If you use a solvent-based parts washer solution that you need to phase out for safety reasons, or you need to stop using it because the solution no longer fits your evolving cleaning needs, switching to an aqueous parts washer solution should be considered before you opt for another solvent-based cleaner. Below are five important benefits that using an aqueous parts washer solution commonly delivers when compared to a solvent-based parts washing solution.
- Low VOC Content
Because an aqueous parts washer solution is water-based instead of solvent-based, it typically contains the lowest amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) between the two types of formulations. Because VOCs can be harmful to humans and the environment, the benefit of low VOC content alone is reason enough to choose an aqueous-based parts washer cleaner.
- No Powerful Odors
Because aqueous parts cleaning solutions typically have low VOC content, they tend to be low-odor solutions that don’t cause acute ailments that are related to VOC exposure, such as watery eyes, respiratory distress, and upset stomach. Moreover, in terms of odor, an aqueous parts washer solution makes it easy to work in the area where the cleaner is applied.
- Reduced Air Pollution
As a class, aqueous-based cleaners have low VOC content, as well as low hazardous air pollutant (HAP) content, both of which make the cleaners a good choice for reducing air pollution. If your company or organization is located in a low emission zone (LEZ), using an aqueous parts washer solution can help it remain under the tight emission cap requirements.
- Easier to Automate
Because solvent is generally more reactive and volatile than water, an aqueous parts washer solution is typically easier to “drop-in” as a replacement for the previous cleaner. This is why we, in the industrial chemical industry, frequently say that aqueous cleaners are easier to “automate” than cleaners that have a solvent base. The easier a solution is to automate, the less productivity is affected during the changeover of cleaners.
- Considered “Greener” Than Solvent
Aqueous parts washer solutions are widely considered greener (i.e., in terms of the green movement) than solvent parts washer solutions. The main reasons why are mentioned above: aqueous cleaners usually have low VOC content and low HAP content by volume compared to solvent cleaners.
With that said, it’s still possible to acquire solvent-based cleaners that are environmentally preferred. However, as a class of cleaners, aqueous cleaners tend to be the most environmentally preferred, with some of the solutions even considered environmentally safe.
Contact Ecolink Today
Is an aqueous parts washer solution right for your cleaning requirements? If so, you have at least five good reasons to use an aqueous cleaner. To determine whether aqueous solutions are compatible with your parts washer — and, if so, which solution would work best — call us today at (800) 563-1305, or use the contact form on our website. We look forward to helping your company or organization select the best solutions for its business-critical cleaning needs.
N-propyl Bromide Health Effects: The Financial Impact for Companies
/in N-Propyl Bromide/by Industrial DegreasersWhen a company that uses n-propyl bromide (a.k.a. 1-bromopropane and nPB) as a cleaning solvent decides to implement an n-propyl bromide replacement solution, there’s usually a very good reason why, as N-propyl bromide works wonderfully for its intended applications. For many companies, that “good reason” is n-propyl bromide health effects that harm workers who apply the solvent or work in areas where it’s applied.
Impact on Company Finances
Negative n-propyl bromide health effects range from temporary health ailments — such as upset stomach, difficulty breathing, and watery eyes — that resolve when exposure is discontinued, to chronic ailments — such as nerve damage, neurological issues, and cancer — that are difficult if not impossible to resolve. The negative impact of nPB on the health of workers can translate to a negative impact on company finances in the following three ways, among others.
Temporary health effects of n-propyl bromide exposure naturally lead to an increased number of sick days taken by workers who are exposed to the solvent. At the very least, the temporary effects can take a person off of the workfloor for the remainder of the day after effects occur. Over months and years, the trend can lead to significant lags in productivity and revenue that offset the financial value of using inexpensive but dangerous nPB solvent solutions.
When a worker experiences chronic, negative n-propyl bromide health effects, a workers compensation claim is often shortly to come. From a financial standpoint, when a company is legally required to compensate a worker for lost earning capacity, it essentially amounts to paying the person for not working. Workers comp insurance may pay for most of the outgo; the caveat is that the company’s workers compensation insurance premiums can increase.
Chemical injury lawsuits are another common result of chronic n-propyl bromide health effects. In addition to potentially involving a multi-million dollar settlement, a chemical injury lawsuit against an employer could be picked up by the media, and cause damage to the company’s public image. In terms of lost customers and business opportunities, fallout from the damage can prove more costly than the expense of paying for legal services and settling the claim.
Need an N-propyl Bromide Replacement?
N-propyl bromide is a highly efficacious solvent for multiple types of cleaning, but the financial impact of n-propyl bromide health effects can eliminate the financial value of using the solvent in at least three ways: increased number of sick days taken, an increase in workers compensation claims, and an increase in chemical injury lawsuits. Implementing a replacement solvent that delivers the efficacy of nPB without the adverse health effects is the optimal solution.
