F-solvents

1. F-solvents • What do you expect from a new cleaning technology? • Cleaning / Drying Performance • Material Compatibility • Safety-in-use (toxicological profile, flammability, stability) • Environmental Impact • Sustainability (regulatory issues) • Cost of Ownership (long-term strategy vs. short-term thinking) F-solvents are a balanced combination of properties related to performance, material compatibility, safety, environmental issues, and costs.

2. F-solvents • Purpose of F-solvents • F-solvents are designed to replace ozone-depleting solvents such as: • CFC-113 (Freon®) • HCFC-141b • HCFC-225 • F-solvents are also an ideal replacement for 1.1.1-TCA, Trichlorethylene (TCE) and Perchlorethylene • F-solvents may also replace aqueous-, alcohol-, n-Propyl Bromide- and hydrocarbon-based cleaning systems

3. F-solvents • Key characteristics of F-solvents (1) • Zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) • Very low Global Warming Potential (GWP), due to lower atmospheric lifetime and mainly uses in blends • Non-flammable, no flashpoint, no auto-ignition (except HFC-365) • Excellent toxicity profile • Good boiling point and low surface tension • Low viscosity • High liquid density

4. F-solvents • Key characteristics of F-solvents (2) • Excellent thermal, chemical and hydrolytic stability • High material compatibility • Excellent dielectric properties • Easily miscible with numerous common solvents • Recyclability of azeotropic mixtures • Low energy consuming process, thus cost efficiency • Can be used in combination with low volatility solvating agents (such as Hydrocarbons)

5. F-solvents Comparison of F-solvents vs. CFC-113 and HCFC-141b Safety and Toxicity related Properties Property / UnitHFC 43-10meeHFC-365mfcHFE-449s1CFC-113HCFC-141b Flash Point °C none - 221 none none none Flammable range % vol none 3.5 –9.0 none none 5.6 – 17.7 AEL 8-hr weighted average ppm 200 500 750 1000 400 1HFC 365mfc is not used as a pure fluid for precision cleaning, it is mixed to others F-solvents to inert its flammability

6. F-solvents Comparison of F-solvents vs. CFC-113 and HCFC-141b Environmental Properties Property / UnitHFC 43-10meeHFC-365mfcHFE-449s1CFC-113HCFC-141b Atmospheric lifetime yr 17 10 4 85 9 Ozone depletion potential 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 0.11 Global warming potential 100 years IHT 1300 700 300 5000 700 Solubility in water ppm 140 170 2700 Solubility of water ppm 490 90 320

7. F-solvents • F-solvents • Due to solvent properties and optimized equipment design, F-solvents emissions are 6 to 9 times lower than CFC-113 and HCFC-141b emissions in identical applications! • Consumption data (given as an indication): • in idle conditions: 10-20 g/m2.h • in real operation conditions: 40-60 g/m2.h • 72-hour test with cooling system always turned on (closed top 16 hours) • heating system turned on 8 hours / day with open top during operation • cleaning of screws in a 10kg basket with a cycle time of 6 minutes

8. F-solvents - Equipment Design • Key Equipment Enhancements for Open Top Systems • Increased Freeboard height (recommended ratio = 1.8) • Optimized cooling coil system (DuPont’s Triple Guard®) • Robot vs. manual handling (maximum vertical speed = 0.01 m/s, and maximum horizontal speed = 0.03 m/s). • Sliding lid, to avoid any piston effect • Superheating chamber (10-15 ºC above boiling point) Optimized equipment design impacts the solvent consumption, NOT the cleaning and drying performance! F-3

9. F-solvents - Equipment Design • Reference consumption data (indication) • With a higher freeboard and improved cooling system: • Machine (idle) with heat on & cooling system on (open top) < 15 g / m2.h • Machine (idle) with heat off & cooling system on (closed top) < 10 g / m2.h • Machine (work) with heat on & cooling system on (open top) 50 - 130 g / m2.h 40 - 80 g / m2.h (with robot) 20 - 60 g / m2.h (with robot & sliding lid)

10. F-solvents - Equipment Design Recommended freeboard and cooling system design • Simpler (thus less expensive) design than the original Triple Guard® System • Lower position of the dehumidifier coils and higher temperature lead to reduced turbulence, thus lower solvent losses • Deflectors break the convection movement generated by the low temperature of the diffusion control coils • Dehumidifier coils restrain the entry of air moisture, thus the rapid freezing of the diffusion control coils

11. F-solvents - Equipment Design • The equipment alternatives • Open Top machines • Hermetic machines • “Hybrid” solutions (pseudo-closed machines) Choice depends on: • regulatory constraints • company internal policy (ISO 14000 certification) • characteristics of the cleaning process (type, number and specificity of the parts) • batch or in-line production mode F-1

12. Vertrel® - Equipment Design Comparison of equipment types Open Top Hermetic Hybrid easy process integration almost no solvent losses minimized floor space eco-efficiency lower capital investment long-term cost of ownership THE COMPROMISE higher solvent consumption batch mode only atmospheric emissions more floor space needed short-term cost of ownership high capital investment F-2 + -

13. F-solvents vs. other cleaning agents • Aqueous systems • Potential corrosion of metal parts • Low rinsing quality • Separate drying step needed, lower drying quality • Longer cycle time • Energy intense • High capital investment for the equipment • Disposal & recycling possibilities of contaminated water • Water availability & price in some regions

14. F-solvents vs. other cleaning agents • Chlorinated & bromine-containing solvents • Toxicity • Material compatibility • Ozone depletion • Flashpoint controversy • Odor • Presence of stabilizers (Need of periodical monitoring to avoid hydrolysis (acidification) of the solvent) • Difficult process monitoring • Need to use expensive equipments

15. F-solvents vs. other cleaning agents • Alcohols and hydrocarbons • Flammability of alcohols • Poor rinsing quality with hydrocarbons (no vapor zone) • Difficult drying with hydrocarbons (higher BP, thus higher drying temperature needed)