Modified Alcohol / Hydrocarbon Degreasers

Baron Blakeslee is developing the next generation of Airless Vacuum Vapor Degreasers for use with modified alcohol, and hydrocarbon solvents. Baron Blakeslee will be the only American manufacturer of vacuum vapor degreasers designed for modified alcohol and hydrocarbon solvents. Baron Blakeslee will offer a full line of standard equipment for these solvents and will also offer custom designed equipment. A variety of material handling and conveyor systems will be available for this equipment.

Modified alcohol solvents are unique in that they can be effective in removing both polar and non-polar soils.  This can be beneficial for applications where both petroleum based and water soluble metalworking fluids must be removed.

Similar to traditional halogenated solvents, modified alcohols have low surface tension and low viscosity which allows the removal of soluble contaminants from complex geometries like capillary spaces and blind holes.

Modified alcohol solvents are typically compatible with all metals, and may be used with other materials too, although temperature compatibility may need to be considered with plastics, elastomers and other soft goods.

Compared to legacy solvents like methylene chloride, perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene, modified alcohols are not Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs), and the waste stream is generally considered to be nonhazardous so long as no hazardous materials are introduced in the cleaning process.  Modified alcohols are CFC free, non-halogenated, nonflammable, PFAS free, REACH compliant, and have relatively low VOC content.  Some modified alcohol formulations are said to be biocompatible according to ISO 10993-5 which is a test method to evaluate in vitro cytotoxicity of medical devices.

Like halogenated solvents, modified alcohol solvents may be recycled via distillation, and the vacuum degreasing equipment in which they are used is capable of thorough concentration of waste leaving minimal solvent in the waste stream.

Modified alcohol solvents do boil at higher temperatures than conventional halogenated solvents.  For instance, of the typical fluorinated trans-1,2-dichloroethylene solvents on the market, the highest boiling point of these solvents is about 118℉.  Commercially available modified alcohol solvents generally boil between 321℉ and 392℉.  These relatively high process temperatures, often require the use of a corrosion inhibitor to be used to prevent corrosion from occurring on sensitive part surfaces as they cool to room temperature, post cleaning.  As parts cool, moisture in the air can condense on part surfaces, thus necessitating the use of a rust inhibitor, but the vacuum degreasing systems in which these solvents are used, are designed to accommodate the addition of corrosion inhibitors.

Modified alcohols can become acidic when used in applications where chlorinated or sulfonated metalworking fluids are being removed.  Therefore, modified alcohol solvents are formulated with stabilizers to inhibit the acidification reaction, and an acid acceptance test, which is a simple titration, must be performed frequently.  If the acid acceptance titration reveals that the modified alcohol solvent is drifting out of control, stabilizer must be added.  The formulators of modified alcohol solvents are the source for both acid acceptance test kits and stabilizer.

Hydrocarbon solvents are similar to modified alcohols, but hydrocarbons tend to offer slightly milder solvency, and may be slightly more environmentally friendly depending on formulation and sourcing of raw materials.  In general, there is minimal difference in the design and features of the cleaning equipment for use with either modified alcohol or hydrocarbon solvents.