Ecolink offers nPB replacement solvents in the form of readymade solvents and custom solvents that are tailored to the customer’s unique requirements. For assistance choosing the right nPB replacement for your company’s solvent operations, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or fill out the contact form on our website. We look forward to supplying safer solvents that help protect the health of your workers and, by extension, the finances of your company.
TCE Restrictions: What They are and Why They Matter
/in Ecolink News/by Industrial DegreasersTrichloroethylene — also known as TCE — is a halocarbon commonly used as an industrial degreasing solvent by companies worldwide. At one time, the chemical was even used as an anesthetic and an inhaled obstetrical analgesic. However, like many early generation halocarbons, TCE was eventually found to have a veritable powder keg of negative effects that emerging scientific evidence soon confirmed.
According to the excellent Wikipedia entry on TCE, the negative effects are quantified as: “promotion of cardiac arrhythmias, low volatility and high solubility preventing quick anesthetic induction, reactions with soda lime used in carbon dioxide absorbing systems, prolonged neurologic dysfunction when used with soda lime, and evidence of hepatotoxicity, as had been found with chloroform.” It’s a lot of dirty laundry for a single halocarbon, but the findings prevail.
What TCE Restrictions Mean for Companies
According to a press release communicated through the 3M website, “On July 27, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent a proposal to The White House for final review, which would enact new restrictions on using the degreaser TCE.”
According to the Chemical Regulations Reporter®, it’s unclear if the proposal would enact a partial ban or phase-down of TCE to help prevent workplace exposure, or if a full ban would ensue. Details of the proposal will be released after The White House completes a final review in November 2016.” Until then, many TCE users will be closely monitoring the outcome, hoping for a soft reaction that allows them to use the solution in an efficacious volume.
Finding a Good Replacement for TCE Solvent
Like other regulated and banned chemicals before it, the negativity swirling around the use of TCE in commercial and industrial settings presents TCE users with a conundrum not hard to resolve, when viable TCE replacements are on the table.
Here’s how the EPA feels about using TCE via the news section of the 3M website: “Industrial cleaning operations continue to migrate away from non-sustainable solutions, including n-propyl bromide (nPB) and TCE.” The article goes on to say there are ideal replacements for TCE that have “effective, sustainable properties for use as a solvent, with a large margin of safety to help protect employees.”
Contact Ecolink for a TCE Replacement Solvent
TCE may be effective for your solvent operations, but it has a negative impact on the health of workers that — at the very least — translates into increased sick days taken and workers comp claims. Expose workers to TCE until they develop incurable health problems, and you’ll really get the point, when you surrender multiple millions to settle chemical injury claims.
Don’t be a tycoon who cares about business more than human resources that make it possible. Contact Ecolink today to get TCE replacements that are healthier for workers and you solvent use concerning the EPA. To get started on replacing TCE with a stock or custom solvent, call Ecolink today at (800) 563-1305, or fill out the contact form on our website. We look forward to assisting you!
Woodville Tompkins High School – Representing Electron! Go Wolverines!
/in DECA Contest, Ecolink News/by Industrial DegreasersWelcome to Woodville Tompkins High School’s Promotional Page!
#AnaheimorBust-Woodville
Woodville Tompkins High School, located in Chatham County, currently boasts a DECA chapter of 35 students! Represented by Ecolink Ambassador Rhace Smith, who will be cheering them on during the course of our competition, “Anaheim or Bust!”.
This school is 1 of 19 competing for the grand prize in our #Anaheimorbust competition. You can help them earn a 1st place finish (Worth up to $5,000 with weekly winnings) by following the 5 steps listed below. #5for5k
1. Share this page across all platforms using the share buttons at the bottom of this page: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn are mandatory. Pinterest, Google +, and Tumblr voluntary (extra credit)
2. Follow Ecolink on our official social media accounts here: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn & YouTube
3. Share their product page (Linked below)
4. Share their related articles for their product (Linked below)
5. Refer a friend! If each person can get at least 5, or dare we say 10, people to share and follow – Your school will be on their way to big $$!
Electron: Benefits and Features
Related Links on Electron
Electron Shop Page
If you’re on the page, interested in Electron or know someone who is, below are links to our shop and quantities of The Electron.
Woodville Tompkins High School Social Media
5 Benefits of Using an Aqueous Parts Washer Solution
/in Aqueous Cleaning Agents/by Industrial DegreasersIf you use a solvent-based parts washer solution that you need to phase out for safety reasons, or you need to stop using it because the solution no longer fits your evolving cleaning needs, switching to an aqueous parts washer solution should be considered before you opt for another solvent-based cleaner. Below are five important benefits that using an aqueous parts washer solution commonly delivers when compared to a solvent-based parts washing solution.
