Military applications typically define the most extraordinary cleaning requirements, and in these applications Vertrel^® works wonderfully. The contamination is widely varied; the performance requirements are always the most demanding, and the issues of the environment, performance, stability and so on always ensure that military projects are among the most interesting ones.

Cleaning effectiveness is always an issue; will the solvent get the job done? Military electronic circuits are among the densest, hottest, most powerful PCBs ever made. This exceptional, sustained performance can only be achieved through quality cleaning, often with Vertrel^®. In fact, many military products are protected from the environment with conformal coatings, which require proper pre-cleaning for a long, durable product life.

In addition to finding effective cleaners, the miltary -- for obvious reasons -- is forced to overlay additional requirements that no commercial customer would ever consider. For example, the U.S. Navy will not allow flammable solvents on their submarines. Selecting Vertrel^® for those types of applications is a logical choice.

Another issue is drying time. Micro Care has provided to the U.S. military millions of aerosol cans of nonflammable, fast-drying, non-conductive contact cleaners. These can be sprayed right on to a working circuit board, motor or power supply without the risk of fire or electrical damage. When speedy field repairs are an issue, nobody beats Vertrel^®.

Many modern military systems require high-performance optical systems to operate properly. Lasers, night-vision goggles, reconnaisance cameras, periscopes and dozens of other otpical systems work better when cleaned with Vertrel^®. Vertrel^® also offers numerous performance benefits in precision degreasing, defluxing high-performance electronic circuits and carrier fluid applications.

Materials compatibility and the need for residue-free cleaning are two additional issues with military projects. The military normally specifies the strongest, most durable materials they can find. But gaskets, elastomers or LCD displays are made from softer materials, such as polycarbonates. It is vital to find a solvent, like Vertrel^®, which can clean these components without damaging them. The U.S. Department of Energy also has approved the use of Vertrel^® for cleaning radioactive materials used in nuclear weapons.

There are many competitors to Vertrel^® in the military world, but most of them are gradually being phased out as health, handling, environmental and/or operational issues become more obvious. For example, HCFC solvents are being phased out at the end of 2002 due to their environmental problems. The PFC solvents are burdened with serious global warming issues. Hydrocarbon solvents are used rarelybecause of their flammability, drying time and handling issues. The brominated solvents are generally too aggressive, too smelly and too toxic. Silicone solvents and acetone are rarely used because of materials compatibility issues. When all is said and done, Vertrel^® is the long-term choice.

Powerful, fast-drying, residue-free Vertrel^® answers many of these issues. The Vertrel^® products easily mix into different blends and azeotropes, so the solvency can be tailored to the application. The products provide great cleaning because are very dense, so they lift away inorganic contamination and dissolve organic grease, oils and more. They dry quickly, which makes maintenance procedures easier, and they are nonflammable so safety is enhanced. Vertrel^® cleaners also have a much lower surface tension than water and they evaporate quickly, easily, even from deep inside complex connectors.

When military reliability is at stake, and lives are on the line, products made with Vertrel^® will work better, longer and harder than any other alternative. When quality counts, select Vertrel^®!

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Our military applications have been developed under non-dsclosure agreements.

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