Propyl bromide (NPB) is a chemical compound that is commonly used as a cleaning solvent for degreasing precision parts, electronics, and metal. NPB is highly effective at these tasks, but there are several drawbacks to using an NPB cleaning solution in large volume. If your company or organization currently uses NPB for essential cleaning operations, switching to a replacement cleaner that has a better safety profile is a smart move for the following reasons, among others.
Effect on Workers
“In 2013, a peer-review panel convened by the U.S. National Toxicology Program unanimously recommended that 1-bromopropane, be classified as [a] reasonably anticipated human carcinogens” (Wikipedia). In addition to potentially causing cancer-related ailments, NPB solvent is known to cause confusion, slurred speech, dizziness, paresthesias, and unusual fatigue, to name a few. NPB exposure can cause both chronic and acute health conditions in workers.
Cost of Use
NPB is often remarkably cheap to purchase, but the cost savings can be offset by the following financial situations: settlements for personal injury cases, more sick days taken, diminished business productivity due to negative health conditions in workers, and payouts for workers compensation claims. Many companies don’t budget for these types of expenses. So, it only makes sense to replace NPB solvent with a cleaner that has a better overall safety profile.
EPA Regulations
In 2012, the EPA stated that, “Based on a work plan developed under the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, it will begin a full risk assessment of 1-Bromopropane” (Wikipedia). If history is a guide, the EPA’s risk assessment is likely to result in NPB being added to its official list of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). That is why it’s important to proactively search for NPB solvent replacements. If you wait too long, you may have to use a new cleaner on short notice.
Environmental Impact
In animal studies, NPB has demonstrated a negative impact on the health of animals. In fact, “Animal studies of [NPB] have showed that it is a carcinogen in those models. Rodents exposed to [NPB] developed lung, colon, and skin cancer at higher rates” (Wikipedia). In addition to protecting your workers from NPB exposure, replacing NPB solvent with a safer option will also help protect the environment, and help put you in good standing with other “green” companies.
Need an NPB Solvent Replacement?
If so, you have come to the right place. For years, Ecolink has offered an array of environmentally-preferred, drop-in replacement cleaners for NPB solvent. We also create custom replacement solutions that are tailored to your unique set of cleaning requirements. If you can’t find what you need in our online store, visit the custom order page on our website, and get started on acquiring a specially formulated solution that is made for your specific needs.
If you are ready to place an order, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or use the contact page on our website. With us serving as your trusted supplier of readymade and/or custom cleaning solutions, there is no solvent-based, industrial cleaning requirement that you can’t address.
NPB Solvent: Now is the Time to Replace Your Toxic NPB Cleaner
/in N-Propyl Bromide/by Industrial DegreasersPropyl bromide (NPB) is a chemical compound that is commonly used as a cleaning solvent for degreasing precision parts, electronics, and metal. NPB is highly effective at these tasks, but there are several drawbacks to using an NPB cleaning solution in large volume. If your company or organization currently uses NPB for essential cleaning operations, switching to a replacement cleaner that has a better safety profile is a smart move for the following reasons, among others.
Effect on Workers
“In 2013, a peer-review panel convened by the U.S. National Toxicology Program unanimously recommended that 1-bromopropane, be classified as [a] reasonably anticipated human carcinogens” (Wikipedia). In addition to potentially causing cancer-related ailments, NPB solvent is known to cause confusion, slurred speech, dizziness, paresthesias, and unusual fatigue, to name a few. NPB exposure can cause both chronic and acute health conditions in workers.
Cost of Use
NPB is often remarkably cheap to purchase, but the cost savings can be offset by the following financial situations: settlements for personal injury cases, more sick days taken, diminished business productivity due to negative health conditions in workers, and payouts for workers compensation claims. Many companies don’t budget for these types of expenses. So, it only makes sense to replace NPB solvent with a cleaner that has a better overall safety profile.
EPA Regulations
In 2012, the EPA stated that, “Based on a work plan developed under the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, it will begin a full risk assessment of 1-Bromopropane” (Wikipedia). If history is a guide, the EPA’s risk assessment is likely to result in NPB being added to its official list of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). That is why it’s important to proactively search for NPB solvent replacements. If you wait too long, you may have to use a new cleaner on short notice.
