Azeotropic Methyl Perfluoroheptene Ether Solvent for Non-Fractionating Cleaning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cleaning solvents for microelectronics and semiconductor applications are often flammable, toxic, and unsatisfactory due to fractionation issues, leading to performance changes and environmental concerns, while existing alternatives like hydrofluorocarbons have limited solvency for water, necessitating the use of surfactants in drying processes.

Innovation Solution

Development of azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions comprising methyl perfluoroheptene ether (MPHE) and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, which are non-flammable, stable under boiling conditions, and do not fractionate, allowing for effective defluxing, degreasing, and drying without composition changes, and can be reused after re-distillation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If solvent mixtures are prepared to adjust boiling point, flammability and solvent power characteristics, then these properties can be optimized, but the mixtures fractionate to an undesirable degree during use and during solvent distillation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolvent power characteristicsVSAvoidcomposition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by selecting specific components with particular boiling points and volatilities that, when combined, create an azeotropic mixture. The mixture of HFO-1234ze and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene in specific ratios (30-70 wt% HFO-1234ze) creates a constant boiling composition that maintains stable solvent power characteristics while preventing fractionation during use and distillation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite solvent system by combining HFO-1234ze and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene in specific proportions to form an azeotropic mixture. This composite composition leverages the complementary properties of both components - the non-flammability and environmental benefits of HFO-1234ze combined with the effective solvent power of trans-1,2-dichloroethylene - while achieving composition stability through azeotropic behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If hydrofluorocarbons are used as replacements for CFC solvents in drying or dewatering applications, then environmental concerns are addressed, but many HFCs have limited solvency for water requiring surfactant addition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidcomposition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using HFO-1234ze, a hydrofluoroolefin, rather than conventional HFCs. This parameter change results in superior water solvency properties while maintaining environmental compatibility. The specific molecular structure of HFO-1234ze provides both environmental benefits and enhanced water solvency, eliminating the need for surfactant additives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the water solvency function from the surfactant component by selecting HFO-1234ze as the base solvent. This eliminates the need for separate surfactant additives, simplifying the overall composition while maintaining effective water removal capabilities in drying and dewatering applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Stability of the object's composition

If azeotropic mixtures are used for de-fluxing and de-greasing applications, then solvency properties remain constant and composition does not change during boiling, but the mixtures may still fractionate if not properly formulated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomposition invarianceVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the composition parameters by establishing specific concentration ranges: 30-70 wt% HFO-1234ze and 30-70 wt% trans-1,2-dichloroethylene. Within these ranges, the mixture forms a true azeotrope that maintains constant composition during boiling while providing effective cleaning performance for de-fluxing and de-greasing applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by optimizing the specific ratio of components within the azeotropic range to achieve both composition stability and cleaning effectiveness. The balanced composition ensures that the solvent maintains its properties during use while providing sufficient solvency power for removing flux residues and greases from substrates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The azeotropic compositions provide a stable and effective cleaning solution that maintains solvency properties, prevents flammability, and allows for efficient recovery and reuse, effectively removing residues and water from various substrates without altering composition, thus addressing the limitations of existing solvents.

Implementation Method 1

Azeotropic mixtures exhibit either a maximum or a minimum boiling point and do not fractionate on boiling. The inherent invariance of composition under boiling conditions insures that the ratios of the individual components of the mixture will not change during use

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAzeotropic behavior:

Implementation Method 2

The primary function of the dewatering or drying solvent (unsaturated fluorinated ether solvent) in a dewatering or drying composition is to reduce the amount of water on the surface of a substrate being dried

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolvency: Solvation

Implementation Method 3

Hydrophobic surfactants have been added to dewatering or drying solvents to displace water from substrates

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydrophobic effect: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 4

The present disclosure provides azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions useful in semiconductor chip and circuit board cleaning, defluxing, and degreasing processes. The present compositions are non-flammable

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlammability resistance:

Data Source

PatentEP2683850B1Azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions of methyl perfluoroheptene ethers and transdichloroethylene and uses thereof
Publication Date: 2018.04.25 THE CHEMOURS CO FC LLC

AI summary

The present disclosure provides azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions comprised of methylperfluoroheptene ethers and trans-1,2-dichloroethylene. The present disclosure also provides for methods of use for the azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions.