Electrical Contact Cleaner: Less Hazardous Products Offer Equal Success

By Timothy Byron

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Electrical cleaning supplies are utilized in various settings including the automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, and maintenance industries. Contacts on parts can become soiled during use or creation causing the need for an efficient yet environmentally friendly industrial product. Cleaners remove soil, oil, grease, or metallic buildup when applied to parts or equipment. Moisture or corrosion are common causes for this type of buildup and can be easily alleviated with the right electrical contact cleaner. These supplies do not leave residue, and evaporate quickly to prevent harming components such as ignition systems, equipment, relays, or other types of electrical controls. A manufacturer may utilize these products to remove contaminants from electrical assemblies and circuits as well. The purposes of cleaning products have remained much the same over the years; however, the chemical makeup continually changes to accommodate environmental regulations.

Industrial Degreasers: New Chemicals Minimize Evaporation Dangers
Several propellants have been used to create industrial degreasers and cleaners; however, many are now outlawed due to the negative impact they pose to the environment. Companies must find an effective solution that not only falls within environmental regulations but also supplies the necessary results. Traditional chemicals include chlorofluorocarbons, carbon dioxide, Propane, and isobutane. These propellants come in a pressurized liquid form that is used to create a pressurized gas for application. Solvents used in these products consist of organic or petroleum concentrates but can include others depending on how the electrical cleanser will be used. Common solvents include:

• Hexane
• Isoethene
• Methane
• Acetone
• Trichloroethylene

Alternative solvents can be found to reduce environmental harm without affecting solution capabilities. Contact cleaning supplies may be used to remove debris or contaminants from electrical parts for proper circuit operations. They also have automotive applications such as ignition system or motor grime removal. Industrial degreasers may be found in manufacturing settings or in environments where heavy duty cleaning is required.

Cleaners are sprayed directly on the surface, allowed to dry, and then reapplied when necessary. More than one combination of solvent and propellant is required to meet the numerous application requirements. Non-flammable products allow usage on live electrical circuits to prevent fire while others are designed to prevent plastic damage during cleaning. Newer solvents are formulated to meet the extensive restrictions created by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Solvents either evaporate into a gas form or are turned into gas by means of applied pressure. Unsafe chemicals could be inhaled by humans or animals, cause harm by entering the skin, and directly affect plant life by entering the air and either deliberately or accidentally spilled into the ground.

A company should keep two things in mind when searching for a replacement product: effectiveness and environmental safety. Electrical contact cleaner products today use far safer chemicals while producing comparable results. Supplied chemicals should be compatible with the particular industry's EPA requirements. Organizations are better served with products that may still be cleared for use many years down the road. Other points to consider when buying cleaning supplies include how they affect aging parts, overall cost, and supplier financial security. All will affect the continued availability as well as the expected results of applied cleaners in a business or industrial setting.

Electrical contact cleaners are being made to be less volatile to reduce ecological and safety risks. An industrial degreaser does not have to be overly hazardous to meet business purposes.

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