased TCE. Then, the compound will be phased out of production in the U.S. and become illegal to import from other countries.
TCE Replacements
While the EPA is busy handling the legislative side of a TCE ban, organizations the ban affects should be hard at work identifying TCE replacements that work as well as TCE, without all of the short-term and long-term side effects for workers. If your organization is in this position, searching for a TCE replacement at a manufacturer of environmentally safe and environmentally preferred chemicals, such as Ecolink, is a good place to start.
How Ecolink Can Help
If you need safer chemicals in anticipation of a TCE ban, we offer several stock solutions that may meet your needs. If not, we can formulate a custom solvent designed for your requirements. To show the solution works as well as it appears to on paper, we’ll send you a free solvent sample, so you can see how the product performs. Simply make the request.
Don’t let a TCE ban catch you unaware. To get started on selecting an effective TCE replacement, please call us today at 1-800-563-1305, or send us an email through our contact form. We look forward to helping you replace your TCE chemicals quickly and hassle-free!
Acetone Cleaning Solvent: How Safe is it for Workers?
/in Acetone Cleaners/by Industrial DegreasersAcetone has been used as a solvent for hundreds of years. As wikipedia explains, “Acetone was first produced by alchemists during the late Middle Ages via the dry distillation of metal acetates.” Alchemy is seldom practiced today, but acetone cleaning solvent is still used in large quantities.
Unlike in the early days of acetone use, we know a lot about the safety of acetone. If you’re considering implementing an acetone cleaning solvent for the first time — or for the first time in a long time — and you need some guidance on acetone safety, the sections below can help.
Acetone Vs. Acetone Blends
Before you can put appropriate safety measures in place, you need to know whether you’re using a solution whose only active ingredient is acetone or using an acetone blend that contains two or more active ingredients. You’ll base safety measures on all of the ingredients and not just acetone.
Surprisingly Safe to Use
Many longtime solvents contain toxic ingredients that are harmful to human health and the environment. This is not because the original manufacturers didn’t care about these things; rather, the toxic formulations simply reflect the best solvent technology available at the time.
Unlike many of its peers, acetone is old solvent that seems contemporary in terms of safety. The chemical compound is non-toxic, non-mutagenic, and non-carcinogenic. Like using solvents from any generation, using acetone requires common sense safety measures, but the solvent is surprisingly safe considering its age.
Common Sense Safety
The effects of acute acetone overexposure depend on how acetone enters the body: inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, or through eye membranes. These forms of contact can be eliminated with the use of the right level of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). OSHA offers a comprehensive resource that lists the levels of PPE, from level A. to level D.
Storage Safety Concerns
The greatest threat of acetone cleaning solvent to workers is also its greatest threat in the solvent storage area: high flammability. Acetone has an exceptionally low flashpoint (?4 °F), with even its vapors posing a potential fire hazard.
Eliminating ignition sources eliminates the threat, but accounting for all potential igniters in an industrial work setting can be difficult. This is why it’s important to outfit workers with PPE that provides fire protection, especially workers who regularly use acetone cleaning solvent in areas where ignition sources are present.
Conclusion
Acetone is largely considered a safe solvent. However, as with practically any type of solvent formulation, there are some simple, common sense safety precautions you can implement to prevent potential harms from affecting your workforce.
The effects of acute overexposure to acetone usually pass quickly, but they may be strong enough to require sick days, which can thwart productivity. Moreover, acetone safety precautions are important from a business productivity standpoint alone.
For more information about the safety profile of acetone, or to inquire about a custom acetone cleaning solvent, please call Ecolink today at 800-563-1305, or send us an email through our contact form. We look forward to supporting your acetone-based operations!
Acetone Use: Is Acetone a Degreaser?
/in Acetone Cleaners/by Industrial DegreasersMost mechanical parts that receive heavy wear are serviced with a lubricant to prevent moving parts from grinding together and accelerating wear. In industrial settings, heavy-duty mechanical parts are treated with grease to provide a smooth buffer between moving parts in vehicles, production line equipment, large air distribution fans, and much more.
Eventually, though, the grease attracts dirt particles that can come between moving parts and make them operate less efficiently. The parts must be degreased and have a fresh layer of grease applied. What’s the best method for removing the old grease?
The options are practically endless, but many companies and organizations prefer to use acetone for degreasing, or an acetone blend designed for specific degreasing applications.
Acetone for Degreasing
Some industrial degreasers are stringent solutions that demonstrate excellent efficacy but are dangerous to humans and the environment. Acetone is an exception.
Acetone has low flashpoint, making it highly flammable, and acute overexposure to acetone can cause temporary ailments that lead to workers taking sick days to recover. However, as long as acetone exposure is managed by wearing the proper level of personal protective equipment (PPE) and operating an air filtration system that captures airborne contaminants, workers are generally quite safe against negative effects.
If overexposure occurs, the result is rarely critical and can often be treated at the worksite. Acetone is considered non-toxic, non-mutagenic, and non-carcinogenic. It is safe to work with but still requires using basic safety measures.
Acetone as a Catchall
Using acetone for degreasing is an good option from a safety standpoint, and the low price of acetone makes it an excellent choice from an economic perspective, as well.
These benefits create a third benefit of using acetone: It can be used as a catchall cleaner for any substance it excels at removing — and there are quite a few — as long as the cleaner isn’t applied to improper materials. For example, acetone can damage textiles and shouldn’t be used to clean most fabrics. It can also damage styrofoam certain grades of rubber and plastic.
On the upside, acetone can be used to clean glass, a variety of metal alloys, and materials that have solvent resistant finishes, such as conversion varnish, two-part polyurethane, UV-cured finish, and epoxy resin. Acetone is miscible with water, letting you create a solution that has the perfect acetone density for cleaning specific surfaces.
Need Acetone for Degreasing?
If so, Ecolink offers acetone and acetone blends that are environmentally preferred solvents. If one of our stock options is not right for your degreasing needs, we’ll create a custom, drop-in formulation that works flawlessly. We also provide free test samples for every solution we sell, so you can see how well an acetone solvent works before you place an order.
To learn more about our acetone solvent options or to place an order, please call us today at 800-563-1305, or send us an email using our contact form. We take pride in providing eco friendly acetone for degreasing and other industrial grade soil removal operations. Order today!