DuPont™ Vertrel® SFR - Specialty Fluid

Introduction

DuPont™ Vertrel SFR® is an azeotrope-like blend of non-flammable hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), trans-1,2-dichloroethylene (t-DCE) and methanol.

DuPont™ Vertrel® SFR has excellent solvency power for a wide range of soils.  It is designed to remove high temperature fluxes used with no lead and no clean solders.  The low surface tension and non-flammability properties of DuPont™ Vertrel® SFR make it an ideal vapor degreasing solvent.

DuPont™ Vertrel® SFR is a non-ozone depleter and is intended to replace trichloroethylene (TCE), n-propyl bromide (nPB), HCFCs, HFEs, PFCs, and CFCs as well as other solvents that do not have the favorable safety, health, and environmental properties.  DuPont™ Vertrel® SFR can also replace aqueous cleaners in certain instances where floor space and cleanliness are at a premium.

Features and Benefits                                

DuPont™ Vertrel® SFR does a good job balancing performance with favorable environmental and worker safety properties:

• Excellent solvency power (KB Value>100):  Superior cleaning performance;
• Fast drying:  Increases productivity;
• Low tension:  Able to penetrate and clean tight areas;
• Campatible with most plastics, elastomers, and metals;
• Non-flammable;
• Low toxicity;
• Zero ozone depletion potential;
• Low global warming potential;
• Existing equipment can be used with minor or no modification;
• No surfactants needed:  Residue free cleaning is promoted.

Typical Applications

• Defluxing
• Oil, grease, and wax removal
• Precision Cleaning

Environmental

DuPont™ Vertrel® SFR has "zero" ozone depletion potential and low global warming potential.  See table below for various entironmental properties of Vertrel® SFR. Vertrel SFR is accepted by the US Environmental Protection Agency under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program as a substitute for ozone-depleting substances (solvent category).  It is not SNAP approved for aerosol packages.

All components are listed in the TSCA inventory.  The methanol component in Vertrel® SFR is considered a hazardous air pollutant (HAP) and therefore is subject to NESHAP regluation.  Methanol is subject to SARA Title III Section 313 list of toxic chemicals and is subject to SARA III (EPCRA) reporting requirements.
         
Refer to the MSDS for regulatory information.

Safety/Flammability/Storage
     
Data from acute toxicity studies has demonstrated that Vertrel® SFR has low toxicity.  Vertrel® SFR is a slight skin and eye irritant and has low acute inhalation toxicity.  Please refer to the MSDS for information on exposure limits and toxicity relatated data.

Dupont™ Vertrel® SFR exhibits no closed cup or open cup flash point and is not classified as a flammable liquid by NFPA or DOT.  The product is volatile, and if allowed to evaporate and mix with air, the vapor may become flammable.  Flash point data and vapor flammability limits in air are shown in the table below.

Flammable Properties

Users should clear equipment of all vapors and liquids before performing any maintenance operations that could result in an ignition source.  Users also need to consider the possibility of vapor flammability of this product to determine guidelines for its safe handling in all other parts of the user's operations.  For example, when opening a partially-filled container that has been stored, treat the gas/air mixture as if it is flammable.
   
DuPont™ Vertel® SFR is thermally stable and does not oxidize or degrade during storage.  Store in a clean, dry area.  Protect from freezing temperatures.  If solent is stored below -10 C (14 F), mix prior to use.  Do not allow stored product to exceed 52 C (125  F) to prevent leakage or potential rupture of container from pressure and expansion.
   
Recovery
   
DuPont™ Vertrel® SFR is readily recoverable.  Please discuss recovery operations with a knowledgeable DuPont™ distributor representative and for suggested recovery procedures.  The presence of certain soils in high concentrations may affect the flammability characteristics of the material during use and recovery operations.  Users should test flammability in their particular application and test the spent Vertrel® SFR to ensure proper classification for waste disposal.

Material Capability            
 
Most metals, plastics and elastomers commonly used for components mounted on printed wiring board assemblies can be safely cleaned with DuPont™ Vertrel® SFR, Plastics may show signs of softening, swelling or other changes include acrylics, ABS and polycarbonate.  Elastomers, if affected, will generally revert to wtihin a few percent of original size after air-drying.  Prior to use, testing of plastics and elastomers should be performed under conditions expected during normal operation (e.g., time in contact with Vertrel SFR, temperature, etc.).  For more information on material compatibility, contact DuPont™ Vertrel® distributor.
 
Contact with highly basic materials, pH10 and above, is not recommended.
 
Large amounts of water may extract the alcohol component of Vertrel® SFR, and reduce cleaning performance.  Therefore, to reduce alcohol loss, use desiccant dryers rather than water separators in the condensate return line.  

Product Description, Packaging, and Availability

DuPont™ Vertrel® SFR is available commercially in 55-gal (208-1) drums with a net weight of 500 lb (227 kg) and in 5-gal (19-1) pails with a net weight of 45 lb (20 kg).