Hymatic Engineering Coy Ltd, part of Honeywell Aerospace, based in Redditch in the UK, specialises in the design, development and manufacture of cryogenic and fluid control systems, sub-systems, and precision engineered products for aerospace and defence applications.
A key part of Hymatic’s production process is the cleaning of manufactured component parts using solvent-based vapour degreasing. Up until April 2016, the company had used trichloroethylene (TCE) as the solvent, but the EU now classifies TCE as potentially carcinogenic and has banned its use in degreasers. As a result, Hymatic contacted Honeywell to investigate alternative and safer solvent options capable of providing equivalent cleaning performance.
The Needs
- Hymatic needed an alternative solvent to TCE to meet exacting cleaning standards required for small electronic components destined for aerospace and defence applications.
- The solvent needed to be easy to handle with low levels of waste
- Hymatic required a solvent with minimal impact on the environment both in usage and in disposal
- The solvent needed to present a low risk to operative health
The Solution
Having been contacted by Hymatic, Honeywell conducted desk and laboratory research into alternative solvents based on contaminant information provided by the company.
Solstice® Performance Fluid (PF) was recommended for field testing, based on its exceptional cleaning power, low environmental impact and significant workplace safety advantages over TCE. In addition, the new generation solvent had the potential to deliver cost savings through lower energy consumption.
Solstice PF is nonflammable (according to ASTM E-681 testing), with a global warming potential (GWP) of 1, and an Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 800 ppm. The Honeywell solvent has been designated as VOCexempt by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is registered under the European Union’s REACH regulation and listed under the EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP).
The Benefits
- Ultra-precise Cleaning Performance: Low surface tension and high degree of solvency allows Solstice PF to deliver the ultra-precise cleaning performance in tight spaces required by Hymatic.
- Improved Energy Efficiency: Solstice PF’s much lower boiling point consumes 12kW less power annually and saving an estimated 6,000 euros in energy costs.
- Significantly Enhanced Operator Safety: Solstice PF is non-toxic, has an OEL of 800 ppm compared to 10 ppm for TCE, and has less onerous storage requirements than TCE.
- Faster, More Efficent Cleaning: Solstice PF’s low boiling point of 19ºC – compared to TCE at 87.2ºC - means no need for cooling down periods
- Waste Reduction: Solstice PF generates virtually no waste and its chemical structure means no degradation or acidification in service, unlike TCE
- Cost Neutral: Total cost of ownership for Hymatic of the Solstice PF system is comparable to the TCE system, even at low throughput levels, leaving aside health and safety, and storage and handling benefits.
Hymatic Engineering Coy Ltd, part of Honeywell Aerospace, based in Redditch in the UK, specialises in the design, development and manufacture of cryogenic and fluid control systems, sub-systems, and precision engineered products for aerospace and defence applications.
A key part of Hymatic’s production process is the cleaning of manufactured component parts using solvent-based vapour degreasing. Up until April 2016, the company had used trichloroethylene (TCE) as the solvent, but the EU now classifies TCE as potentially carcinogenic and has banned its use in degreasers. As a result, Hymatic contacted Honeywell to investigate alternative and safer solvent options capable of providing equivalent cleaning performance.
The Needs
- Hymatic needed an alternative solvent to TCE to meet exacting cleaning standards required for small electronic components destined for aerospace and defence applications.
- The solvent needed to be easy to handle with low levels of waste
- Hymatic required a solvent with minimal impact on the environment both in usage and in disposal
- The solvent needed to present a low risk to operative health
The Solution
Having been contacted by Hymatic, Honeywell conducted desk and laboratory research into alternative solvents based on contaminant information provided by the company.
Solstice® Performance Fluid (PF) was recommended for field testing, based on its exceptional cleaning power, low environmental impact and significant workplace safety advantages over TCE. In addition, the new generation solvent had the potential to deliver cost savings through lower energy consumption.
Solstice PF is nonflammable (according to ASTM E-681 testing), with a global warming potential (GWP) of 1, and an Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) of 800 ppm. The Honeywell solvent has been designated as VOCexempt by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is registered under the European Union’s REACH regulation and listed under the EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP).
The Benefits
- Ultra-precise Cleaning Performance: Low surface tension and high degree of solvency allows Solstice PF to deliver the ultra-precise cleaning performance in tight spaces required by Hymatic.
- Improved Energy Efficiency: Solstice PF’s much lower boiling point consumes 12kW less power annually and saving an estimated 6,000 euros in energy costs.
- Significantly Enhanced Operator Safety: Solstice PF is non-toxic, has an OEL of 800 ppm compared to 10 ppm for TCE, and has less onerous storage requirements than TCE.
- Faster, More Efficent Cleaning: Solstice PF’s low boiling point of 19ºC – compared to TCE at 87.2ºC - means no need for cooling down periods
- Waste Reduction: Solstice PF generates virtually no waste and its chemical structure means no degradation or acidification in service, unlike TCE
- Cost Neutral: Total cost of ownership for Hymatic of the Solstice PF system is comparable to the TCE system, even at low throughput levels, leaving aside health and safety, and storage and handling benefits.
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