Environmental Impact
In animal studies, NPB has demonstrated a negative impact on the health of animals. In fact, “Animal studies of [NPB] have showed that it is a carcinogen in those models. Rodents exposed to [NPB] developed lung, colon, and skin cancer at higher rates” (Wikipedia). In addition to protecting your workers from NPB exposure, replacing NPB solvent with a safer option will also help protect the environment, and help put you in good standing with other “green” companies.
Need an NPB Solvent Replacement?
If so, you have come to the right place. For years, Ecolink has offered an array of environmentally-preferred, drop-in replacement cleaners for NPB solvent. We also create custom replacement solutions that are tailored to your unique set of cleaning requirements. If you can’t find what you need in our online store, visit the custom order page on our website, and get started on acquiring a specially formulated solution that is made for your specific needs.
If you are ready to place an order, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or use the contact page on our website. With us serving as your trusted supplier of readymade and/or custom cleaning solutions, there is no solvent-based, industrial cleaning requirement that you can’t address.
Using Rosin Flux Remover to Remove Rosin Soldering Flux
/in Flux Removal/by Industrial DegreasersIn the metallurgical industry, rosin is used as a flux for soldering applications. It is used to prevent metal parts and assemblies from oxidizing during the heat treating process. Commonly used for soldering electronic parts, rosin creates a barrier between metal workpieces and the heat source that’s used to perform the soldering operation. This scenario is essential for keeping metal contacts from oxidizing and causing costly repairs for unanticipated electrical problems.
Using Rosin Flux
According to Wikipedia, rosin flux that is commonly used for electronics “has about 1% rosin as a flux core helping the molten metal flow and making a better connection by reducing the refractory solid oxide layer [that is] formed at the surface back to metal. When the heat treating process is complete, leftover rosin is frequently as the burnt or clear residue that [surrounds newly soldered] electrical parts.” This description of rosin soldering inherently underlines the importance of using a high-quality rosin flux remover on affected electrical components.
Using Rosin Flux Remover
Rosin flux remover is formulated to remove the “burnt or clear residue” that rosin flux leaves after the heat treating process is complete. When rosin is used as a flux for soldering electrical contacts — particularly those that other precision components tightly surround — using an aerosol rosin flux remover offers several benefits over using a flux remover in wipe form. Below are some essential benefits of using an aerosol solution instead of one that is wiped on by hand.
A small amount of rosin flux residue that surrounds electrical contacts may not seem to be a major problem to the casual observer. However, there are several reasons to remove the accumulation, with the following reasons being highly crucial to the operation of the equipment and its acceptance by customers who need to use the equipment in a business-critical capacity.
For these reasons and others, it’s important for metallurgists that use rosin soldering flux to use a rosin flux remover to remove excessive accumulations of rosin-based flux residue, too. If your company is looking for a chemist-created rosin flux remover, FluoSolv® AP that is available from Ecolink in aerosol and liquid form may be the perfect solution for your work processes.
Contact Ecolink Today
Rosin makes an excellent soldering flux for metallurgical heat treating processes. However, like many other types of flux for metallurgical procedures, rosin tends to leave a residue on heat treated parts that should be removed to help sustain the performance of the equipment, and help to make it a product that discerning customers can feel confident about purchasing.
If you need a rosin flux remover that addresses the situations above, contact Ecolink. We have specially formulated products that accomplish flux removal in a manner that poses a minimum threat to workers and the environment. If you need help choosing a readymade or custom rosin flux remover that meets your specific needs, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or refer to the contact page on our website. We look forward to supporting your flux removal needs!
Soldering and the Role of Solder Flux Remover
/in Flux Removal/by Industrial DegreasersSoldering is a metallurgical procedure that binds two or more pieces of metal together by liquidizing a “filler metal” that distributes between them via capillary action. If clearance between the pieces is too great or too small (.0015” inches is recommended), the stability of the joint can suffer, as its strength primarily relies on the strength of the filler metal that binds metal together.
Comparable to Brazing and Welding
By combining metal pieces with filler metal, soldering is similar to brazing — a procedure that combines two or more metal pieces using filler metal. The primary difference is that brazing is often performed using an industrial furnace, whereas soldering is commonly done by hand to fuse together small metal pieces, such as a series of electrical contacts for electrical wires. However, there are also specially designed soldering furnaces that assist with the endeavor.
