NASA 1996 SBIR Phase I

PROJECT TITLE : NON-POLLUTING SOLVENT AND SYSTEM FOR SURFACE CLEANING

TECHNICAL ABSTRACT (LIMIT 200 WORDS)

A new family of high-performance, nonflammable, nonpolluting, clean-evaporating, low-toxicity, nonaqueous solvents has been developed. This group consists of perfluoro-n-butyl iodide (1-C4F9I, b.p. 67oC) and its nonflammable near-azeotropic blends with three conventional solvents. In this Phase I effort these four solvents will be tested on surfaces and soils of interest to NASA in a new highly advanced cleaning system. Both macroscopic and precision cleaning abilities of the solvents will be tested on a variety of soils and representative surfaces. Surfaces of interest include metals, ceramics, optics, electronic components, and semiconductors. Flammability risks can be eliminated and surfaces can be cleaned using the same proven procedures previously used with CFC-113 and 1,1,1-trichloroethane. Tests will be conducted in the SPECIAL system at Hughes Aircraft Santa Barbara Research Center. This micro-volume, closed loop cleaning system system is specifically designed for optimal process control, minimal solvent volumes, and zero emissions. The net results of this Phase I effort will be proven top-ranked solvents for each soil type on each surface and a proven pollution-preventing cleaning system to provide high-reliability surface cleaning at lower cost than current methods. In Phase II this system will be optimized, demonstrated on a larger scale, and prepared for commercialization.

The solvents and cleaning system developed in this effort are expected to find wide application in many critical cleaning applications, both military and civilian. Specific applications for this technology include cleaning of a wide variety of metals, composites, optical surfaces, ceramics, and electronic components including semiconductors.

Jon Nimitz, Ph.D.
ETEC
4500-B Hawkins St. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109-4517

ETEC
4500-B Hawkins St. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109-4517