Contract Cleaning Services

precision cleaning 1996 . surfaces, this method enables ‘visual- ization and classification of different materials. We have found a correlation between phase and friction imaging, an older technique for compositional imaging based on contact mode operation. Because it is based on TappingMode, phase imaging is gentler than friction imaging and provides bet- ter spatial resolution. q

References 1. Images of these are included in Digital Insbwnents’ Application Note “Phase Imaging: Beyond Topography,” available upon request. Gmtozt Digital Instruments at (800) 873-9750 and ask for Felicta Kashevuroff in corporate cortununications.

About the Author L% Don Cherno~ts the founder and president of Advance Surjixe Microscopy, an independent analytical service laboratory. Since 1986, Chernoff has been using scanning probe microscopy to tnvestigate and solve materials and processing problems for mmuf~twing, engineering and research

6b 2Ri.s article was reprinted with permtsston Figure 8: Contaminant deposit on glass. 5~ scans. a) TappingMode dual image showing the liq- from Digttd Instruments and Dr Cherno~ and uid-air interface of oil droplets (bright bumps in the height data, dark regions in phase). Needle- was orighdly adapted from his talk to the like crystals are bright and crisply-defined in the phase image. b) Contact mode dual image (height and friction) showing the substrate under the oil droplets and a cluster of crystals on NcumScope Users’ Meeting at S7M ‘95. the substrate. The oil droplets had high friction due to surface tension at the oil-probe inter- face. The crystal had low friction. Note: To make this comparison, we had to change probes and scanning modes and return to the same spot on the specimen.

$ofessionals uf S&K Products lntemationd

The 16-400 is desi&ed toaccommodate the latest developments in so/vent cleaning by utilizing CJ chemical targeted specifkaiiy at the soil and a second chemical that provides rinsing and drying capabilities. The system Js structured to implement the efficent und innovative co-solvent process.

Our products offer the most efficient, low J em&ton operation avcziiabie in the market today. Goii us now to s#e how we can be of service.

For Information Circle No. 45 December, 1996 . 13 1 VAPOR ZONE SOLVENT cleaning systems

Stand-alone tanks equipped with reservoirs of boil- ing solvents which fill the tank with hot solcent t+Wkws but 90 percent &f met&l vapors, Parts to be cleaned are cooled and immersed in the waporized soluent, which condenses on the parts cleaning ap~~~a~ns, far exampfe. can use aque- to create a washing action. Existing wa~or degreaser ous or semi-aqueous alternatives. However, for crit- equipment can sometimes be retrofitted to comply ical, high-end precision cleaning applications. with evolving environmental standards and/or to solvent-based systems may still be required - modify and improve the cleaning process. particularly when exposure to water would damage the parts. Vapor degreasers generally use heat exchangers to boil solvents in a reservoir at the bottom of the tank. The boiled-off solvents migrate upward as hot vapor. A cooling jacket at the neck of the tank condenses Selection Criteria: the rising vapor, creating a “vapor barrier.” This prevents solvent escape The major consideration in selecting a new vapor degreaser or retro- by trapping most of It in the top of the tank. fitting an existing system is whether the cleaning parameters actually require the strength of a solvent-based system. Environmental compli- ance is the first consideration in selecting or retaining a vapor degreaser system. Rust and corrosion sensitivity may necessitate solvent-based cleaning of some ferrous-metal parts which cannot be exposed to water terns have about a five-year tife span. A solvent in aqueous or semi-aqueous systems. Soil types which solubilize best in solvents may necessitate vapor-degreaser cleaning. High volatility can compound environmental problems. Well-ventilated spaces are required Vapor degreasers are particularly effective in solubilizing and removing for operation of solvent-based systems. carbon, oil, grease and other organic deposits; for rust, chip and fine removal and surface preparation. These systems maintain their effective- ness partly because the cleaning solvent is constantly redistilling. So, the cleaning action is always accomplished with fresh solvent. Mast solvent system users choose this type of Cleaning action can also he enhanced with mechanical agitation from cieanlng method because of its industry standard, ultrasonic or spray-under-Immersion systems to increase effectiveness performance. material compatibility, cleaning and reduce cycle time. The choice of solvents also Impacts system effec- effectiveness. elimination of ODCs. worker safety tiveness. Cost for vapor degreasers range from $20,000 to $40,000 for smaller and cost. machines to $200,000 for larger systems.

Compatibility Concerns: Varying amounts of solvent always escape, increasing worker exposure. The retrofit addition of spray units or other agitation tooling to maintam the effectiveness of retrofitted systems may require additional work space.

I I Satisfaction Levels of Vapor Zone Industry Applications: Solvent System Users Some industrial processes still require the cleaning power of vaporized solvents. In these cases, environmentally safe application of solvent- Very satisfied based cleaning systems is sometimes possible. These applications provide Somewhat satisfied cleaning solutions in:

l General industry: for metal precision parts, tools, machinery and components

l Medical: for surgical parts

l Semiconductor: for printed circuit boards

l Electronic and electrical: for parts and components adverse to water exposure

l Aviation: for airframe cleaning, GSE, turbine engines, thrust reversers, weapons systems l Printing: for blankets, ink rollers I Not at all satisfied 2.8%

December, 1996 Now you can get the cleaning results you need while meeting virtually every environ- mental reauirement. Just use ARMAKi.EEN@ Metal Cleaners -the environmentally superior, biode- I gradable aqueous cleaners designed to remove grease and oils from virtually any metal surface without so/vents. Reliably replaces solvents . Exceptional cleaning performance

l Non-toxic*, non-irritating to skin

l Zero ozone-depleting potential

l No glycol ethers, caustic sodas, hydrocarbons or cyclic amines

l No residue after cleaning and rinse

l No flash point (even when misted)

l Wide material compatibility

l Dilutable to specific needs ,,-j’*,!. ” l Economical 8,.

l Mild odor

l HMIS Rating: Toxicity 0, Flammability 0, Reactivity 0

Compatible with existing equipment

l Ideal for use in ultrasonic, agitated batch washing at 120”-140°F and spray washer applications

l Can be used as a spray Meet the product that meets your needs. Call today for a product sampie...1=800=824=0866.

