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 SAFECHEM introduces Solvent Sustainability Programme at Clean Show event Nuneaton, United Kingdom - February 11, 2010 Kumi/Pero, with the support from SAFECHEM, conducted for the first time a major Clean Show event under the theme “On Track for the Better Solution”. Pero - one of the leading cleaning machine producers - and SAFECHEM - the expert solvent and service provider - presented a complete solution designed with future industry requirements: the latest cleaning machine technology, various cleaning media and SAFECHEM´s Solvent Sustainability Programme. The event provided a unique opportunity for companies with cleaning needs to run cleaning trials on their parts with NEU-TRI™ E trichloroethylene, DOWPER™ MC perchloroethylene, MECTHENE™ MC methylene chloride and DOWCLENE™ 1601 modified alcohol. In parallel, attendees learned about the solvents’ performance- and business-related benefits. In the seminar sessions, experts discussed their view on the future of surface cleaning. Participants included customers, EH&S experts and members of associations, such as the ADS (Aerospace, Defence and Security). Securing Sustainability - Regulatory Framework Dr. Hans-Norbert Adams, former REACH implementation leader at Dow, and now consultant for safe and sustainable solutions at his agency 3S-chemconsult, helped to clarify the changing regulatory framework and spoke about opportunities within the VOC Directive, the Trichloroethylene Voluntary Industry Commitment (VIC) and REACH to ensure sustainability in future. According to VOC regulations, the use of trichloroethylene as an R45 Category 2 (CMR) is limited to applications where trichloroethylene is indispensable and where it is technically required to achieve the highest cleaning performance. In other applications, trichloroethylene should be substituted with a less harmful substance, such as DOWPER™ MC or MECTHENE™ MC as an R40, or even with an R20 such as DOWCLENE™ 1601. However, an R60 Category 2 such as n-Propyl-Bromide is not considered viable and not perceived as less harmful than an R45, as it is a CMR Category 2 substance. An important topic also influencing the surface cleaning market is the Voluntary Industry Commitment Charter, which comes into effect by December 31, 2010. At this time, customers will be supplied with trichloroethylene only if used in closed systems that conform to the European Standard EN12921-4. The Charter is considered as a very important tool for adequate control and for keeping trichloroethylene available in the long term, where indispensable and essential. Therefore, Dow - as the world´s largest producer of trichloroethylene - is committed to implement the Charter. CMR substances, such as trichloroethylene and n-Propyl-Bromide, are considered to be potential targets for authorisation under REACH. Substances for which it is possible to determine a threshold, authorisations shall be granted if adequate control of the risk to human health or the environment can be proven. Therefore, closed systems and other Risk Management tools are the basis for the future use of trichloroethylene. Sustainable Services and Solutions Offer Brian Malpass, Regional Manager for UK and Ireland at SAFECHEM and Richard Starkey, Sales Manager for UK and Ireland and specialist for the SAFE-TAINER™ system and service solutions at SAFECHEM, provided customers with valuable information on how to apply sustainable services and solutions through effective Risk Management. SAFECHEM´s Solvent Sustainability Programme provides customers with complete solutions to meet their individual cleaning requirements. The process shown in the figure is recommended to achieve the most economic, high-quality and legally-compliant cleaning process: Emissive uses, such as cold cleaning, have not been supported for some time now. It is clear these can be done with high flash point hydrocarbons. In vapor degreasing equipment ,when the substitution of NEU-TRI™ is possible, high quality solvents e.g. DOWPER™MC perchloroethylene, MECTHENE™ MC methylene chloride or DOWCLENE™1601 modified alcohols are considered to be the best solution. However, as exemplified in cleaning trials at this show, in many cases, NEU-TRI™ E is indispensable - and here its use in many applications within the aerospace industry where highest safety requires high-quality cleaning. For those applications its use will be supported by helping customers applying effective Risk Management measures for the sustainable use of the product. Highest quality cleaning performance with trichloroethylene contributes substantially to the safety of people in their daily life where technical devices are used. The Trichloroethylene Sustainability Programme from SAFECHEM includes the necessary effective Risk Management tools which enable customers to benefit from the excellent cleaning properties of NEU-TRI™ E long-term: The product will be supplied and returned in the SAFE-TAINER™ system. SAFECHEM strongly recommends a solvent training programme provided by its experts. Service elements such as laboratory analysis, MAXICHECK™ test kits and MAXISTAB™ stabilizer play an important role to optimise the cleaning process and to extend the lifetime of the solvent. Consultancy from experts for the economic and safe use is recommended. Under the CHEMAWARE™ information platform know-how is provided for each user to make the best decision on the cleaning process. Technical Aspects of Solvents Marius Kuemin, Technical Service & Development for Chlorinates Organics at Dow laboratories in Horgen, Switzerland, explains the spectrum of solvents and technical aspects for cleaning, based on the different chemical and physical properties of solvents. Also discussed were how to optimise individual cleaning processes and to extend solvent lifetime. The degreasing of metal surfaces with chlorinated solvents leads to a contamination of the solvent, due to lubricants, fats and their decomposition products. Under certain operating conditions, the contaminants may decompose further, leading to the formation of acid which react with the stabilisers of the solvent. If stabiliser concentrations are depleted, this may result in an insufficiently stabilised solvent. As a consequence corrosion damage of the machine and the parts may result. The solvent stability of chlorinated solvents and modified alcohols can easily be controlled by laboratory analysis or on-site with MAXICHECK™ test kits. The correction of the stability is addressed by adding the respective amount of MAXISTAB™ stabilser concentrates. However, the control of A111 hydrocarbons is not possible due to their physical properties. For these solvents detection, and hence subsequent correction, is not possible. Simon Graham, managing director of Kumi Solutions, highlighted both the ongoing development and latest capabilities of Pero’s advanced surface cleaning equipment. His presentation underlined the universal nature of Pero machines, which enables solvents to be replaced without the need for any hardware changes and at the same time complying with stringent environmental standards. “Before we came here, we put oils on our parts that are very difficult to remove. We thought we would have the last laugh when the parts came out of the cleaning machine, but Pero and SAFECHEM did. The parts had become surprisingly clean!” “We are very happy that we had the chance to do the cleaning trials. We were very surprised by the excellent cleaning results that we achieved, mainly with DOWCLENE™ 1601. That will considerably help us to solve our cleaning problems.” “Doing cleaning trials, together with the opportunity to attend an expert seminar, was a very unique combination. I learned a lot about the safe and sustainable use of solvents. It was very useful to have the chance to talk to experts with a regulatory and chemical background.” “I was very surprised when I listened to the seminar presentations. I learned several things I did not know but which I’ll do in future!” “We are very glad that the SAFECHEM guys are with us and help us on our way to find the best cleaning solution applying effective Risk Management tools.” For further information please email us at info@chemaware.org or visit the websites www.chemaware.org or www.safechem-europe.com. For editorial information, please contact: Christine Lissy About Dow ®™* Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow
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