The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continually adds new chemicals to its list of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) that was originally released in 1990. Chemicals that make the list have shown negative effects on the environment and/or human health. Consequently, their use is heavily regulated. This is why many companies proactively switch from cleaning solutions whose ingredients the EPA is likely to regulate to cleaners that have a better safety profile.
Choosing the Right Replacements
If your company uses toxic cleaning solutions to support business-critical cleaning processes, choosing replacement cleaners is process that should involve at least six considerations: the type of cleaning processes that are performed, materials that are cleaned, the environment in which materials are cleaned, how much cleaner is used, the form in which cleaner is needed, and the budget for purchasing cleaners. Below, we take a brief look at each consideration.
- Cleaning Processes
Step one is to define your cleaning processes (degreasing, adhesive removal, tar removal, etc.) This is information should be obvious based on the cleaning processes that are in place, but it’s important to relay this information to the new supplier so targeted solutions can be proposed.
- Materials Cleaned
In addition to investing in non HAPs alternatives that synchronize with your cleaning processes, it’s important to select cleaners based on the type of materials you clean. For example, if you need to clean a chromium alloy, then you need a cleaner that doesn’t make chromium oxidize.
- Cleaning Environment
Is the cleaning environment tightly contained, or could cleaner vapors spread to other areas in the general work zone? If the latter is the case, you should choose cleaners whose vapors won’t negatively affect workers and equipment that don’t directly participate in cleaning processes.
- Cleaner Volume
Even among “non-toxic” and “environmentally preferred” cleaners, some cleaning solutions are friendlier to humans and the environment than others. If you use a large volume of cleaner, these issues should be discussed with the supplier before you finalize your first product order.
- Cleaner Form
The form in cleaners are used (e.g., aerosol, liquid, wipes, etc.) can be just as efficacious for cleaning processes as the formulation of cleaners. Choosing new cleaners shouldn’t require you to redefine how cleaning processes are performed. If you find yourself in this position, look for a different supplier that offers “drop-in” solutions that don’t disrupt your cleaning processes.
- Cleaner Budget
Because they often require a more complex formulation than HAP cleaners, non HAPs alternatives frequently cost a bit more than their toxic counterparts. A service-oriented supplier can propose options for mitigating the extra cost, such as bulk orders, alternative cleaner forms, and alternative cleaner concentrations that supply you with undiluted cleaner formulations.
Contact Ecolink Today
At Ecolink, supplying non HAPs alternatives is one of our specialties. As a result of our years of experience in supplying various types of companies and organizations with cutting edge, eco friendly cleaning solutions, we know exactly what the cleaner replacement process entails. That’s why we feel strongly that we’re your best option for acquiring non HAPs alternatives.
To get started on identifying the best non HAPs alternatives for your cleaning processes, give call us today at (800) 563-1305, or use the contact page on our website. We look forward to supplying you with cleaning solutions that are safer for your workers and the environment.
Aerosol Flux Remover: When Should it be Used for Annealing Metal?
/in Aerosol/by Industrial DegreasersAnnealing 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Four Types of Companies That Benefit From Non Hazardous Air Pollutants
/in HAPS/by Industrial DegreasersIf you are in the market for industrial cleaning solvents, chances are that you have heard of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and the problems they can cause. For many companies, two of the biggest problems HAPs create are negative health conditions in workers and toxic emissions that can trigger heavy fines if they exceed government-imposed emission caps.
With this in mind, below are four types of companies that can significantly benefit from using non hazardous air pollutants, which are substances that contribute to emissions, but not in a capacity that the EPA regulates. If you have questions about the difference between non hazardous air pollutants and hazardous ones, call Ecolink today at (800) 563-1305.
Low emission zones (LEZs) are areas where emission caps are considerably lower than they are in most other types of environments. If your company is located in a LEZ and uses a significant volume of industrial cleaning solvents, using solvents that contain no HAPs may be essential for completing work processes while avoiding fines for breaking emission caps.
Some companies use solvents that contain HAPs in tightly controlled environments that prevent the solutions’ ingredients from moving to other work areas due to evaporation and airflow, while other companies must use them in open work environments. The latter type of companies can use non hazardous solutions to help prevent widespread, negative health conditions in workers.
Solvents that contain HAPs are well-known for causing acute and chronic negative health conditions in workers who are highly exposed to them. For companies that depend heavily on manpower to carry out business-critical work processes, the use of non hazardous air pollutants can help prevent dips in productivity that result from HAP-related health conditions in workers.
The use of solutions that contain HAPs can lead to several types of financial circumstances that negatively impact the bottom line, including: workers compensation payouts, financial settlements for legal liability cases, increased payment of sick days, and government fines. If your company is currently in cost cutting mode, using solvents that have HAPs presents a conflict of interest. Switching to non hazardous solvents is the financially sensible alternative.
