Metal Cleaning Solvent Blend with Hansen Parameters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Metal parts cleaners, such as chlorinated and hydrocarbon solvents, pose health risks due to potential carcinogenic effects and classification as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), limiting their use in commercial settings.
Innovation Solution
A solvent composition blending organic solvents with specific Hansen Solubility Parameters, excluding VOC, HAP, or potential carcinogen classifications, including halogenated aromatic, ester, hydrocarbon, and ketone functional group solvents, which are exempt from VOC or carcinogen classifications and exhibit comparable cleaning action and evaporation rates to traditional solvents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional hydrocarbon solvents (toluene, benzene, xylene, hexane) are used for cleaning metal components, then cleaning action and evaporation rate are improved, but health risks increase due to carcinogenic effects and VOC/HAP classification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by formulating a blend of solvents with specific Hansen solubility parameters (δD≥15, δP≥5, δH≥3) that differ from traditional hydrocarbon solvents. This parameter change enables effective cleaning while avoiding VOC/HAP classifications and carcinogenic effects, directly resolving the contradiction between cleaning performance and health safety
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite solvent system by blending multiple solvent components (including fluorinated solvents, esters, hydrocarbons, and ketones) in specific proportions. This composite approach achieves synergistic cleaning action comparable to traditional solvents while the combined formulation eliminates carcinogenic properties and VOC status, resolving the health risk contradiction
2Reliability
If chlorinated solvents are used for cleaning metal components, then flammability risk is reduced and VOC classification is avoided, but carcinogenic potential and health risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition by incorporating fluorinated solvents and other non-chlorinated components that maintain flammability safety while eliminating carcinogenic potential. The specific Hansen solubility parameter ranges ensure the blend achieves cleaning effectiveness without the harmful effects of chlorinated solvents
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful chlorinated components from the solvent formulation while retaining the desirable properties of flammability safety. The alternative solvent blend achieves the same safety benefits without the carcinogenic side effects, resolving the contradiction between safety and health risks
3Productivity
If VOC/HAP classified solvents are used to achieve fast evaporation and cleaning, then cleaning performance is improved, but environmental and health regulations limit their commercial use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the volatility parameters by selecting solvent components with appropriate vapor pressures and evaporation characteristics that provide fast evaporation rates similar to traditional VOC solvents. Simultaneously, the components are chosen to fall outside VOC/HAP regulatory definitions, achieving both performance and compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by carefully selecting specific solvent components with particular molecular weights and volatility characteristics. The blend contains components that evaporate quickly for effective cleaning but are structured to avoid regulatory classification, resolving the contradiction between performance and adaptability to regulations
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 composition achieves effective cleaning and solubility without the health risks associated with traditional solvents, with optimized evaporation rates and reduced residue, as demonstrated by testing on various soils, indicating improved safety and performance.
Implementation Method 1
The composition achieves effective cleaning and solubility without the health risks associated with traditional solvents
Implementation Method 2
with optimized evaporation rates and reduced residue
Data Source
AI summary
A composition for use in cleaning metal components having Hansen Solubility Parameters for the composition of δD≥15, δP<6, and δH from about 5.5 to about 6.9. The composition includes a blend of organic solvents, none of which are classified as a volatile organic compound, a hazardous air pollutant, or a potential carcinogen, or exhibit a vapor pressure of less than 0.1 mmHg at 20° C. Further, the blend of organic solvents includes a halogenated aromatic solvent having one or more halide groups and from 6 to 8 carbon atoms, an organic solvent having one or more ester functional group and from 3 to 9 carbon atoms, and one or more of a linear or branched hydrocarbon solvent with 6-12 carbon atoms with a single polar moiety head group or a solvent containing one or more ketone functional groups and from 2 to 5 carbon atoms.