Transitioning from HFE Solvents to a Vacuum Vapor Degreaser Cleaner
As traditional solvents typically used for cleaning in metal fabrication and manufacturing are being reviewed and regulated, companies are looking for long term alternative solutions. Vacuum vapor degreasing is a reliable choice with many benefits. The post Transitioning from HFE Solvents to a Vacuum Vapor Degreaser Cleaner appeared first on Fabricating & Metalworking.
was both effective at cleaning and free of
Trans-dichloroethylene.
A manufacturer of metal parts contacted KYZEN with a desire to transition away from using their previous Hydrofluoroether (HFE) cleaning product due to the presence of Trans-dichloroethylene and the announcement by 3M, that they would cease production of products that contained PFAS or Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances. 3M solvents containing HFEs will not be available after March 2025 due to concerns of environmental impact resulting from their use.
Their current process included using open-top vapor degreasing machines. Due to the age and operation wear of those machines, the manufacturer decided that a change and investment into newer technology needed to be considered. Vacuum vapor degreasing was at the top of their list.
The journey to choose a new cleaning chemistry to meet the process demands of their potential vacuum vapor degreasers began. They were looking to “future proof” and add longevity to their cleaning process and expressed interest in choosing a solvent because their environmental health and safety department expressed concerns regarding the Trans-dichloroethylene and other materials comprising their previous HFE product.
Before making the change in cleaning technology, all things were considered to clean parts covered with machining oil. To remove that machining oil from parts, the manufacturer needed their new cleaning chemistry to meet the following parameters:
- To clean with equal or better efficacy in their process than their previous solvent.
- Be free of Trans-dichloroethylene.
- They needed to continue to clean large volumes of parts in their process and do so in a timely manner without process delays.
- The solution would fit similarly in their cleaning process to their previous solvent.
KYZEN selected METALNOX M6386 for evaluation to meet the manufacturers cleaning requirements. M6386 is a modified alcohol solvent blend designed for use in automated vacuum degreasing parts cleaning machines. It cleans both polar and non-polar oils and coolants from steel, brass, aluminum, and other metals while drying completely, leaving no residues. METALNOX M6386 is highly effective on paraffinic and water-based oils, cutting fluids and milling fluids commonly used to forge and cast metal hardware like those produced by the customer, fasteners, and components.
After reviewing the current cleaning process, KYZEN presented the concept and benefits of newer vacuum vapor degreasing technology to the manufacturer, including the use of METALNOX M6386. Vacuum vapor degreasing greatly reduces the operator’s exposure to chemistries during the cleaning process. Additionally, vacuum vapor degreasing is a sealed process that performs well over time in terms of chemistry consumption, and little waste is produced helping to optimize the manufacturer’s process.
With the assistance of KYZEN, the manufacturer ultimately chose to transition to a vacuum vapor degreasing process using METALNOX M6386, citing its convenience and built-in automation providing lower and safer exposure limits to the operator.
Their transition from traditional solvent vapor degreasing to vacuum vapor degreasing was successful. The process and the chemistry proved to be the right answer for a number of reasons:
- Being a modified alcohol, METALNOX M6386, is free of HFE, HFC, CFT, and Trans-dichloroethylene, alleviating the concerns of the manufacturer’s environmental health and safety department.
- M6386 provides a very low exposure limit to the operator due to the automation afforded within the vapor vacuum degreasing process.
- Metal parts were effectively cleaned and dry after the cleaning process, resulting in no solvent-entrained parts.
- As a bonus, the manufacturer was pleased that the vacuum vapor degreaser featured built-in distillation units and concentrated the waste from the cleaning process.
- The vacuum degreasing process reduced solvent consumption, in addition to condensing the waste stream, resulting in lower operating cost.
If you’re looking to future-proof your solvent cleaning process, KYZEN offers Free Parts Cleaning Assessments to help you identify the best option for your manufacturing process. Visit us at PartsCleaningCheck.com or call us at 615-988-5982.
The post Transitioning from HFE Solvents to a Vacuum Vapor Degreaser Cleaner appeared first on Fabricating & Metalworking.