Need Non Hazardous Industrial Cleaners?
If your company has determined that using solvents with HAPs is too financially risky and/or poses too much danger to workers, switching to solutions that are classified as non hazardous air pollutants may be the most sensible alternative. To find out for sure, contact the solvent specialists at Ecolink by calling (800) 563-1305, or refer to the contact page on our website.
We have years of experience in helping companies replace hazardous cleaning solvents with non hazardous solvents that are safer to use than their toxic counterparts, while delivering the same level of cleaning power as the solutions that they replace. Swap out hazardous solvents for non hazardous ones, and protect your company against the negative impact of HAPs.
Non HAPs Alternatives: Tips for Choosing the Right Replacements
/in Pollution Prevention/by Industrial DegreasersThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continually adds new chemicals to its list of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) that was originally released in 1990. Chemicals that make the list have shown negative effects on the environment and/or human health. Consequently, their use is heavily regulated. This is why many companies proactively switch from cleaning solutions whose ingredients the EPA is likely to regulate to cleaners that have a better safety profile.
Choosing the Right Replacements
If your company uses toxic cleaning solutions to support business-critical cleaning processes, choosing replacement cleaners is process that should involve at least six considerations: the type of cleaning processes that are performed, materials that are cleaned, the environment in which materials are cleaned, how much cleaner is used, the form in which cleaner is needed, and the budget for purchasing cleaners. Below, we take a brief look at each consideration.
Step one is to define your cleaning processes (degreasing, adhesive removal, tar removal, etc.) This is information should be obvious based on the cleaning processes that are in place, but it’s important to relay this information to the new supplier so targeted solutions can be proposed.
In addition to investing in non HAPs alternatives that synchronize with your cleaning processes, it’s important to select cleaners based on the type of materials you clean. For example, if you need to clean a chromium alloy, then you need a cleaner that doesn’t make chromium oxidize.
Is the cleaning environment tightly contained, or could cleaner vapors spread to other areas in the general work zone? If the latter is the case, you should choose cleaners whose vapors won’t negatively affect workers and equipment that don’t directly participate in cleaning processes.
Even among “non-toxic” and “environmentally preferred” cleaners, some cleaning solutions are friendlier to humans and the environment than others. If you use a large volume of cleaner, these issues should be discussed with the supplier before you finalize your first product order.
The form in cleaners are used (e.g., aerosol, liquid, wipes, etc.) can be just as efficacious for cleaning processes as the formulation of cleaners. Choosing new cleaners shouldn’t require you to redefine how cleaning processes are performed. If you find yourself in this position, look for a different supplier that offers “drop-in” solutions that don’t disrupt your cleaning processes.
Because they often require a more complex formulation than HAP cleaners, non HAPs alternatives frequently cost a bit more than their toxic counterparts. A service-oriented supplier can propose options for mitigating the extra cost, such as bulk orders, alternative cleaner forms, and alternative cleaner concentrations that supply you with undiluted cleaner formulations.
Contact Ecolink Today
At Ecolink, supplying non HAPs alternatives is one of our specialties. As a result of our years of experience in supplying various types of companies and organizations with cutting edge, eco friendly cleaning solutions, we know exactly what the cleaner replacement process entails. That’s why we feel strongly that we’re your best option for acquiring non HAPs alternatives.
To get started on identifying the best non HAPs alternatives for your cleaning processes, give call us today at (800) 563-1305, or use the contact page on our website. We look forward to supplying you with cleaning solutions that are safer for your workers and the environment.
Is there a Difference Between Critical Cleaning and Precision Cleaning?
/in Precision Cleaning/by Industrial DegreasersIn terms of the cleaning procedure, critical cleaning and precision cleaning share some important similarities. For example, both processes typically involve temperature consideration, the application of mechanical force to one degree or another, and the detergency or solvency of the cleaning solution. However, there also some important differences between critical cleaning and precision cleaning. Below, we look at how the processes differ across several important criteria.
Location of Application
Critical cleaning is typically performed in a “cleanroom” that is designed for the procedure, whereas precision cleaning is normally performed in a laboratory or a similar type of controlled environment. The environments can be similar, but the critical cleaning environment typically features a greater degree of environmental control than the precision cleaning environment.
Type of Equipment Cleaned
Precision cleaning is typically applied to high-value goods in order to maintain their worth and operation, while critical cleaning is generally applied to equipment that would soon fail if proper cleaning measures weren’t implemented. For example, goods such as high-end electronics are precision cleaned, whereas equipment such as internal combustion engines are critically cleaned.
