Fluorinated Solvents Effectively Clean Critical Aircraft Components

Precision cleaning is essential to ensure reliable performance of critical aircraft components, and cleaning agents must be effective and meet environmental standards. To help them meet these challenges, AGC Chemicals Americas offers AMOLEA AT2 and the AsahiKlin AE-3000 series of fluorinated cleaning solvents for metal components like valves, bearings, seals and gaskets, as well as printed wiring assemblies.

These new fluorinated solvents are replacements for traditional solvents such as n-propyl bromide and trichloroethylene, which are both undergoing risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). AGC fluorosolvents can be used in most existing vapor degreasing equipment with little or no modification.

 AMOLEA AT2 and AsahiKlin AE-3000 cleaning solvents have no flash point, no ozone depletion potential (ODP), low global warming potential (LGWP) and low surface tension. These nonflammable fluorinated cleaning solvents are chemically and thermally stable and do not require the use of explosion-proof equipment.

In addition, they are energy-efficient due to their low latent heat of vaporization and can be recycled with distillation. They are ideal for many applications because they are compatible with a broad range of materials including metals, plastics, elastomers and delicate substrates.

Fluorinated cleaning solvents are also used to clean electronic components such as reflector glasses for laser printers, lenses, and audio and video heads; as defluxing agents for electronic circuitry; as carrier solvents for silicone and fluorinated lubricants; and as moisture displacement fluids.