Soldering is also somewhat similar to the welding process for the same reason it is similar to brazing: two or more pieces of metal are combined together using a heat source. However, there is significant difference between soldering and brazing and their close counterpart welding: Whereas the first two processes use filler metal and don’t melt the base metal, welding melts the base metal at strategic points in order to produce a precision part or an assembly.
The Use of Solder Flux Remover
Solder flux remover is an essential component in the metallurgical soldering process, particularly for metals whose alloys are highly sensitive to heat treatments. Depending on the metal involved, soldering can be performed in open air or with a soldering furnace. In either case, it is essential to coat the area of heat application and its adjacent areas with solder flux remover, as this will prevent metal from tarnishing and support excellent dimensional stability.
When the soldering process is performed in open air or in a standard soldering furnace, applying solder flux remover can be essential for ensuring that final product addresses the customer’s needs. However, after the metal is heated, the flux often leaves a residue that solder flux remover excels at removing. If you need solder flux remover, Ecolink can provide you with a flux remover (e.g., FluoSolv® AP) that banishes unsightly flux residue.
How Ecolink Can Help
If you need a solder flux remover that can be used for various soldering operations, Ecolink has the experience and expertise to provide you with a solution that meets the needs of your specific operations. If our readymade removers don’t address the specifics of your requirements, we can also provide a custom formulated flux remover that is formulated for your unique needs and can be used to efficiently remove different types of soldering flux residue.
To get started on selecting a solder flux remover, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or refer to the contact page on our website. We look forward to providing you with highly efficacious solder flux remover. By using our products, you will never again have to worry about removing the residue of soldering flux to ensure that soldered metal has the right appearance.
Shop Industrial Cleaners Online: How to Choose a Supplier
/in Industrial Degreasers/by Industrial DegreasersBefore you head to a local chemical supply store to purchase industrial cleaners for your business-critical cleaning operations, take some time to search for the product you need online. When you shop industrial cleaners online, you receive at least three benefits that are absent when you shop in-store: You find the product you need without putting miles on your vehicle, you needn’t worry about transporting the product, and you typically have more product options.
How to Choose a Supplier
Receiving cleaners from an online supplier has several benefits, but it’s important to remember that not all industrial cleaner suppliers have the same product focus, the same level of customer service, the same prices, or the same product availability. With these things in mind, we take a look at how to choose an industrial cleaner supplier when you shop industrial cleaners online.
Defining the type of solution you need by defining the application(s) for which the solution would be used. It’s also helpful to list unique characteristics that you want a replacement cleaner to offer, such as organic formulation, no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and a high flashpoint.
If you already use industrial cleaners, you probably have a reasonably good idea of how much replacement cleaners would cost. Use this information to help define your cleaner budget for replacements. Also, be sure to consider any costs that the replacement cleaner may offset.
The easiest ways to check a business’ history of customer service are requesting an extended set of customer references and checking the entity’s record at the Better Business Bureau (BBB). If both resources deliver a good report, you can feel confident about using the supplier.
When they shop industrial cleaners online, most companies look for readymade products, but they may actually need a custom product once the supplier assesses their needs. Because your needs could change, it’s a good idea to choose a supplier that can formulate custom cleaners.
Before you place an order, read the product’s data sheet to see if any information seems counterintuitive to what you need in an industrial cleaner. If you don’t understand some of the information in a cleaner’s product data sheet, contact the supplier and request an explanation.
Looking for Industrial Cleaners Online?
If you would rather shop industrial cleaners online instead of in store, Ecolink is your ideal destination on the web. We have a rich history of serving our customers by supplying readymade cleaners, custom cleaners, and assistance choosing the best product. What’s more, our products are formulated to be as safe as possible for workers and the environment, while delivering the same efficacy as the hazardous solutions they are formulated to replace.
For more information about of diverse line of industrial cleaners, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or refer to the contact page on our website. We look forward to assisting you!
Selecting an Aerosol Contact Cleaner for Energized Equipment
/in Aerosol/by Industrial DegreasersMost 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!