Type of Cleaning Equipment
Precision cleaning is commonly performed as batch cleaning — a process in which multiple parts are placed inside special cleaning equipment, such as a spray cabinet or a vapor degreasing unit. Critical cleaning may be performed with the same equipment or a similar type of equipment, with a special emphasis often placed on parts immersion and the application of ultrasonic cleaning technology.
Composition of Cleaning Agent
Critical cleaning and precision cleaning can differ markedly in terms of the chemistry of the cleaning agent that is used. Cleaning agents for the former are typically comprised of an aqueous formulation that is comprised mostly of water, while cleaning agents for the latter commonly feature a solvent that has a non-aqueous formulation to prevent oxidation, such as a dielectric solution that quickly evaporates after it is applied to precision electronic components.
Types of Soils Removed
Critical cleaning procedures primarily focus on removing submicron particles, as well as non-volatile residues (NVRs) that are measured in angstroms. Precision cleaning applications, on the other hand, more commonly focus on the removal of supermicron particles and residues that are thinner than a monolayer, delivering an exceptionally high standard of cleanliness. Ecolink can provide a high-performance cleaning solution for removing practically any type of soil.
Need Critical or Precision Cleaners?
If so, Ecolink is here to serve as your one-stop source for all of your commercial and industrial cleaning needs. We offer a wide variety of readymade cleaning solutions for critical cleaning and precision cleaning. Thanks to our experienced team of chemists, we also have the ability to formulate custom cleaning solutions that are tailored to address your specific cleaning needs.
For more information about our dynamic solutions for critical cleaning and precision cleaning procedures, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or fill out the contact form located on our website. We look forward to supply you with preformulated and/or custom formulated solutions that meet the needs of all of your critical cleaning and precision cleaning applications.
NPB Phaseout: The EPA Petitions to Add NPB to the List of HAPs
/in EPA Cleaning Regulations/by Industrial DegreasersN propyl bromide (a.k.a. NPB) is an industrial cleaning agent that became a popular replacement for chlorinated cleaning solvents in the latter decades of the 20th Century. More specifically, NPB became a popular drop-in solution that replaced cleaners containing the chemical compound trichloroethylene, which became commercially available in the U.S. in the 1920s.
For many years, NPB cleaners were regarded as safer solutions than their chlorinated counterparts. However, in the past 20 years, the deleterious effects of chronic NPB use on humans and the environment have become widely known, so much so that the push to regulate the use of NPB has culminated in the EPA creating a formal petition to add the controversial cleaning agent to its official list of regulated and banned hazardous air pollutants (HAPs).
Moves Leading Up to the Petition
The EPA isn’t the first organization to publicly recognize the dangers of unfettered NPB use. Many states, municipalities, and safety organizations in the U.S. red flagged the use of NPB long before the EPA drew up a petition in February 2015 to recategorize the compound as an HPA. Below is a list of some of the more notable actions that were taken to communicate the toxicity and dangerous side effects of NPB to companies and organizations prior to the current year
These moves and others by notable safety organizations undoubtedly spurred the EPA to step up to the plate and begin what appears to be the first phase of an NPB phaseout: a petition to add the cleaning agent to the organization’s list of HAPs. For workers and natural environments that are exposed to NPB, an official NPB phaseout cannot come too quickly. However, for companies and organizations that use the agent for critical cleaning operations, a phaseout is understandably not as welcome, as it would require them to identify safe replacements for NPB.
Choosing a New Cleaning Solvent
Users of NPB that stay abreast of EPA regulations have undoubtedly heard horror stories about what can happen if a dangerous solvent isn’t replaced until it is banned or heavily regulated. Critical cleaning operations can grind to halt if a solvent replacement plan isn’t in place, and that can spell doom for the bottom line of entities whose operations are highly solvent dependant.
However, as horrific as such a situation may seem to corporate brass, it is easy to avoid. By working with a producer of cleaning solutions that have an excellent safety profile for humans and the environment, NPB users can proactively replace their current solvents with ones that won’t be scrutinized by the EPA, and will thus avoid subjection to the impending NPB phaseout.
This is what Ecolink helps companies and organizations do. We have long been aware of the dangers of NPB usage. That is why we proactively created solutions that offer the same efficacy as NPB solvents but have a much better safety profile and broader usage parameters. If you need to prepare for the NPB phaseout, we have the cleaning solutions to help you do it.
For assistance identifying cleaners that can serve as drop-in replacements for NPB products, call us today at (800) 563-1305 to schedule a free consultation, or refer to the contact page on our website. With us working as your trusted provider of industrial-grade cleaning solvents, the NPB phaseout can come and go without affecting any of your business-critical cleaning needs.