Vertrel Solvents - Frequently Asked Questions

Because when it comes to precision cleaning, Vertrel^® works great and is the least expensive cleaning choice in its class.

Now, don't get us wrong: Vertrel^® is not cheap. But, if you

need something really clean, and...
need to do it fast and consistently, and...
want to be ozone-safe and all that other good environmental stuff, and...
want your factory to be a safe place to work, and...
want to make a profit at the end of the day...

...then you have a very demanding application. In this instance, there really is no other cleaning choice which can match the cost-effectiveness of Vertrel^®.

But before we start ranting about the wonders of Vertrel^®, let's set the stage. Vertrel^® is a very special product. It is not for everybody. It is important that your solvent fits your application(s).

Micro Care divides the cleaning world into two big segments: industrial cleaning and precision cleaning.

Industrial cleaning is the less demanding application, by far. Think of a brake cleaner used in an auto repair shop, or a big industrial degreaser used in a machine shop. When the cleaning specifications are not too rigorous and the cost of cleaning is the overwhelming factor, then you are in the world of industrial cleaning. You most likely do not need Vertrel^®.

But suppose you are cleaning parts for the Space Shuttle. Or perhaps you are cleaning medical components. Maybe you're working on a radar system for a fighter plane or a fire fighter's emergency radio. Perhaps you're working with fiber optics, LEDs, or the ultra-clean platter which is at the heart of every disk drive. Maybe the problem is some grease in a valve in an oxygen system. The crucial point is that, in these instances, the quality of the cleaning has become mission-critical.

In these instances, if the cleaning isn't done right then something very expensive, or very bad or maybe very deadly will happen very quickly. This is a sign; a signal. This means you have moved into the world of high-performance precison cleaning.

It is in this realm that Vertrel^® reigns supreme.

In the world of precision cleaning, there are two major technologies: aqueous cleaning and solvent cleaning. There are many factors that influence the choice of a precision cleaning system and solvent. Users are well-advised to consider all the aspects of the problem to best achieve their long-term objective. Performance, cost and regulations are three important considerations that must be reviewed before deciding whether to use an aqueous-based cleaning system or an organic-based solvent cleaning process.

But to at least begin to put some boundaries around your choices, here's the sound-bite that may help to explain the difference:

Solvents are more versatile than aqueous systems. For example, solvents can clean two different ways: they can either dissolve the contamination or they can actually float the contamination away (which is called displacement cleaning). Solvents also can deposit lubricants and coatings on to ultra-precise surfaces. These varied capabilities are extremely important in miniaturized electronics, the semiconductor industry, the medical industry, and in many applications of super-precise machined parts.

Once you have determined that a cleaning technology will work in your application, one of the last major considerations in selecting a cleaning system is cost.

On a pound-for-pound basis, solvents are expensive when compared with water. However, the cost of the solvent is not usually the critical factor. Time and time again it has been proven that the cost per pound is not nearly as important as the total cost per part cleaned. For example, the inherent recyclability of solvent systems makes the cost of the solvent very, very low on a per-part basis. Also, the energy consumption and operating costs also are very low -- almost 1/5^th the operating costs of aqueous systems.

Aqueous cleaning systems also tend to be much more expensive to buy, require more floorspace, operate at relatively slow cycle times, and are far more complex to operate than solvent systems.

Other factors to consider include environmental and waste disposal issues, safety, and materials compatibility. Today, most solvent chemistries meet most -- if not all -- of the global, national and local mandates and regulations. All of the Vertrel^® products are generally considered extremely safe with very low toxicity ratings, although the same can not be said for other solvent products.

As for materials compatibility, although most plastics, elastomers and metals can be cleaned with solvents it is best to test the compatibility of the solvent with typical products and materials. Once these reviews have beeen finished, the user is free to concentrate on the cleaning efficacy of their process to make the optimal economic choice.