Available in three formulations f&Aero~“for aircraft/aerospace cleaning applications W&tom” for cleaning automotive parts M.GP~*‘for general purpose metal cleaning

‘Per OSHA and EPA Regulations **Patents Pending

: .:. ‘,H- ,>r” Church & Dwight Co., Inc. l Specialty Cleaning Group

2 469 North Harrison Street l P.O. Box CN5297 Princeton, NJ 08543-5297

0 1996 Church 8. Dwtghl CO.. Inc. .' For Information Circle No. 6 DEIONIZED W ATER systems

Sysrems that remove dissolved solids from tap water ting, streaking and ionic contamination. or nqueotls solutions, supplying high-purity deionized DI water heaters can raise temperatures to further increase cleaning water for use in precision cleaning and rinsing. DI and rinsing performance. water systems reduce water use, wastebuildup and problems resulting from spotting, streaking andionic Industry Applications: contaminarion on cleaned parts. DI water is recommended for use in precision cleaning whenever a final rinse is applied and parts must have a high quality finish. For example: Deionized (DI) water minimizes waste in preci- . Electronics, printed circuit and semiconductor: to reduce high-volume sion cleaning processes by extending the life of water use and sludge disposal problems by recycling process water, and cleaning chemistries and reducing water use. It to achieve high-quality final rinse results

improves rinse efficiency and final product quality by eliminating spot- l Metal finishing: to produce ultra-clean surfaces prior to electroplating

ting and streaking. l Optics: for precision lens and mirror washing Deionization removes dissolved ions, such as heavy metals, from water . Automotive: for cleaning critical components, carwashing

or aqueous streams. The water to be purified passes through beds of syn- l Other general manufacturing thetic resins, where an “ion exchange” process occurs. Hydroxide ions in the resins exchange with negative ions in the stream. Selection Criteria: The resins are then “regenerated” by using acid or caustic chemicals to Level of purity, volume ofDl water required, tank size and pump size displace the captured ions, which are concentrated ain low-volume are among the important considerations in selecting DI systems. stream for disposal or processing. The regenerated resins are then ready Purity is measured in megohms, using an in-waterresistivity monitor for another cycle. to gauge the level of contamination.Dl water at 1 megohm would aver- DI water can be used to make up aqueous cleaning solutions, in theage less than 0.5 parts per million(ppm) total dissolved solids. emulsion cycle of semi-aqueous systems, in ultrasonic systems and other Ultra-high purity Dl water rated at 18 megohms, and with contami- processes. nation levels measured in parts per billion(ppb), is generally the stan- A significant cost reduction is possible if DI water is used to “make up” dard in the semiconductor industry, for example. aqueous chemical baths. Concentrated chemical agents provided by sup- The volume produced by a DI water system may range from less than pliers normally are diluted with water to form the aqueous solution. Bath20 gpm to 200 gpm or more. life can be adversely affected by the buildup of contaminants from tap Tank size and pump sizes must meet specificapplication requirements. water. Using DI water will extend bath life, resulting in lower chemical costs and water use. Compatibility Concerns: When ultra-clean parts and substrates are a requirement, DI water can The ion-exchange process is not suitable for purifying water with high be used in final rinses, or in multiple rinse cycles. It improves final prod- salt content. To remove a volume of salt might require an equal volume uct quality and eliminates problems caused by impurities such as spot- of resin regeneration chemicals.

Typical Instantaneous Electric Water Heater (H20T SHOT) Performance to 185” F

67

26 ’ December, 1996 66 Ii Forward Technology Industries Inc

FOR DEGREASING, CLEANING & DRYING PARTS

The A-Prime’” model feutures a smull footprint and uses True SuperheatTM ! to ensure -~z thorough parts dqjing with minimal

Forwurd Technology’s solvent systems are designedfi,r use with IowJush point solvents such as IPA, acetone und cyclohexane.

Solvent Cleaning Advantages: High Solvency: For removing highly activated flux from circuit boards. Low Viscosity: Allows solvent to flush blind holes and complex geometries. Spot-Free Drying: Low surface tension reduces spotting on optics and similar surfaces. No Corrosion: Excelrent for cleaning low-alloy metals. Low Conductivity: Motor windings can be cleaned and immediately pass dielectric tests. Small Footprint: Aqueous-based cleaning requires more steps and more complicated drying. _a - No Water Use: Recycle solvent instead of constant water use for make-up and rinsing. Solvent costs are low - about $4 per gallon. Low cost Waste is used as fuel, and safely incinerated for Waste Disposal: about $2 per gallon.

Why Forward Technology? No other company can offer you True SuperheatTM during the final drying process. A vapor zone heated 20-50 F above the solvent’s boiling point evaporates remaining liquid on the parts, even in blind holes and complex geometries. Parts leaving the system contain no liquid solvent, minimizing dragout and vapor emissions.

Did You Know? Forward Technology also manufactures Aqueous, Semi-Aqueous, Non- Flammable Solvent and High Pressure Spray Systems. Call us today for complete solutions to your cleaning needs!

