FICs — Nonflammable, Non-Ozone-Depleting Solvents for Cleaning Aerospace Components

A new class of fluoroiodocarbons (FIC) based solvents has been developed and demonstrated as effective replacements for the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) for cleaning aerospace components of commonly encountered soils. The soils included aircraft hydraulic fluids, engine oils, fuels, greases and other soils. The cleaning effectiveness of these solvents was compared to the CFC solvent, 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane, the most widely used solvent in the aerospace industry prior to its being banned because of its ozone depletion characteristics. While a number of other solvents have been investigated and are being used in the industry today, none of the replacements being used has the same effectiveness and useful properties as the CFCs. FICs demonstrate the desirable properties of the CFCs but have zero ozone-depletion potential (ODP). Presented at the 55th Annual Meeting Nashville, Tennessee May 7–11, 2000