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	Why Should Somebody Use Vertrel® ?
		Because when it comes to precision cleaning, Vertrel^® works great and is the least expensive cleaning choice in its class. Now, don't get us wrong: Vertrel^® is not cheap. But, if you need something really clean, and... need to do it fast and consistently, and... want to be ozone-safe and all that other good environmental stuff, and... want your factory to be a safe place to work, and... want to make a profit at the end of the day... ...then you have a very demanding application. In this instance, there really is no other cleaning choice which can match the cost-effectiveness of Vertrel^®. But before we start ranting about the wonders of Vertrel^®, let's set the stage. Vertrel^® is a very special product. It is not for everybody. It is important that your solvent fits your application(s). A Brief Discussion of Cleaning Micro Care divides the cleaning world into two big segments: industrial cleaning and precision cleaning. Industrial cleaning is the less demanding application, by far. Think of a brake cleaner used in an auto repair shop, or a big industrial degreaser used in a machine shop. When the cleaning specifications are not too rigorous and the cost of cleaning is the overwhelming factor, then you are in the world of industrial cleaning. You most likely do not need Vertrel^®. But suppose you are cleaning parts for the Space Shuttle. Or perhaps you are cleaning medical components. Maybe you're working on a radar system for a fighter plane or a fire fighter's emergency radio. Perhaps you're working with fiber optics, LEDs, or the ultra-clean platter which is at the heart of every disk drive. Maybe the problem is some grease in a valve in an oxygen system. The crucial point is that, in these instances, the quality of the cleaning has become mission-critical. In these instances, if the cleaning isn't done right then something very expensive, or very bad or maybe very deadly will happen very quickly. This is a sign; a signal. This means you have moved into the world of high-performance precison cleaning. It is in this realm that Vertrel^® reigns supreme. The Contenders In the world of precision cleaning, there are two major technologies: aqueous cleaning and solvent cleaning. There are many factors that influence the choice of a precision cleaning system and solvent. Users are well-advised to consider all the aspects of the problem to best achieve their long-term objective. Performance, cost and regulations are three important considerations that must be reviewed before deciding whether to use an aqueous-based cleaning system or an organic-based solvent cleaning process. But to at least begin to put some boundaries around your choices, here's the sound-bite that may help to explain the difference: In general, aqueous cleaning systems are used most often in environments where (a) the parts being cleaned are not very complicated (e.g., no blind holes or complicated geometry), (b) the volume of parts to be cleaned is large, standardized and plentiful over a long period of time, (c) the cleaning requirement is not very stringent and minor surface residue or water spotting is acceptable, and (d) electricity is cheap, water is plentiful and disposal is easy. In comparison, solvent-based cleaning is most often used for: (a) cleaning parts which have the most demanding requirements, or (b) which have complicated shapes, or (c) which have extremely small spaces, or (d) which are sensitive to heat, water or residues, or (e) which require quick evaporation, or (f) is in regions where water and electricity are scarce or expensive. Solvents are more versatile than aqueous systems. For example, solvents can clean two different ways: they can either dissolve the contamination or they can actually float the contamination away (which is called displacement cleaning). Solvents also can deposit lubricants and coatings on to ultra-precise surfaces. These varied capabilities are extremely important in miniaturized electronics, the semiconductor industry, the medical industry, and in many applications of super-precise machined parts. Costs Compared Once you have determined that a cleaning technology will work in your application, one of the last major considerations in selecting a cleaning system is cost. On a pound-for-pound basis, solvents are expensive when compared with water. However, the cost of the solvent is not usually the critical factor. Time and time again it has been proven that the cost per pound is not nearly as important as the total cost per part cleaned. For example, the inherent recyclability of solvent systems makes the cost of the solvent very, very low on a per-part basis. Also, the energy consumption and operating costs also are very low -- almost 1/5^th the operating costs of aqueous systems. Aqueous cleaning systems also tend to be much more expensive to buy, require more floorspace, operate at relatively slow cycle times, and are far more complex to operate than solvent systems. Other factors to consider include environmental and waste disposal issues, safety, and materials compatibility. Today, most solvent chemistries meet most -- if not all -- of the global, national and local mandates and regulations. All of the Vertrel^® products are generally considered extremely safe with very low toxicity ratings, although the same can not be said for other solvent products. As for materials compatibility, although most plastics, elastomers and metals can be cleaned with solvents it is best to test the compatibility of the solvent with typical products and materials. Once these reviews have beeen finished, the user is free to concentrate on the cleaning efficacy of their process to make the optimal economic choice. The Bottom Line Wherever there are problems with cleaning performance, demanding financial requirements or challenging environmental issues, Vertrel^® specialty fluids deliver the lowest total cost per part cleaned, which makes Vertrel^® solvents the ideal choice for your precision cleaning application.


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