The 'Kerry' branded Microsolve Co-Solvent vapour degreasing system manufactured by Guyson has four process stages comprising ultrasonic cleaning, ultrasonic rinse, followed by vapour rinsing and freeboard drying. The Microsolve has proven unique solvent retention features that provide economic benefits as well as effective use of HFE (hydrofluoroether) or HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) solvents.
Cleaning with or without the use of ultrasonics is carried out in the stage one tank by immersion of the components into the Co-Solvent mixture, usually comprising of an HFE (hydrofluoroether) and petroleum distillate-based solvating agent. The solvating agent and HFE are carefully selected by Guyson to suit the client’s particular application either from experience or by performance evaluation cleaning trials on sample components. This combination of solvents removes high levels of contamination which is then taken up by the solvating agent’s capacity to carry contamination before becoming saturated.
Immersion into stage two's tank of pure HFE distillate removes any residues from the components, carried over from stage one's cleaning tank. Both the cleaning and rinsing tanks have their ultrasonic transducers mounted on the tank base, connected to dual-frequency generators incorporating; ultrasonic output power control, pulsed operation of the ultrasonics (if required) and frequency modulation and sideband sweep.
Primary rinsing in stage two is then followed by a final rinse in the vapour zone, located above both tanks and comprising of the pure distilled solvent. Drying takes place with the components located in the freeboard area, where the solvent mostly evaporates back onto the refrigerated cooling coils situated above and around the process tanks.
The Autotrans iDrive automatic work handling system allows items to be processed efficiently, producing clean, dry components whilst minimising solvent emissions and the drag out that can occur with manually operated systems - thereby increasing solvent topping up and high running costs. All Autotrans iDrive systems are supplied with guarding to comply with CE regulations for moving parts, with various options to suit machine location, factory layout and operating procedures.
Any photos showing machines without guarding are for illustrative purposes only.
Typical Cleaning Applications
The Co-solvent process easily handles cleaning applications such as; removal of polishing compounds, maintenance cleaning of power generation system components, and flux removal from PCBs, including no-clean and lead-free solder flux residues.