Freon (CFC113), HCFC141b (Genesolv), AK-225 (various provinces): Is There a Capable Replacement?8/3/2005
Ever since the inception of the Montreal Protocol in 1987, the precision solvent cleaning industry has faced unprecedented challenges with government regulated phase outs of popular products such as CFC113 (Freon), TRI 1,1,1 and HCFC141b. With the additional implementation of laws governing ozone depletion and the pending impact of the Kyoto Protocol, the challenges facing industry have become substantially more difficult.
The removal of these common chemistries, along with limited choices for replacements has caused significant issues for companies trying to maintain the integrity of existing manufacturing processes and maintaining cost structures. This problem is further enhanced since many of the replacement chemistries designated as viable alternatives do not have the capability of emulating the performance of the products that they are replacing. Gem Craft Chemical has been working diligently over the last decade to rectify these issues by franchising chemistries that address these issues. Once we determine our customers goals, we work closely to determine the proper cleaning process, confirm substrate compatibility and ensure the equipment is optimally set up to maximize performance while minimizing evaporative losses, drag out and other expensive inefficiencies. Contact Gem Craft Chemical directly to specifically discuss your requirements and we will gladly assist you to determine the best possible solution! The business of soldering electronics components to printed circuit boards (PCB's) has come full circle with debates that continue to discuss whether solder flux residues must be removed or if they can be left on the board.
Up until the early 1990's using WAVE soldering techniques and RMA solder, it was commonly accepted that boards had to be cleaned to ensure that corrosive nature of flux and other associated issues did not create latent field failures. As the industry began to shift to SMT manufacturing and converted to "no clean" solder pastes due to the elimination of CFC113 (Freon) and the pending phase out of TRI 1,1,1 and HCFC141b (Genesolv), it was generally considered that no additional cleaning was required and the fluxes that remained on the board were benign. Today, the industry is still using "no clean" solders pastes but the European Union's "Restrictions on Hazardous Substances" (RoHS) is forcing any company doing business in Europe to use "lead free" solder and be compliant by July 1st, 2006. Despite numerous and well documented process difficulties associated with " no lead" soldering such as tin whiskering, board delamination and other major concerns, flux residues concerns with both paste formats are becoming bigger issues in high reliability applications such as servers and RF based products. Gem Craft Chemical has been working diligently with new and existing customers to determine effective chemistry, equipment and process solutions to their problems. Based on our extensive field experience, we would be happy to assist users with our expertise and offer equipment on trial to as required. In terms of chemistry, we highly recommend AGC's AK-225 group of products as a proven and effective solution to these problems. Contact Gem Craft directly to specifically discuss your requirements and we will gladly assist you to determine the best possible solution! Notwithstanding the constant changes that have affected the precision cleaning industry over the last two decades, industrial based solvents have enjoyed relatively stable market environments and have not been affected by government regulated reductions or phase outs until recently.
Effective October 2003, Environment Canada has posted phase out schedules for two of the most commonly used chemistries in the industrial marketplace. Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Perchloroethylene (PERC) will be eventually phased out over the next few years due to concerns for worker safety and considerable environmental concerns. In general, these products are tied to usage credits that will limit companies to previously set allocations for usage between 2004 and 2006 and then an additional 65% allowance drop by 2007. Despite their solid performance in industry, this could create substantial issues for various companies trying to maintain established cleaning standards and conform to these regulations. Further to the initial reductions in 2004, on February 1st, 2010, the Ministry of the Environment of Ontario (MOE) will be implementing a significant reduction in the amount of TCE emissions that users will be allowed to emit from their stacks. The reduction is very significant and makes far more difficult for most users to comply with these requirements, depending on their specific Point of Impingement (POI) readings that are determined by appropriate ESDM (Emissions Summary Dispersion Model) calculations approved by the MOE. In general, new schedule 2 requirements state that TCE emissions based on a ½ hour Averaging Time will be reduced from 3,500 μg/m³ ( micro grams per meter cubed) to only 36 μg/m³. Schedule 3 will also apply to TCE with a 24 hour standard of only 12 μg/m³. Gem Craft Chemical Limited can capably assist TCE users to determine if their POI numbers will be in compliance to MOE standards. If we determine that users cannot meet these requirements with their existing equipment, we can either:
Contact Gem Craft Chemical directly to specifically discuss your requirements and we will gladly assist you to determine the best possible solution! |
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