13500 County Road 6 * Minneapolis, MN 55441* 612-559-l 785 * Fax 612-559-3929 For Information Circle No. 46 PARTICLE M EASUREMENT systems

Particle counters und cleanliness wrification sys- Industry Breakdown of Cleanliness mm meuswe contamination lewls in deionwd (DI) Measurement Methods water, process chemds or in samples taken f’rom (Top Two Methods Used for Each Industry Listed Below) cleaned parts. They oroeide quantifiable duru about fluid purity und cleaning effectiveness rhut en&e conrrol, optimization and compurison of precision cleaning processes.

Particle counting systems have three basic wmponents: a sampler, a sensor and a counter/ particles remaining on a cleaned part, a sampler col- lects remaining particulate matter from the part hy spraying or immers- mg it in a very pure “extraction fluid” such as I11 water. As the Irqutd asmple flows through the sensor, it passes through :? viewing area illumi- nated hy intense laser light. Particles in the sample momentarily block the light. A photodetector diode senses how much hght is blocked and creates a corresponding electrical pulse that is proportional to particle size. ln the counter/computer, pulses generated hy the optical sensor are counted and categorized by size. Results are typically reported as total particles, part&s per milliliter, particles per part, particles per unit sur- face area or particles per unit volume.

Current Use of Various Cleanliness Measurement Methods

Parts and Substrates Applications:

l Electronics, circuit hoards, semiconductors and disk drives: cleanlmess verification may be calibrated to count particles in the 0.5 to 10 micron range

l Medical devices or hydraulic components: two to 25 micron particles may he targeted

l General industry: when parts mubt he “visible clean,” the particle counting systems might he calibrated to measure 10 to 100 micron sizes

commanty Femovlng a&i. particulates, and flux: those u&&g CondUCtiVity/FeSi&Vity are primarily cleaning fluxes; users measuring by wettabiUty are trying to get rid of fingerprints and oils: those who do not measure cleanliness are removing oil. dirt and grease.

do Not Wettability Selection Criteria: I \r 18.6% Optical/Visual lvleasure Conductivity I Other methods of cleanliness measurement include auger, chromato- graphy, conductivity/rcsistivity, FT-lR, liquid particle counting, non- Inspection Cleanliness (ion chromatography) 20.5% volatile residue, OSEE, black light, gravimetric, optical/visual inspec- 62.9% 13.3% tion, refractometry, SEM, specific gravity, surface particle momtormg, tapes test, turhldity, wettahility and XPS (ESCA).

December, 1996 How To GET lhmoH0~ VI&TER

The H20T SHOT is a selkontained instantaneous electric heq&r that produces large volumes of precisely regulated water or other process fluids on demand. H&T SHOT boasts the design innovatii, safety features and

l %&se PID temperature control.

l Minimahsidence time for instantaneousreqonse.

*ih l E⌧tremely energy $t!☺cii.

l Wall mom&&e for &y h&l-.

l Requires only power and watercome&m . l spacesbvingpol~+de!3ll. i . fe?lmes. . lM+dv. C ARBON D IOXIDE CLEANING (CO*) supercriticcd, liquid, snow and dry ice pellet

