Today, many companies a working on implementing the phase-out of one of the most popular industrial solvents, a cleaner called "HCFC-141b." On a label or MSDS sheet you might see brand names such as "Genesolv" or "Forane." The cleaner’s chemical name is dichlorofluoroethane and it usually will be further identified as "CAS #1717-00-6." The new, SNAP-accepted Vertrel® solvents from DuPont are perfect answers to replace HCFC-141b solvents. So avoid the end-of-the-year rush: contact Micro Care today!

Under the terms of the Montreal Protocol (see below), all production and importation of HCFC-141b will end in the U.S. on December 31, 2002.

This general phase-out schedule was defined years ago. In the 1980s, in response to the depletion of the ozone layer, more than 100 nations worked together on a treaty called the Montreal Protocol (www.epa.gov/ozone/intpol/index.html). This treaty set the rules for eliminating ozone-depleting substances around the globe. The first chemicals to go were the refrigerants and solvents called CFCs, halogenated fire suppressants and other "Class 1 ozone-depleting substances." Now it’s time for the less damaging "Class 2" products to go.

Importantly, there are no new restrictions on using the cleaner. In fact, companies can buy, stock, sell and use any and all existing supplies. You can even buy more from Micro Care for as long as supplies last. But, since nobody can produce the cleaner after the end of 2002, it quickly will become scarce and prices are likely to rise.

Yes, it is. This cleaner has become more popular than anybody expected twenty years ago. Since more than $50 million of this product is sold across the U.S. each year, about 10 million pounds just in the electronics industry. About 200 million pounds of HCFC-141b is used around the world annually. The EPA is worried that as long as the electronics industry is "addicted" to convenient and inexpensive HCFC-141b, the ozone layer will never regenerate.

Eventually, but not now. HCFC-141b was selected as one of the first HCFCs to be phased out because it is widely used, highly affordable and does about 10% of the damage that CFCs. In contrast, another solvent is HCFC-225. This product is less damaging but also less widely used, so its phase-out date is January 1, 2015. Customers could use HCFC-225, but it’s still an ozone-depleter, it’s expensive, and eventually you’re going to have to change anyway. So Micro Care does not recommend switching to HCFC-225.

Yes, it does. The Clean Air Act defines the "Significant New Alternatives Program" (SNAP). This process prevents people from switching from one ozone-depleting chemical to something worse. Customers will need to switch to new SNAP-accepted alternatives to replace HCFC-141b. The first question they should ask about any substitute is to confirm the proposed alternative is SNAP-approved as a replacement for HCFC-141b in the specific application.

There are a number of great alternatives for your customers to consider, and first and foremost should be the Vertrel solvents from DuPont . These products deliver the convenience of the HCFCs without the environmental problems.

Other options which have some potential might be the old-style chlorinated solvents or the brominated solvents . These products are good degreasers and suitable for use in vapor cleaners. However some have extremely low toxicity ratings which make them problematic in many applications. So Micro Care usually does not recommend switching to these types of products unless the systems in which they will be used are first-rate and very, very tight.

Micro Care recommends to a three-step process:

• First, do your research. Determine which products in your warehouses and tool cribs contain HCFC-141b. Determine who is using these products and why. Getting all the details about each application will help you in the search for a proper replacement.
  
  
• Next, contact Micro Care to get some samples of the Vertrel® Cleaners. Have your technicians test these products and get them approved by the "powers that be." Note: All Vertrel® products are SNAP-accepted.
  
  
• Thirdly, work with your end-users to schedule the final phase-out. Micro Care has substantial HCFC-141b inventories which are being allocated to current customers and to other companies with special needs. This availability may help smooth your migration to the new solvents.
  

Right here is where. Check out the following hyperlinks for the latest info in the cleaning industry:

• The Main FAQ_Page about Vertrel®
Or go straight to the answer to the question you have:
• Why Should Somebody Use Vertrel®?
• Is Vertrel Mil-Spec Approved?
• 8. Is Vertrel F.D.A. Approved?
• Is Vertrel a V.O.C.?
• Is Vertrel Ozone-Safe?
• Is Vertrel a Global Warmer?
• What Equipment Is Required to Use Vertrel?
• How Safe Is Vertrel?
• Is It Easy to Ship and Dispose of Vertrel?

Vertrel Applications

• What Are the Best Applications for Vertrel®?
• Which Vertrel Should I Use for Defluxing?
• Which Type of Vertrel Should I Use for Degreasing?
• Which Type of Vertrel Should I Use to Remove Particulate from Ultra-Fine Surfaces?

Technical Information About Vertrel

• Does Vertrel Have Any Materials Compatibility Problems?
• Can Vertrel Be Recycled or Reclaimed?
• How Does Vertrel Compare to HCFC-141b?
• Does Vertrel "Turn Acid" Like the Old-Style Solvents Did?

Procedural and Safety Issues

• Which Federal Regulations Control the Use of Vertrel® Products?
• How Do I Dispose of Spent Solvent? What Is the RCRA Classification when Shipping It?

Please call, fax or email us at Micro Care Marketing Services
for more information about our full line of cleaning answers.