Co-Solvent Systems
Co-Solvent Systems
Co-Solvent is a versatile and powerful vapor degreasing process which can clean a variety of substrates. Co-Solvent is an ideal chlorine free cleaning solution for a variety of applications including electronics cleaning, post processing in 3D printing / additive manufacturing, dewaxing, and cleaning of plastics. Baron Blakeslee Co-Solvent Vapor Degreasers are available with a variety of options including programmable material handling, ultrasonics, and water-cooled refrigeration systems for clean room installations.
A Simple, 3 Step Process
- Parts are soaked in the boiling sump filled with a mixture of the "solvating agent.” And the fluorocarbon vapor degreasing solvent, which functions as the “rinse agent”. Solvating agents are organic hydrocarbon chemistries specially selected to remove specific soils like oils, no-clean flux/solder paste, RMA, lead-free flux/solder paste, HMP (high melting point) solder, silicone oils, and even for displacement drying processes. Co-Solvent processes may also be used in post-processing of 3D printed parts made in additive manufacturing.
- Parts are then rinsed in the clean sump of the Co-Solvent vapor degreaser, which is filled with a fluorocarbon vapor degreasing solvent. With the Co-Solvent process, re-deposition of soils is minimized.
- Following the rinse, parts are dried in the degreaser’s vapor zone without the need of pumps or blowers as would be required with a conventional aqueous cleaning process.
Features
- For organic, non-polar type soils, vapor degreasing offers better cleaning due to the low surface tension and low viscosity of the solvents. Aqueous processes have difficulty penetrating tight spaces or "wetting" surfaces and require surfactants in their cleaning agents that still cannot match the penetrating power of solvents. In the vapor phase, solvents exhibit a very thorough penetrating property as the vapor condenses into a liquid on all part surfaces regardless of geometric complexity. Spaces like capillaries or blind holes are easily infiltrated by solvents.
- Vapor degreasing systems will maximize space in your facility as they require less ancillary modules than aqueous processes. Aqueous systems typically need more rinse stages, require DI or treated water, and also a drying system which results in additional equipment. Vapor degreasing systems integrate drying as a basic feature, saving you space.
- Vapor degreasing processes offer greater simplicity and easier process control than aqueous processes. Only soil loading (as monitored by boiling temperature), acid acceptance, and filtration(where applicable) must be monitored. In aqueous processes, chemistry concentration is often difficult to measure and control, rinse water quality must be measured and maintained, and factors such as conveyors, hoist speed, spray pressures, flow, nozzle position & aperture clearance, filter integrity, and more are constantly in flux.
- Solvent waste is typically less costly to dispose of than spent aqueous cleaning agents. Many degreasing solvents are non-hazardous as well.
- Solvent processes are more rapid than aqueous processes due to more effective and faster cleaning and drying.
- Vapor degreasing processes generate less noise than aqueous systems because they have smaller and fewer pumps, motors, and require no blowers.
- Soil re-deposition is a constant threat with aqueous cleaning processes often resulting in unsatisfying results and requiring additional cleaning. In vapor degreasing, a plentiful supply of pure, freshly distilled solvent and solvent vapor that pre-washes and final rinses parts minimizes redeposition of contaminants. Soils are confined to the boil sump of a vapor degreaser, allowing for little opportunity for re-deposition.
- With aqueous cleaning, soil re-deposition, corrosion, rusting, water spotting, streaking, and staining are all inherent quality issues that must be constantly battled. Every one of these is eliminated in vapor degreasing due to the waterless and self-purifying process.
Benefits
- Cleans no-clean and lead free fluxes &solder pastes that could not otherwise be cleaned using conventional vapor degreasing processes.
- Addresses new challenges in the electronics cleaning industry arising from smaller packaging, lower standoff heights, and finer pitch evident in modern microelectronic designs. Co-Solvent processes can clean, rinse, and dry effectively under the new low standoff height / fine pitch components & circuitry.
- High compatibility with plastics and sensitive substrates.
- The Co-Solvent solvating agents have very high soil loading capacity, meaning a large number of parts can be cleaned before the Co-Solvent agent is disposed.
- The slight residue of the Co-Solvent agent and the entrained soils remain in the boil sump of the "rinsing degreaser" and may be separated by distillation. The process may be enhanced by optional ultrasonics, spray, filtration, distillate spray during vapor rinsing. Generally automation is used in this process to add repeatability, process control, and to redirect labor.
Additional Information
- Vapor degreasing uses a fraction of the energy of a comparable aqueous process. Due to the lower specific heat of solvents, less energy is needed to condense and dry parts. Aqueous systems typically need multiple pumps and blowers, all of which create higher energy demand.
- With lower energy consumption and tighter control on emissions, solvent processes have lower environmental impact than aqueous processes that require both exhaust and drain, which are pathways to environmental pollution. Aqueous cleaning agents are water soluble, putting contaminants in a form that readily impacts aquatic life and the water table. Even cleaning agents labeled "biodegradable" create a COD & BOD impact that starves aquatic life & aerobic microorganisms of oxygen, in addition to contributing to eutrophication of wetland areas.
- Waste solvent agents are used in fuel blending operations resulting in a responsible means of re-purposing and disposing of these types of Co-Solvent cleaners.
- Co-Solvent is a completely waterless process, consumes very little energy, and is overall a very environmentally friendly process in comparison to other typical cleansing systems.