CO2 is four cleaning agents in one. Its supercritical state (SC-CO$ provides chemical extraction and solvent cleaning of organic compounds; its liquid state (LCOJ) pouides degreasing by quickly removing oils ad greases; its solid/gaseous state removes sub micron particulates and light organic material and its solid state removes gross contaminants from a wide sure vessel, gas/liquid pumps and a CO1 recycle system. A cleaning cycle variety of surfaces and substrates. is approximately 10 to 20 minutes per load. Equipment costs for a LCOz system are less expensive compared to those of a SC-CO2 system, because high pressures are not needed to achieve the hquid state. LCO2 Supercritical systems are primarily batch-based, but batch automation can be Carbon dioxide reaches the supercritical state above its critical temper- achieved. LCO, is also not a continuous or conveyor process. LCOl is ature of 3 1°C and pressure of 72.8 atm. The liquid and vapor phases of being applied in the aerospace, aircraft, welding and medical Industries, CO1 merge to form supercritical carbon dioxide. The contaminants to be as well as stationery products and automotive. removed are dissolved by the CO1 - not simply dislodged by flow. SC- CO2 is best suited to clean complex parts and components, and to pene- Carbon Dioxide Snow trate small pores and crevices. Applications include space aircraft, aero- Ejected through specialized nozzles, liquid CO1 can create jet-spray 1 space components, electronic equipment, bearings, cables, rivets, connec- plumes of snowflakes and gas. As the CO1 expands through the nozzle tors, o-rings, seals and gyroscopes, special camera lenses, glass components assembly, it passes through a “triple point” where solid, liquid and gas and medical devices. Some target contaminants include silicone oils, exist simultaneously. Snowflakes form instantly in the five-atmosphere pressure of the triple point. As snowflakes strike particles on a surface, Satisfaction Levels of Carbon Dioxide Users the “momentum transfer” of the collision dislodges the particles, which are swept away by the gaseous CO*. CO2 snow removes all types of loose particles as small as 0.1 micron. Snow particle size is application- dependent. A “hail storm” or “snowfall” effect can be achieved through various snow particle sizes, depending on what is being cleaned. Removing heavy 011s is a problem, but flux, particulates, fingerprints, silicone oils and hydrocarbons can be removed. Some industry applica- tions include: aerospace, automotive, microelectronics, semiconductor, hybrid circuits, flat panel displays, contamination control, nuclear waste clean-up, process tools and systems, substrate preparation, surface analy- sis, vacuum technologies, precision metal or plastic parts, medical man- ufacturing, disk drive, silicon wafer, optic and cleanroom. Standard equipment includes a CO1 source, a nozzle with an internal orifice and a means to transport the CO1 from the source to the nozzle. A number of automated systems are also currently in use. Somewhat saristied -1 satisfied 0.0% 0- Very Dry Ice Pellets misfied a.tL,a,,Lu.“.r:“C-A ll.‘% CO1 dry ice pellets are used more for industrial cleaning than preci- 22.2% 44.4% sion cleaning. Dry ice is the solid form of CO2 that has a low tempera- dielectric oils, machine oils, plasticizers, monomers, fluorinated oils and ture of -109°F and an inherent thermal energy. The ice pellets are accel- damping fluids, lubricants and organic extractable adhesive residues. Some erated at high velocities onto the surface of the contaminated part to inorganics and particulates cannot be dissolved in carbon dioxide; there- fracture the contaminant and scrub the surface clean. Industries such as fore, will not be removed by SC-CO2. Standard equipment includes a plastics, aerospace, rubber parts, automotive, tire, food, baking, drying, pump, a cleaning vessel, an expansion valve and a separator and con- coffee plants, printing, nuclear decontamination and flight and convey- denser. SC-CO2 is a one-step process that may take 15 minutes to two or cleaning are using CO2 dry ice pellets. Dry ice pellets can be used on hours per cycle. The high initial price tag and possible damage to delicate molds, rubber, production lines, pulp, paper, ink wells, consumer prod- parts due to the high pressures and the inability to remove inorganic mate- ucts, molded parts, inks, oils, greases, cleaning dyes, tools, reworking rials and particulates are the primary disadvantages of SC-CO*. equipment, packaging equipment, urethane and foam products, adhe- sives, aluminum foundries and wafer plates. However, pellets are not Liquid cost-effective to use on some paints, but are on some polymers and resins Liquid CO1 performs surface cleaning and degreasing similar to vapor and cannot remove extremely elastic contaminants. Standard equipment degreasing. The dirty parts are placed in a cleaning chamber where the consists of a delivery system, a nozzle, a gun assembly and a delivery hose. contaminants are dissolved into the liquid COl. The efficiency of a liq CO2 dry ice pellet blasting is considered non-abrasive. This process does uid CO2 cleaning system is dependent upon some form of mechanical have “line-of-sight” cleaning limitations. Increasing velocity through agitation. Cleaning performance is affected by the low surface tension nozzle design, improving pellet size, density and quality of the dry ice are and low viscosity of LCO2. also important. CO1 dry ice pellet cleaning has taken off in the pharma- LCOz removes light- and medium-weight hydrocarbon oils, gross par- ceutical, general maintenance and housekeeping arenas. ticulate contamination, drawing compounds and other machining fluids. Cline, Chrutmu M., “Emerging Technolog); Emergq Markers,” Prec~wn Cleaning LCOz will not remove inorganics. Standard equipment consists of a pres- Ma&w, October 1996, p. 11.

December, 1996 Pretty Pictures

Pretty looking particles like these should be on a poster, not on your parts. HIAC Royce’s particle counters provide immediate verification to assure you that these particles are not on your parts.

.,jur 8011 ABS Particle Counting the sampling and data analysis processes. System is one of the ways HIAC Royce particle counters provide quick and If, however, you really want to see what accurate particle counts. The 8011 particles look like, and you don’t have the system allows you to measure particles time to wait for a laboratory to return the from 2 to 400 micrometers in size photographs, we’ll be glad to send you a (0.1-2500 urn range available). In poster of these pictures to put on your addition, we offer a Windows-based wall. Simply fax us your request for a software package to further enhance poster at (301) 622-0714 (particle counter your cleaning process by automating orders accepted too 0). HIAC Royce ‘s 801 I Particle Contamination Monitoring System

When cleanliness counts, particle count with HIAC Royce! HIAC ROYCO DIVISION World Headquarters: Wholly Owned Subsidiaries: Pacific Scientific Company Pacific Scientific SARL Pacific Scientific LTD Pacific Scientific GMBH HIAC Royce Division HIAC Royce Division HIAC Royce Division HIAC Royce Division 11801 Tech Road 2 allee des Garays 11 Manor Courtyard MollenbachstraBe 14 Silver Spring, MD 20904-1909 Zone lndustrielle Hughenden Ave., High Wycombe 71229, Leonberg, Germany USA 91124 Palaiseau Cedex Bucks HP 13 5RE (07152) 904266 (301) 680-7000 France England, UK Fax (07152) 904260 (800) 638-2790 (01)6011 9611 (01494) 473232 Fax (301) 622-0714 Fax (01) 60 11 93 76 Fax (01494) 472566

Pacific Scientific’s Instruments Group includes HIAC Royce, Met One and HYT. For Information Circle No. 48 PLASMA CLEANING systems

Cleaning systems that use excited gas (plasma) to chemically crack and dislodge contamination from surfaces.

