John Hoffman is technical manager of MicroCare Corp., New Britain, CT, a global supplier of solvents and tools used in precision cleaning, coating and lubricating. He can be reached at 800.638-0125 or 860.827.8105.
Aqueous cleaning systems tend to have large footprints, require a significant capital investment, guzzle electricity at a prodigious rate, are maintenance intensive, and require processed water and wastewater treatment systems. Most young engineers feel these constraints are locked in stone, but there is another cleaning option, one from the history books. If you’re willing to go “back to the future,” it’s time to revisit vapor degreasing.