Because an aqueous parts washer solution is water-based instead of solvent-based, it typically contains the lowest amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) between the two types of formulations. Because VOCs can be harmful to humans and the environment, the benefit of low VOC content alone is reason enough to choose an aqueous-based parts washer cleaner.
Because aqueous parts cleaning solutions typically have low VOC content, they tend to be low-odor solutions that don’t cause acute ailments that are related to VOC exposure, such as watery eyes, respiratory distress, and upset stomach. Moreover, in terms of odor, an aqueous parts washer solution makes it easy to work in the area where the cleaner is applied.
As a class, aqueous-based cleaners have low VOC content, as well as low hazardous air pollutant (HAP) content, both of which make the cleaners a good choice for reducing air pollution. If your company or organization is located in a low emission zone (LEZ), using an aqueous parts washer solution can help it remain under the tight emission cap requirements.
Because solvent is generally more reactive and volatile than water, an aqueous parts washer solution is typically easier to “drop-in” as a replacement for the previous cleaner. This is why we, in the industrial chemical industry, frequently say that aqueous cleaners are easier to “automate” than cleaners that have a solvent base. The easier a solution is to automate, the less productivity is affected during the changeover of cleaners.
Aqueous parts washer solutions are widely considered greener (i.e., in terms of the green movement) than solvent parts washer solutions. The main reasons why are mentioned above: aqueous cleaners usually have low VOC content and low HAP content by volume compared to solvent cleaners.
With that said, it’s still possible to acquire solvent-based cleaners that are environmentally preferred. However, as a class of cleaners, aqueous cleaners tend to be the most environmentally preferred, with some of the solutions even considered environmentally safe.
Contact Ecolink Today
Is an aqueous parts washer solution right for your cleaning requirements? If so, you have at least five good reasons to use an aqueous cleaner. To determine whether aqueous solutions are compatible with your parts washer — and, if so, which solution would work best — call us today at (800) 563-1305, or use the contact form on our website. We look forward to helping your company or organization select the best solutions for its business-critical cleaning needs.
What is Considered Low VOC?
/in Ecolink News/by Industrial DegreasersIf you open a canister of traditional cleaning solvent, you might notice a strong, earthy, chemical smell that emanates from the solvent within. The aroma may even make make you wince, feel as if you had a bad sinus infection, and make it harder to breathe for a few hours. If you had to make a guess about what you were smelling, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) would be a good bet. Below, we explain why.
What are VOCs?
VOCs are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at room temperature (around 72 degrees). The high vapor pressure is a direct result of the solvents’ low boiling points. Their speedy transition from liquid to vapor gives VOCs their “volatile” nature. What you smell in the air after you open the solvent canister are VOCs that have already evaporated. Common examples of VOCs include: benzene, formaldehyde, and ethylene glycol, to name just a few.
Low VOC Data
Many VOCs evaporate so quickly that it’s impossible for those who work with the compounds not to inhale them, unless they are outfitted with Level 3 personal protective equipment (PPE) that features a respirator that removes airborne contaminants. Just how easily can VOCs vaporize? Consider formaldehyde, which has an exceptionally low boiling point of –19 °C (–2 °F). Open a canister of this VOC, and its vapor will fill the profusely in a matter of minutes.
In addition to equipping workers with high-level PPE, many companies and organizations that use VOC solvents offer protection by running air filtration systems that snare airborne contaminants. However, from a perspective of cost effectiveness and human safety, the best option is simply to replace high VOC solvents with low VOC formulations or blends that have no VOCs.
In general, the term “low VOC” describes a solvent whose VOC content is at or below 150 g/L. A solvent that has low VOC content usually isn’t as safe as one that has no VOCs. Low VOC content can cause negative health effects — both acute and chronic — due to overexposure to the solvent that contains the hazardous compounds.
VOC Exposure
VOC exposure is recognized as acute or chronic. Acute, short-term exposure is known to produce symptoms that dissipate within a few hours or a few days, including: headaches, dizziness, and respiratory distress. Chronic, long-term exposure can cause symptoms that are permanent, such as: cancer, liver damage, and central nervous system (CNS) damage. Again, when it comes to protecting workers from VOCs, using low VOC or no VOC solvents is the best option.
Contact Ecolink
If your company or organization needs an efficacious, industrial grade, low VOC cleaning solvent, contact us today at (800) 563-1305, or use the contact form on our website. We look forward to supplying you with a stock solvent or a custom formulated solvent that meets your cleaning requirements. We’ll even send you a free sample of the solvent on request. VOCs are dangerous; we give you the opportunity to take the danger out of your cleaning process.