In a plasma cleaning system, heavy, fast-moving * Carbon Dktxirle, gas atoms and ions bombard the surfaces to be cleaned. This cracks contaminant molecules into carbon dioxide, water vapor or other harmless gases, such as low-molecular weight hydrocar- I --Oraani~ bons, which can be pumped away, leaving an atomically-clean surface. Plasma is created by applying radio-frequency or microwave energy to electrically-conductive gas in a hermetically-sealed, low-pressure reac- tion chamber. Oxygen is commonly used as the reactive gas for removal Schmid, Dr. Hermmn, “Super-Fine Cleaning with Liquid-Phase Pre-Cknning ad of organic contaminants. Hydrogen, argon, helium and other gases are Subsequent Plasm Treatment,” Precision Cleaning, October 1995, p. 17. effective in other, specific applications. Parts to be cleaned are placed in the reaction chamber. When the voltage is applied, the gas molecules accelerate to an excited (ionized) titles such as machining chips and debris. Consequently, It is sometimes state, releasing active chemical radicals and ultraviolet waves. This high- effective to combine plasma cleaning with an aqueous or semi-aqueous ly active process gas produces a chemical reaction that “burns away” con- pre-cleaning step. The pre-clean will leave a relatively uniform residual taminants by cracking their molecular structure and changing them into layer that can be removed in plasma. CO, CO1 and HzO. The reaction occurs at room temperature, leaving High-cost vacuum pumps and low pressure chambers make plasma no residue. The waste gas emissions are far below the limits allowed cleaning relatively expensive. As always, cost depends on the size and under environmental regulations. volume of parts to be cleaned and the degree of automation desired. Plasma cleaning completely removes thin, evenly-distributed layers of Small, manually-operated systems may cost $40,000, while fully-auto- organic contaminants and residual films such as grease, oils, waxes and mated, continuous systems with pre-cleaning cycles may cost several mil- solvents, leaving super-clean surfaces. The process can be apphed in lion dollars. batch or continuous, fully-automated systems. Industry Applications: Satisfaction Levels of Plasma Plasma cleaning is useful in numerous industry applications, particu- Cleaning System Users larly for cleaning particles that wet agents cannot reach, and when sur- faces must be cleaned to an ionic level. Examples include:

l General/automotive/aviation: for surface preparation, cleaning ball bearings prior to coating

l Electronics: semiconductors and printed circuit boards, computer hard disk cleaning

l Hybrid cleaning: for pre-die attachment, pre-wuebonding, flux bleed- out removal

l Photoresist and chrome mask stripping

l Mask de-scumming Selection Criteria: Plasma cleaners are particularly appropriate when:

l Complex geometry prevents wet cleaners from reaching sods in small holes and cavities.

l Total removal of thin mono-layers of organic contamination is 0.0% %mewhat sari&d required. mrisfied 11.1% 22.2% l An environmentally friendly cleaning system with low disposal costs sari&d saushed is desired. I 1.1% 33.3% Compatibility Concerns: With wet cleaning, surface tension may prevent cleaning agents from Plasma cleaning is not effective in cleaning thick, unevenly-distrib- entering very small cavities. The excited gas in a plasma cleaner can uted layers of organic contaminants or large inorganic particles. reach these tiny cavities, enabling cleaning of complicated work pieces. On circuit boards populated with integrated circuits, the primary plas- It is even possible to simultaneously plasma-clean two or more parts with ma may induce unacceptable voltage. different geometries. Plasma cleaning also eliminates the need for rinsing Some materials which are not “vacuum-friendly” may release absorbed and leaves surfaces completely dry and residue-free. moisture under low pressure. Heavy, uneven layers of contamination cannot be removed effective- Some contaminants, such as lead, will not sublimate and cannot be ly with plasma cleaning. Plasma will also not remove large inorganic par- cleaned with the plasma process.

December, 1996

AEROSOL G CONTACT

Cleaning agents generally developed as effective l Automotive: for mechanical brakes, clutches, bearings replacements for swamspheric ozone-depleting sub- . General industry: for hoists, lifts, compressors, mechanical equipment, stances like CFCs and 1 ,I ,I-trichloroethane. They corroded machinery, air tools, compressors, chains, wire rope, adhesive are particularly effective in electrical cleaning removal, machine parts, tools, heavy-duty cleaning and degreasing and deFereasing applications when cleaners can be conveniently applied or aerosol-sprayed directly onto Selection Criteria: surfaces. Cleaning performance tradeoffs must be carefully evaluated in select- ing an aerosol or contact cleaning agent. The most common concerns in Contact and aerosol cleaners can be formulat- cleaning and degreasing operations include: ed to remove carbon, dust, oil, grease, wax, rust, l Nonflammability is a requirement near energized equipment or other paint and other contaminants from a wide variety of metal, ceramic and sources of ignition. other surfaces. They are particularly convenient and effective for gener- l Flashpoints above 140°F are required in some applications. al cleaning and degreasing applications in a wide range of industries. l Rate of evaporation affects cleaning action, with controlled rates gen- Common formulations are water-, alcohol+, petroleum-distillate-, erally enhancing effectiveness. HCFC- or terpene-based. Reputable manufacturers and distributors can l Residue levels may require additional rinsing or wiping steps. match specific product characteristics to specific applications. l Plastics such as acrylics and polycarbonates are adversely affected hy some agents.

Industry Applications: l VOC levels limit use of some agents. Contact and aerosol agents satisfy a wide range of applications, fre- l Water tolerance is a factor in most electrical and electronic applications. quently involving electrical cleaning and degreasing. Examples include: l Chlorinated solvent levels limit use of some agents. l Electrical: for cleaning electric motors, generators, insulators, metal switches, contacts and relays, circuit breakers, terminals, rheostats, Compatibility Concerns: electrical instruments, communications antennas Compatibility concerns include many of the Same factors considered l Electronic and semiconductor: for ultrasonic cleaning, printed circuit in selectmg cleaning agents: flammability, flashpoint, sensitivity of some boards, tape heads, flux removal I p astIcs,1, water tolerance, VOCs and chlorinated solvent levels, etc

Qaor cleaner, completely ozone-safe, mainly used as nonftammabte propeltant in uefosols. t-l s..l Weak cteaner. nonflammabte, plastic-safe.

WCS Ozone-safe, nonflammable solvents avaitabte commercially in 1996/97.

Isopropyl Alcohol Ozone-safe. plastic-safe, weak cleaner. pronounced aroma, very flammable. b.* I ~.sT J Ethyl Alcohol Ozone-safe, plastic-safe. medium strength cleaner. pronounced aroma, very flammable. s E. 3% Aliphatic tiydrocarbons Ozone-safe, medium strength, some pbstic problems, modest aroma. flammable. ;k Volatile MethylSiloxanes Ozone-safk ultra-mild, very flammable, safe for all plastics. great toxicity ratings.

Deionized Water Ozone-safe. plastic-safe. nonflammable. very mild cleaner. hard to retain purity 3 Terpene tiydrocarbons Ozone-safe. very powerful. slow drying, pronounced aroma, some plastic compatibility $ concerns. good toxicity data. 3 ,o (/i Non-linear Alcohols Ozone-safe. the most powerful choice, barely flammable. may attack plastics. slow drying.

December, 1996 YES Models Rl and R3 The Plasma Surface ModificationTeam The term “surface modifi- Applications include surfaces receptive to gold cation” has come to mean dif- changing a gloss finish to matt deposition for things more ferent things to different to make pocket pagers easier esoteric. people. to read. Or rendering quartz Plasma is finding everyday application in a widening array of technologies. No solvent fuss and no messing with the environment either. If you think the YES team might help in your process, please give us a call.

YES Model R4

Yield Engineering Systems, Inc. 2119 Oakland Rd., San Jose, CA 95131 Telephone 408/954-8353 Fax 408/954-8369

For Information Circle No. 31 #?ETROf ITT1 NG cleaning systems

Due to ever-increasing environmental concern5 , most companies will be facing the problem of upgrad- ing their cleaning systems sometime within the near future. Similar to the production problem of make or buy, a company will probably have to either buy a new system or retrofit an older one.

l Chemical Reuse Considerations Retrofitting offers some sound economic reasons for consideration. However, there are serious considerations to make before proceeding l Energy Usage Concerns with such a decision. l Water Consumption Problems Just switching to environmentally safe solvents is not going to solve l Good Internal Environment = Good Global the problem. Many of the chemicals are quite expensive and trying to use Environment Issue current technology on new chemistry may create problems that were not present previously. the production Issue enters in as well. What is the downtime to install a new system versus a retrofit? There rarely Is ,one chef&al soWon to all clean- But as far as using new environmentally safe solvents, a retrofit can often allow a more economical operation. The cooling chamber can be ing probbms. I extended, thus greatly reducing the dragout issue. The freeboard can also be extended, while new controls can be added that meet or exceed NESHAP standards and regulations. Time, cost, and of course, the technology issue enter into the equa- Even if a company is buying a new system, it may want to retrofit the tion. Time is the most critical if a company is 6acing a serious health or older system, so it can be used as a backup or for smaller production runs. safety hazard from the old cleaning system. The need to expedite the sys- Rounding out the considerations for many companies, is the just- tem may be the sole decision-maker. A company may not be able to get what-kind-of-good-citizen-are-you question. What is your image and a new system in the time that it takes to retrofit an older one. Likewise, what is company policy? Companies need to have a good internal envi- ronment if they want a good global environment. IMaterial contrthuted hs Karen lhke\ier, Inc Important Factors When Choosing a Cleaning Process

Aqusaul cteuntng is a good. viable opii*n; but

it fs.not a un&ersal sotutlon. Switching to a new 80 aqueous-based chemlcat system also raises issues that need to be considered, If a company is in a water-sensitive area, such as California, it may not want to increase its water consumption. Likewise, a solvent vapor degreasing system should be considered whenever a dry, spot-free surface is required or where contact with water may adversely affect the part.

Additionally, the energy cost of solvent degreasers is lower than comparable aqueous systems because of smaller pumps and minimal drying cost.

December, 1996

sWA%S - manual cleaning

A pistonlike device wed for the sterile cleaning of critical areas, the cleaning of non-critical areas, cleaning walidution and contamination control.

In manual cleaning, a swab is used as is to clean a surface or a cleaning agent is applied to the swab or directly to the surface to be cleaned and spectfic areas, and that is as far as the limitations the surface is then wiped with the swab. The soils are absorbed into the swab using fresh solvent. go. The wipe or swab is simply a vehicle through The surface is then wiped with a dry cloth to Tent.

Industry Applications: Cline, Chrrstm M., “Whatever Works For You,” Precision Cleanmg, March 1996, p. 13. Swabs are used in a variety of applications including:

l Preparing surfaces for the application of coatings in the aerospace industry. l VOC emissions

l Removing plastic media blast residues prior to painting. l HAP emissions

l General purpose cleaning of tools and machinery. l Flash point

l Applying lubricants and adhesives. l Regulatory limitations

l Cleaning detailed and confined spaces. l High price, odor l Evaporation rate Specific Industries Include:

l Cleanroom Compatibility Concerns:

l Pharmaceutical It is important to use a solvent which does not evaporate too fast. If

l Medical the surface being cleaned does not stay wet, the soils will not be absorbed

l Electronic into the swab.

l Optical IPA, acetone, MEK, Toluene, Acetone/water, IPA/water, glycol ether

l Aeropace/aviation solutions, TCE, HFCs, HCFCs, PFCs, terpenes, isoparaffins, lactates, organic blends and esters are all solvents to consider. Selection Criteria: Swabs are inexpensive, require no capital facilities and there is no Swabs are designed with various heads and applicators. accumulation of waste solvent requiring disposal. However, the swabs Heads can be round, pointed, flat, spiral or mini. They may also be themselves must be collected and disposed. made of tightly wound cotton. The shaft/applicator materials range from paper, plastic and wood Money Spent on Other Cleaning depending on user specifications. Supplies Per Year Swabs may be different lengths, used us is, tightly wound with no stray fibers, presaturated, saturated or self-saturating - combining a solvent Under $10,000 and an applicator in one swab. Issues to consider when choosing a solvent to use with a swab include: 57i3%

l Flammability

l Toxicity

which determines the solvents they use in the swab or handwipe. whether presaturated or not. agents and cleaning equipment. I I Cline, Christina M., “Wh~teuer Works For You,” J’reasion Cleaning, March 1996, p. 13

38 * December, 1996 Ii The XLE is proven to be the cleaner of the future without using CFC, water or flammable solvents, and has set the standards for efficiency and econom-

Utilizing the most advanced vapor degreasing theory available today the XLE features: . 150% Freeboard Tank for Minimum Solvent Diffusion Losses . Superheated Vapor Sump for Elimination of Solvent F Dragout on Parts . Stainless Steel Vapor Trap Freeboard Chiller Coils and Condensing Coils for Maximum Containment of Vapors . Air Cooled Refrigeration System . Stainless Steel Construction . Four Sided Tank Insulation Reduces Energy Consumption . Safety Controls Meet or Exceed NESHAP Regulations and Standards . Operator Friendly System . Spray System for Touch Up and fr@ Maximum Cleaning Effectiveness web ave been cleaning parts longer than anyone I . System Provides Maximum Water Removal I else - in fact, for more than 100 years. Regardless Retrofitting Existing Systems of your part’s size, dimension, or geometry, we BaromBlakeslee can retrofit many types of have the cleaner that will meet cleaning systems to accept the NEW environ- your application. mentally safe solvents or to meet all estab- Inc. lished environmental standards. All you have Baron l Blakeslee A @iii) DIVERSIFIED COMPANY to do is give us a call.

1500 West 16th Street l Long Beach, CA 90813 l I-800-548-4422 l FAX (3101491-1091 For Information Circle No. 23 CONTRACT C LEANING services

The contracting out of cleaning oprations to spe- cialized companies that cater to a wide spectrum of industries. Conhzct cleaning services can offer ualu- nble expertise and economies of scale, particularly for smaller companies or operations evith variable clean- ing requirements.

Major contract cleaners offer mobile services that can bring required equipment and personnel to the client’s site. Parts can also be shipped to the contractor’s facility where staff expertise, modern equipment, clean- rooms and other assets enable broad, high-quality cleaning capability. A typical production day might include cleaning and testing valves, fittings and hoses for for ultra-high-purity applications.

Industry Advantages: abo Because they focus exclusively on precision cleaning, contract clean- J Absotved frum ing services can offer valuable economies of scale, especially when the volume of parts to be cleaned is low or inconsistent. Strict environmen- to ftnd chemical equipm tal regulations make it increasingly attractive to place responsibility and J freed from tracWng the L liability in the hands of specialized cleaning professionals. They can per- technology form required tests, maintain appropriate permits and assume perpetual liability for disposal of hazardous wastes. J UsuaUy more cost-effe

Changes Taking Place in Cleaning Processes to Reduce or Eliminate CFCs Inehouse

Contract 0uf cleaning 0.8% I _ Switch re an alternate ns may tax contract Other process and agents 1.5% 1 12.1% cleaners unles Some contract ners may be geographi-

must travel off-site to super-

I use the;a& PIOCCSS) I 13.3% ’ Do not use any CFC-based cleaning systems now 50.8% contract cleaner’s location. The facility and equipment must be appropriate to the task.

Selection Criteria: l End user approval or even a formal inspection of the contract clean- l Cost is the most important factor in deciding whether or not to ing operation may be required by the customer.

employ a contract cleaning service. l Confidentiality agreements should be drafted and signed to protect l Location will impact the time and expense of transporting parts to the unique trade secrets that could be revealed during the contract clean- nearest qualified contract cleaning service. ing process.

l Tight scheduling requirements imposed by manufacturers or end users l Quality control personnel representing the client should examine may be impacted by the contract cleaner’s turnaround time. the contract cleaner’s control documents and approvals from major l Facility configuration is important if cleaning is to be performed at the contractors.

December, 1996 WHEN YOU ORDER PURSWAB” PRODUCTS YOU'RE- BUYING DIRECT FROMTHE MANUFACTURER

a variety of industries, in and out of the clean room, and including the semicon du&x, automotive, computer, e1 ectronics, te 1 ecommunications, and jewelry industries.

Let us show you. Call l-800-321-2313 Purswab products are made in OUI IS0 9002 registered facikty in Gdford, Maine, under the tight now. We’ll send you a FREE strictest quality controls. PurSwab Pack, which has samples of our most pop&r products. We’ll dso include L&h3 b” standard products a copy of the latest PurSwab catalog. c 1 caning to meet specific applicators environments or are made applications. h ere in the U.S.A., in Guilford, Maine. When you need When you order our products you’re something that’s not available in our buying direct from our integrated current product line, talk to us. We manufactuting facility. And that we1 come the opportunity to come up gives you some important benefits! tith something new or different! Consistent quality Product availability We have been manufactuting quality We make the PurSwab products products since 1919. And you don’t ourse 1ves so we can promise you product stay in business that long unless you availability. We take your order, and s&s.fy your customers! package and ship your products, all from our Guilford location. Everything Our facility is IS0 9002 registered. happens under one roof. When we tell Purswabs come in atide variety of shapes, PurSwab products are designed, you that your order till be shipped on sizes, and mater%1 s. manufactured, and a certain date, you can inspected right here. count on it! Try the samples. Browse through the We have complete control catalog. And think about all the over every single PurSwab Strong customer service reasons for ordering direct from the product and nothing leaves Our customer service staff manu facturer! the factory un 1ess it meets is located in a building tight our stringent quality across the road from our CaII today. Leave a message on requirements. manufacturing plant. That our Web site. Or send a fax to means we can 0ff er you fast 800-323-4153. And we’ll ship Product innovation turnaround on your order. your free PurSwab Pack right away. customer service We don’t have to wait for From And, when you call with a to manuf.3ctuling, we someone e 1 se to come up ae committed to giving question - want to check tith a good idea. We have you quality products. on product availability - design engineers and or tish to talk about technicians to develop new custom products - we can products (such as our respond quickly. PurSwab PopuleTM Self- Saturating Swab, which Askfor a FREE Cleaners anb Applicators includes cleaning fluid and Purswab Pack Hardwood Products Company Guilford, Maine 04443-0149 U.S.A. aoolicator in one unit). We We make morethan 40 Telephone: 800-321-2313 l 207-876-3311 aL work tith customers to different kinds of standard PuSwab Fax: 800-323-4153 l 207-876-3130 develop custom products or adapt cleaning applicators. These are used by Web site: http://www.hwppuritan.com

For Information Circle No. 49 DRYING Parts Drying Evaluation Sheet 1. Describe part to be dried and its final application systems 2. Of what material is the part constructed 0 plastic 0 metal 0 elastomers 0 other 3. What are the phrjical dimensions of the part L-- Ht. wt. 0 pi,,” 0 sq. inch 0 sq. ft. Systems and equipment for drying parts after cleaning, 4. Kkat is the surface contour of the part q blind hole and crevices 0 thru holes 0 other in preparation for subsequent processing. In critical 5. What is your production rate on this part ckuning applications, drying must be achieved without Parts/minute/hour/day Total volume 6. What process is used to clean the part samificing ckanliness of the parts. 7. a. Batch size Basket size h Conveyor 0 roller 0 belt 0 chain 0 mono-rail 0 vert. hoist Precision cleaning also demands precision drying. Distance to travel vertical -horizontal .--Am--- 8. Material to be removed from part after cleaning: Wet parts are usually unacceptable to the next I3 tap water 0 D.I. water 0 acids/solvents manufacturing step. Consequently, high perform- 0 contaminants 0 surfactants 9. What happens to the part after drying ance dryers normally are situated as the last step in 0 packaging 0 stored on shelf 0 further processing 0 assembly aqueous or semi-aqueous cleaning systems. The 0. What problems occur as a result of inadequate drying 0 cormsion 0 performance failure 0 packaging drying process must not recontaminate the parts. High Efficiency Particle 0 aesthetics 0 other Air (HEPA) filters can maintain the cleanliness of drying air down to 0.1 ll.How do you dry your parts now? micron. If heat is applied before surface liquids are blown off, soils, dirt or 0 don’t 0 heater tunnel 0 oven 0 compressed air 0 chemicals q fans 0 air knife chemical residues may be baked into the surface of the parts. The degree of 2. What method do you use to determine dryness of the part dryness required is directly related to the next step after drying. If drying is cl none 0 visual 0 electrical test 0 gross wt measurement 0 optical scanner 0 device to measure surface moisture inadequate, packaging may rot, or appear aesthetically unacceptable and be 3. Utilities available rejected by the end user. 0 heat 0 electricity 0 cooling water 0 cleaning 0 exhaust air Industry Applications: Drying systems are a necessary step in aqueous or semi-aqueous cleaning whenever subsequent industrial processes will be adversely affected by mois- l Electronics: where moisture will damage circuit boards and other electri- ture. Examples include: cal components

l Metal plating: particularly in high-volume barrel-plating operations l Machine shops: for wringing contaminants from chips before recycling

l Automotive: prior to coating or painting of parts l Jewelry, medical and optical

l Aviation: prior to coating or painting of parts l General parts cleaning

2s 4 sq. in. of cross-sectlonal area traveling l InsuffIcient for high-volume productivity

single fite at ~5 fMP l Labor intensive 8 Compressed l Utilizes existing in-plant compressed l Ineffective for Large components Air air supply l Recontamination of cleaned part

l tiigh sound levels to 90 dBA

l May need to stabilize part

Vanderpyl, Daniell. and McClothan, Kirk, “Precision Drying Compktes Precision Ckaning,” Precision Cleaning, March 1995, p, 39. TalkDim Parts toDetrex! 1-800-525-1498 We know parts’ cleaning...... so let us clean your parts. Whatever the size, configuration or material of your part, we’ve probably designed and built equipment to clean it . . . and we’ve been doing those kinds of things for over 75 years. We know cleaning chemistries because we supply aqueous, semi-aqueous and sol- vent chemicals. And, we were the first company to offer industrial disposal services for F-001 and F-002 waste streamsso we know what cleaning your parts is all about. so let us! And the reasons are many: l The cost of retrofitting to meet regulatory require- ments. l The cost of cleaning chemistries. l The cost of waste disposal. l The need for precision cleaning. l Environmental concerns, short and long term. l Small quantity cleaning needs. l Utility consumption and the use of plant floor space.

Each and every one of these reasons is reason enough. So start by calling us. We have regional loca- tions in Chicago, Detroit, L.A., Dallas, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, and Charlotte. At Detrex, you get worry-free solutions from a single source. l Standard and Custom-Designed Equipment l Retrofit Packages for Existing Systems l Testing and Evaluation Studies & Services l Aqueous, Semi-Aqueous, Solvent Chemicals l Contract Cleaning Services